, 1859-09-28

Political meetings are now tile rage till after
election. OA1cEoS.
Later from the North.
TIE SAN JUAN p1FF1crLrY-nErLY OF GOVERNOR
DOUGLAS TO GENERAL uAESEY.
The steamer Norwood arrived from Victoria,
=. with papers to the 9Th August.
The Victoria Gd=<tte contains reply By Gcv-
ernor Douglas to tue answer given By Gen. Hur-
ncy to the protest by the former, in regard to
the occupation by u. S. troops Of San Juan
1slund. Here is the reply Of Gov. Douglas:
q vErx1zx7 1Iopsx ylcto.ta}
Vancouver Island, August Il. asa.
Nrigad'tr Gen. lIm. Xdrnty. Commanding
tie TtnH5,< in Tie Department cf Ortyo":
DEAn S.R:-on the evening Of tue 10th inst,
had the honor Of rcceirinS your dispatch, dat
ed Fort Vancouver, August q, 1SlJ.
In reply thereto, must ttunk you for the
trunk, straig gflt forward manner ID which you
communicate to ME your Tcasoils for occupying
the Island Of San Juan in the 1luto Arcbircasn
with portion Of thu military turccs of tile Uni-
led :states under your command. an glad to
uear that y0u hare dunu sO under general i'll
struetious frnm the President Of the Cuiscsl
Ssates. as Mi'itury commander Of the Depart
tnent Of Oregon. aud mt ly direct authority
elnauatng trun, the Cabinet at Washington.
You stute that tue rcasons wilict, induced
you to take that course, nrc the 'jn*nlts an ill.,
.iyni.ies wsleh.tlc British autt,oritics Of yan-
couvcr Island, aud the establishment nf The
Hudson bay Company have recently offered TO
american citizens residing on tile lsfanl Of San
Juan. hy sending british sllip-ol-war "ffum
Vancouver laland 10 canvcy tl,c Chief Factor Of
tic Nudson bay Company to San Juan, for tho
purpose Of se1zing oil American citizcn, aul
transporting him 10 Vancouver Island to be
tried By British law"
l will exp!ain far your information that the
AGENTS ofthe nndsnn's Bay Company hold no
official position iii Va couyer Island, nur exer.
else any oliclul pewtr OF authority, aud are az
entirely distinct from the officers OF the Execu-
tants Of Vancouver Island. To the re ,ortrd
outrage on an American citizen, beg 10 girc
tlle nlust unhesitating und unqualified icninl.
None Of hrr Mnjesty's ships lns ever been sent
to convey tue Chiet Fac:or or my otlicer Of the
Hudson buy Company to Sau Juan, for tl'c
any attempt ever been made to seize any
American citizen and to transport ll;.m forcihly
to Vancouver Is aud for trial as represented by
you.
Up to 4 very recent period but one American
citizen has been resident OIL San Juan. Abnut
the commencement Of tho present year i few
american citizens began to "s4uat" upon the
Island, aud upon one occasion o complaint was
made IN ute br Briiisl, subject of SOME wrong
committed against his property by I'M American
citizen. hut no Intention was paid TO 1but cam-
plant, out Of consideration and respect TO the
friendly government 10 which tue alleged Of.
fender belonged, #nd whore citizens, think it
cannot be denied, hare always heen treated with
marked Intention by all tue British authorities
in these parts. Will reference to San Juan it,
particular. have always acted with the utmost
caution IL prevent. so far as might lie in my
j'o~er, any i'll feelings arising from collisions
between British suffice aud American citizens.
aud hare in tlat respect cordially cndeavured to
carry out the views Of the United Statcs Guy-
rrnmeut, as expressed in dispatch from Mr.
Marcy, dated 11th July, 1856. to Her Mnjcsts's
Minister at Washington, a copy Of which |
herewith enclose for your information, Us 1re-
sune that the document cannot be in your pos
session. This dispatch WAS published in the
cntlefia OF I'LL, An gust. Following tue disni-
lied pn'icy recommended by that dispatch,
should, in :ny wcl'-groandcd case Of complaint
against m American citizen, harc referred tue
matter 10 the Federal authorities in Washington
Territory, well assured that if wrong had been
committed reparation would have followed.
! deeply regret that vnu did not communicate
with me- for information upon the suhjec, of thr
alleged grievance. You would then hare harmed
low un founded was the complaint, ead the craye
action you have adopted might l,aye hvs.,, avoid.
ed. also deeply regret that you did lit, n,ot-
tion the matter verbally 10 mt when h4s the
pleasure ol seeing you ut Victoria '.st month.
for Il few words from nc, would, a1n sure.
tl1re rem ofed from your mind any erroneous
impressions aud you would hare asceriained
personally from ,lle how anxious | lIal eyrr
i'een to cooperate to the utmost Of mr. power
with tile officers of tl.c United Ssates Guye1n.
u,cnt. in any measure which might bc mutually |
beneficial to tue citizens Of the two countries.
Having given you distinct and emphatic de- !!
nial of the circumstances which you ,llege in |
duced ynu to occupy the island OF San Juan
with Cnitcd Suites troops; having shown you |
t:1at the reasons you assign do not exist, and |
?aving eodeavore ed to ASSURE you Of nv rcadi- |
on all occasions to act for the protection Of
American ci'izcns, and for tue promotion of their
welfare, must call upou you, sir, if nut as
matter of right, tt least Us matter Of justice
aud Of humanity, TO withdraw the troops now
quartercd upou the is!und Of San Juan; fur
those troops are not required for the protection
uf AMERICAN citizens agAiust British authorities,
aud tl,pir continuance upon an island, the GOV.
ertiynty Of which is in dispute, not o1ty is
snarked discourtesy to a friendly Government.
hut complexities to IN undue degree tie settle
,ucnt in IN an,icalle manner Of the question Of |
sovereignty, and is also calculated to provoke
cnll>iou between the military forces of Two
friendly nations in distant part Of tic world,
hare ttc honor to tie, .ir,
Your mcst ohtdient servant.
JAMES DorG1As. |