The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-10
GcnerarHarney and the San Juan Ques-
tion-lmpudent Dema nds OF En- gland.

GcnernT Harvey and the San Juan Ques.
tion-Impudent Dema nds OF En- & land.
We publish in another column Characteristic
article from the London Times on the San Juan
difficulty, in which that journal haughtily as
sumes that we have played the hog and Eng
land the hound in regard to this last possible
dispute in running the boundary line between
our own possessions and those Of England on
this continent.
The journal in question lays the whole blame
Of the difficulty upon General Harvey, whom it
attacks in an unjust and bitter manner, paying
the other officers of our army a merited CON-
pliment, in order to heighten its animadversions
upon him. This officer has other records to APP
peal TO than the columns Of the London Times
to justify the appreciation in which he is held
by bis own countrymen. A glorious career in
our small but handwriting little army, in the
everglades of Florida, along the extended line
of our frontier settlements, and amid the long
marches aud hard fought fields of the campaign
in Mexico, together with the possession Of an
ample private estate, show that his action on
our far Northwest line has not been stimulated
by hopes of fame and fortune, such as might
attend the course Of some younger and indis-
Greet commander. The Times errs greatly in
believing that our government, in sending Gen.
Scott to the scene Of the dispute, intended to
convey reproof to the gallant Harvey. The
mission Of Gen. Scott was nothing more than
considerable act Of Cancellation to a great but
greedy friend. whose traditional policy Of ter
ritorial acquisition has led her to commit so
many acts Of injustice to other nations.
II is to the persistent practice Of this policy
by her subordinate officers, and not to the con.
duet OF Gen. Harvey. that we owe our present
dispute with England about the possession of
the island of San Juan Acting in spirit that has
been displayed in the development Of our entire
boundary. from the Bay Of Fundy to the Straits Of
Fuca, the British Governor Of Vancouver Island
endeavored to take possession Of that of San
Juan, which is as logically part Of our terri
tory as are Aroostook county, in Maine, Rouse's
Point, In New York, and the many other
disputed islands and points which English d.
plomacy has endeavored to take awayfrom us,
OF as is the territory of the old thirteen colo
MES. highlands moderation in the san Juan
sham, and there is a very different solution
from the one it proposes. "through the open
portals Of the temple Of Janus" which Is the
prevalence Of common sense and common
honesty. As for :" the United States having
done TO this country (England) things which no
other government in the world could have
ventured on with impunty," we admit the
accusation; but we defy the Times TO show q
single instance where our demands have not
been supported by truth and reason or where
We have resorted to any other arms than these,
except in just selfdefence.
We trust, therefore that our government will
not submit TO highlands demand for the re-
moval Of General Harvey, and that the post
Of duty of that officer will not be
changed except II be at his own
request. That his course In resisting the at
tcmpts Of the British officers at Vancouver
Island 10 get possession Of San Juan-not be-
cause il belongs to England, but because IL
turns out to be strategical point which isolates
one channel and commands the other to
Georges Sound. is distastefil 10 the British go
vernment-entitles him to our approval, not our
censure. II il an old trick Of Englands to
bring forward preposterous claims TO territory,
and then propose that the matter shall be set
tied by division. by treaty. or arbitration by q
third Power. which amounts to the same thing
We appreciate peace between us as much as
she possibly can, but not peace which fosters