Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-02-25
Council of Washington Territory
Substitute For House Joint Reso-
lutions, No. 10, Relative to the San
Juan Affair

|
Substitute For House Joint Reso
lutions, No. 10, Relative to the saI
Juan Affair.
WHEREAS, IL has come TO our knowledge tina
attempts are making, or will be made to merg
tho military department of oregon into the de
partment of the Pacific, and In case this is NO
effected to cause Brigadier Gen. WIN. $ fiarne,
to be removed from command and
WHEREAS We believe that said department
was established for good sufficient reasons
which reasons still exists in as full force a.
when said department was established; the in
terror of our territory being still occupied By
numerous tribes Of Indians only restrained
from hostilties by the presence of large bodies
Of troops, and our frontier being still liable tC
murderous incursions Of powerful and savage
hordes of Indians living upon foreign soil
and
WHEREAS, Experience has shown that, in or
der that these troops may act promptly and
efficiently for the protection Of our territory il
| is necessary that the headquarters OF the de-
pnrtment should be ofconvenient access, which
would not be the case were it removed to the
State of California; and
| WHEREAS, Gen. Harvey in all his official
acts while in command of this military depart
ment-by protecting us from Indians, domestic
and foreign; securing and maintaining peace,
| by reyoking those unlawful military orders un-
| der which an attempt was made to exclude our
citizens from portions of our Territory, which,
under the laws were open to settlement open
ing communications between different portions
of the Territory; protecting emigration by plac-
ing troops on the Island Of San JUAN an island
which is as unquestonably American soil as
any other portion of our Territory for the
protection of American settlers against foreign
Indians, and against attempted acts of foreign
jurisdiction-has deserved and secured tho en-
tire confidence of the people Of this Territory.
Therefore, be il
Resolved, LIST. That we, the Legislative AS
sembly of the Territory of Washington, earn
estly and respectfully protest against any cham
by which the military department of Oregon
shall be merged into any other department, and
against its headquarters being removed.
Resotued, End. That we respectfully and
earnestly solicit the President of the United
States to continue the present able, experience
ed, and prudent officer brig Gen. Harncyl in
command of said military department
Resoioed, 3rd. That we firmly believe Gen.
Harvey has acted in a prudeat and proper man
ncr in placing military force on the Island OF
San Juan, for the protection of American citi-
zens from foreign savages and wanton aggres-
sions of foreign officials
First--Becausc the Island is clearly ours un-
der a fair construction of the treaty.
Second-Becausc said Island is within the
military department of Oregon it having been,
BY an act passed in 1854, at the first session of
the Legislative Assembly of this Territory
made part of the organized County of What
com, which act was duly submitted TO the
Congress of the United States, as by the or
ganic act is required, and has not to this day
been disapproved and is still the law of the
land and
Third-Because at the time, the circumstan-
ces of the case required that military force
should be placed there.
Resolved 4th. That Gen. Harvey, having
rightfully placed military force upon said
Island, would have been recreant to his trust
had he failed to support it with all the power
at his command, when it was threatened with
an attack by foreign nation.
Resoiped, 9TH. That having fullest confidence
in our title to the Island our right should be
maintained at all hazard
Resolved, 9Th. That we most respectfully
ask the proper authorities to revoke the odious
military order placing San Juan Island Ia por-
ton of Whatcom county, under military rule.
Resolved, nth. That we have the fullest con- |
iidence that the President of the United States
will act justly and firmly in the premises, and |
that American rights will be fully vindicated |
by him.
Resoived, sth. That copies of these resolu-
tons, duly signed and certified, be sent to our
Delegate in Congress, to be by him submitted
to the President of the United States. And al |
so to Gen. W. s. Harvey.
We hereby certify that the foregoing House
Joint Resolution, is true copy of the original,
passed unanimously, by both branches of the
Legislature of Washington Territory, jan 18th, |
1860 GEO. G. BILES,
Speaker of the House of Representatives. |
H. j. G. MAX0N, President of the Council.