East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-01-05

ted, "that the officers of the territor,
should abstain from all acts on the dis
puted grounds which are calculated to
provoke any conflict, so far as it can b'
done without implying the concession t'
the authorities of Great Britain OF an ex
elusive right over the premises. Th'
title ought to be settled before either
party should attempt to exclude the 9th
er by force, or exercise complete and ex'
elusive sovereign rights within the fairly
disputed limits"
In acknowledging the receipt on tho
next day of Mr.. Marcy's note, the British
Minister expressed his entire concurrence
'.in the propriety of the course recon-
mended TO the Governor of Washington
territory by your (Mr. Marcy's) instruc.
tons to that officer" and stating that he
had "lost no time in transmitting copy
of that document TO the Governor Gen
eral of British North America," " and had
Earnestly recommended to his Excel.
ency to take such measures as TO him may
appear best calculated to secure, on the
part of the British local authorities and
the inhabitants of the neighborhood of
the line in question, the exercise of the
same spirit of forbearance which is incul-
Gated by you (Mr. Marcy on the au-
thorities and citizens ofthe United States.
These matters remained upon the fait
of this arrangement until the 9th July
last, when General Harvey paid visit
to the island. He found upon it twenty
| G,,o A ,,or;oac ra,;lants NTH fha;r fapni
lies, and also an establishment of the
Hadson's Bay Company for the purpose
of raising sheep. A short time before
his arrival one of these residents had shot
an animal belonging to the Company,
while trespassing upon his premises, for
which, however, he offered to pay twice
its value; but that was refused. Soon
after "the chief factor Of the Company at
Victoria, Mr.. Dallas, son-in-law of Gov
ernor Douglass, came to the island in the
British sloop of war Satellite, and TIN eat
ened to take this American (Mr. Cutler)
by force to Victoria, to answer for the
trespass he had committed. The Ameri-
can seized his rifle and told Mr.. Dallas,
if such an attempt was made he would
kill him on the spot. The affair then
ended.'
Under these circumstances the Ameri-
can settlers presented petition to the
General Through the United States in
spector of customs, Mr.. Hubbs, to place
force upon the island to protect them
from the Indians as well as the oppressive
interference of the authorities Of the Hud-
son Bay Company at Victoria with their
rights as American citizens" The Cen
eral Immediately responded to this petit
tion, and ordered Captain George E..
Pickett, 9th infantry "to establish his
company on BE levue, or San Juan island, f,
on some suitable position near the barbor
at the southeastern extremity" This
order was promptly obeyed, and mill
tary post was established at the place
designated. The force was afterwards
increased, so that by the by the last re
turn the whole number of troops then on
the island amounted in the aggregate to
69l men.
Whilst / do not deem it proper on the
present occasion to 90 further into the
subject, and discuss the weight which
ought to be attached to the statements
of the British colonial authorities contest
ing the accuracy of the information on
which the gallant General acted, it was
due to him that | should thus present his
own reasons for issuing the order to Cap
tain Pickett. From these it is quite clear
his object was to prevent the British au-
thorities on Vancouver's Island from ex-
ercising jurisdiction over American resi-
dents on the island Of San Juan, as well
as to protect them against the incursions
Of the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some
time throughout that region, and serious
danger of collision between the parties
was apprehended. The British had a
large naval force in the vicinity: and it
is but an act Of simple Justice to the Ad
miral ON that station to state that he
wisely and discreetly forbore 70 commit
any hostile act, but determined to refer
the whole affair to his government and
await their instructions.
This aspect of the matter, in my opin-
ion, demanded serious attention. 1t would
have been great calamity for both ma
tions had they been precipitated into acts
of hostility not of the question of title
to the island, but merely concerning what
should be its condition during the inter.
vcning period whilst the two governments
might be employed in settling the ques-
ton to which Of them il belongs For
this reason Lieutenr mt General Scott was
despatched on the 18th September last to
Washington territory to take immediate
command Of the United States forces on
the Pacific coast should he deem this ne
cessary. The main object of his mission
was to carry out the spirit Of the prccau-
tionary arrangement between the late Sc
cretary Of State and the British Minister,
and thus to preserve the peace and pre-
vent collision between the British and
American authorities pending the nego-
tiation between the two governments.
Entertaining no doubt Of the validity
Of our title, l need scarcely add that, III
any event, american citizens were to be
placed on footing at least as favorable
as that Of British subjects, il being un-
derstood that Captain P,cketts company
should remain on the island. 1t is prop
er to observe that, considering the dis
tance from the scene Of action, and in
n