M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-01-12

NSf1 NttN W. - tAt'tf lNNAe NAA WV
Island OF San Juan"
Topreyen; this the Governor was instmc-
ted that the oilicers OF The Territory should
abstain from all acts onihe disputed grounds
which are calculated 10 provoke any con
flicls, so fsr as il ton be tune without i'm
plying the cunccs,iOn To the authorities of
Great Britain OF an exclusive tight over the
premises. Tie title ought to b. settled be-
fore either party should attempt to exclude
the other By force, or exercise complete and
exclusive sovereign ,.ghts within The fairly
disputed limits.
mJcknowtdging the rereipt on the next
day oi Mr.. lla,Ci's note, the British Minis
ter expressed his culire concurrence "in the
Itopiiety ofcoMse recommended TO the Gov
Crnor OF Washington Territory BY your MIR.
liarcy'sl instructions to that ulhrer,' and
stating thai he had lost no Time in trans
hitting copy Of that document to the Gov
vrnor General OF British North America "
aud had "earacstly recommended TO his EX-
rellency to take such measures as to him may
appear b, srCalCuia,ed to secure, on the part
of the British LEGAL authorities and the in
iIabiants Of the ntighbUrhoOI OF the line in
TO question, the exercise Of the same spirit
ol forbearante which is incucoted by you
Mr. Marcy on the authorities and cllizens
Ol the United States"
Thus matters remained upon the faith of
this arrangement until the 9Th OF July ast,
when General Hdrnry paid visit to the Is
land. lie found upon it twenty-five Amer
icsn residents with their families, and also
an establishment of the Hudson's Bay Com
pany for the purpose o raising sheep. n
short time before his arrival, one oil these res
idens had shot an animal belonging to The
company, while trespOssing upon his premi-
ses, for which, however, he offered to pay
twice lis value; but that was refused. Soon
after "the chief laclor OF the company at
Victoria Mr.. Dalles, son.in-law oi Cover
nor Douglas, came u the Island in the Brit
ish slOop. .ol-wdr Satellite and threatened to
take "lhis American (Mr Cutler) by force to
Victoria, 10 answer lor the trespass he had
committed. The American seized his rifle
and told Mr.. Dalles ifany such attempt was
made ho would Kill him On the spot. The
affair then ended"
Under these circumstance the American
settlers presented TO the General. through the
AAINN AJA0ANo lAa aINNNbl VI NAo'bl NA''
Hubbs, 80 place force upon the island to
protect them from he Indians as well as the
oppressive Interference OF the authorities Of
the Hudson Bay Company at Victoria with
their tights as American citizens" The
General Immediately responded TO this pet.
tion, and ordered Captain George L. Picket t,
9th infantry. "to establish his company on
Bellevue, or San Juln island, on some suit.
able position near the hMbor at the SOUTH
eastern extremity" This order was prompt.
ly obeyed, aud military post was established
at the place designated. The force was al.
teward increased, SO that by the last return
the whole humble: OF tropps then on the is.
and amounted in the aggregate to 69I men.
While | do not deem ii proper on the pres.
ent occasion 10 60 further into the subject,
and discuss the weight which ought TO be at.
tached to the statements Of the British colo
Hial authorities, contestng the accuracy OF
the information on which the gallant Geier-
al acted, it was due TO him that should
thus present his own reasons for issuing the
order to Captain Pick It. From these it is
quite clear his object was TO prevent the Brit.
ish authorities on Vancouver's island from
exercising jurisdiction over American resi-
dents Oh the island Of San Juan as well as
TO protect them against the uculsions Of the
Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
throughout the region aud serious danger OF
collision between the parties was apprenend-
ed, The British had large naval force in
the vicinity; and it is but an act of simple
justice to the admiral OH that sta ZION to state
that he wisely and discreetly iorebore TO
commit any hostile act, but determined to
refer he whole affair TO his government and
await their instructions.
This aspect Of the matter, in my opinion,
demanded serious attention. 1t would have
heen great calamity for both nations had
they been precipltated into acts of hostility
NOT on the question of title , the island, but
meieIy concerning what should be its cOndi-
tIon during the intervening period while the
two governments might be employed in set.
thing the question 10 which OF them it be,
longs. For this reason Lieutenant General
Scott was despa lched on the 18th September
last TO Washington Territory to take imne.
diate command of the United States forces
on the Pacific coast should he deem his ne
Cessary.
The main object of this mission was to
carry out the spirit Of The precautionary ar
rangement between The late Secretary of
State and the British Minister, and thus TO
preserve the peace and prevent collision be.
tween the British and American authorities
pending the negotiations between the two
governments. Entertaining ne doubt of The
validity of our title need scarcely aid that,
in any event, American citizens were to be
placed on footing al least as favorable as
that OF British subjects, it being understood
that Captain Pckelt's company should re.
main on the island. 1t is proper to observe
that considering the distance from the scene
OF action, and in ignorance oil what might
have transplred on the spot before the Gen
ais arrival, il was necessary to leave much
to his discretion, aud am happy TO stats
the event Inns proven that this discretion
could not have been ntruSted TO more com
petent hands. General Scott has recently
returned from his mission, having success
fully accomplished its objects, and lhefe is no
longer any good reason 10 aprehrnd col
ision between the forces of the two coun-
tries during the tendency Of The existing lie.
gullatlons.
regret to inform you tha there has been
no. improvements IN the affairs OF Mexico
since, my last annual message, and | am