Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-06

British subjects on the island of San Juan. -
10 prevent this, the Governor was instructed
''ttat the officers of the Territory should alb.
stain from all acts on the disputed grounds
which are calculated 10 provoke sny conflicts
50 far as it can be doue without implying the
concession to tho authorities os Great Britain
of an exclusive right over the premises. The
| tile ought 10 be settled before either party
should attempt to exclude the other by force,
or exercise cowpleto and exclusive sovereign
rights within the fairly disputed limits
ln acknowledging the receipt on the next day
Of Mr.. Marcy's note, tie British Minister ex.
pressed his entire concurrence SIN the proprie-
ty Of the course recommended 20 the Governor
Of Washington Territory by Jour (Mr. Marcy's)
instructions tG that officer and stating that be
had ''lost no time in transmitting copy of that
document to toe Governor General of British
North America" and had "earuestly recon-
nended to his Excellencg to take such measures
as to him may appear hes. calculated to secure,
on The part OF the British local authorities and
the lnhabltants of the neigh borhood of the line
10 que stion, the exercise of the same spirit of
torbearance which is inculcated by you tMr.
Marcy on the authorities and citizens of the
United Statcs.'
Thus matters remained npen the faitn Of this
arrangement until the 9Th July last, when Gen
Harvey paid visit to the Island. He found
upon it twenty American residents with
their families, aud also an establishment of tie
Hudson's Bay Company for the purpose Of rais-
ing sheep. 4 short time before bis arrival one
OF these residents had shot an animal belong
ing to the company, whi.s, srcspassing upen h;s
premises, for wish, however, be ordered to paw
twice Its value; but that WIS refused Sool
after the ''chief factor OF the company at Victo-
ria, Mr. Dalles, son-in-law cf GOV. Douglas,
came to the Island in the British sloop-of-war
Satellite, and threatened to take 'sshis Ameri-
can tMr. Cutler BY foros to Victoria, 10 answer
for the trespass he had committed. TIC Amer-
ican seized lis rifle and told Mr. Dalles ii any
such attempt vas made be would xii him on
he spot. The affair then ended"
Under these circumstances, the American
settlers presented peti.ioa, TO the General,
sthrough the Upited States Inspector Of Gus
toms, sir. Hubbs, TO place force upon the is>
land to protect them troai the Indians as we'll
as the oppressive interference Of the authorities
Of the Hudson Bay Company at Victoria with
their rights 40 american citizens The Gen
eral immediately responded to this petition, and
ordered Capt. GeOrge L. Pickett, Ninth lufan-
try, ''to establish his company Oh Bellevue or
San Juan Island, on some suitable position near
tue barber, at the southeastern extremity
This order was promptly obeyed, aud military
post was established at the place designated -
The force was afterwards Increased So thai tv
the last return the whole number of TROOPS then
on the island amounted, in the aggreeate. to
69i meu.
Whilst | do not deem it proper on the pres
ent occasion to go further into the subject, aud
discuss the weight which ought to be attached
to the statements of the British colonial au-
thorties, coDtestiug the accuracy of the infor-
nation on which the gallant General acted it
was due 10 Linn that | should thus present his
own reasons for issuing the order to Capt Pick
cit. From these it is quite clear his object Was
to prevent the British authorities on Yanoouver's
island from exercising jurisdiction over Amer
ican residents on the Island of San Juan, as
well AS to protect them against the incursions of
the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some lime
throughout that region, aud serious danger of
collision between the parties was apprehended.
The British had large naval force 10 the vi
cinity; and It Is but an act of simple justice to
the Admiral on that station 10 state that he
wisely aud discreetly forbore TO commit suy hos
tile act, but determined to refer the whole af-
fair to lis Government aud await their instruc-
lions.
This aspect Of the matter, in my opinion, de-
manded serious attention. 1t would have been
great calamity for both nations had they been
precipitatod into acts Of hostility not on the
question of lillc to the island, but merely con-
corning what should be its condition during the
intervening period whilst the two gosernmeurs
might be employed in settling the question to
which of them it belongs. For this reason Lieu
tenant General Scott was despatched on the 7th
September last to Washington Territory to take
immediate command Of the U. States forces on
the Pacific coast should he deem this necessary.
The main object of bis mission was to carry out
the spirit of the precautionary arrangement be-
tween the late Secretary of State and the Brit
lsh ministers, aud thus to preserve the peace
aud prevent collision betwee0 the British and
American authorities pending the negotiations
between the two governments. Entertai'i e DO
doubt of the validity of our title, need scarce
ly add that, in any event, American citizens
were to be placed on footing at least as favor
able as tha, of British subjects, it being under
stood that Capt. Pickett's company should re-
main oD the Island. Il is proper to observe
tnat, considering the distance from the scene
of action, and n ignorance of what might have
,ranspred on the spot before The Generals arr
rival, it was necessary tc leave much to his dis
cretiOn, and am happy to state the event has
proven that this discretion could not have been
lntrusted 10 more eompeten, hands. Geu. Scots
has recently returned from bis mission, having
successfully accomplished its objects, aud there
is no longer any good reason TO appreheud
collision between the forces Of the twa coGn-
tries during the pendeney of The existing nego-
tiations
regres to inform you that there has bsen no
improvement il the affairs of Mckee since mJ