The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-01-06


, mains unchanged. 7, therefore, again in
vite the attention Of Congress to this i'm
, portant subject. Without recognitio
OF this policy on their part, il will be al
most impossible TO institute negotiation
= with any reasonable prospect OF success
QUESTIONS WITH ENGLAND.
Until recent period there was goo
reason 10 believe that should be able /
announce TO you or the present occasion
that our difficulties with Great Britain
, arising out Of the Clayton and Bu!we
, Treaty, had been finally adjusted in
, manner alike honorable TO both partie.
From causes, however, which the Britis
, Government had not anticipated, the
have not yet completed treaty arrange
! ments with the Republics Of Honduras an
! Nicaragua, in pursuance Of the under
standing between the two Government,
1t IS, nevertheless, confidently expecte
that this good work will, ere long, be ac
compished.
While indulging the hope that no olhe
subject remained, which could disturb tn,
good understanding between the two
countries, the question arising out OF the
adverse claims Of the parties TO the Island
OF San Juan, under the Oregon treaty o.
the 10Th OF June, 1876, suddenly assumed
threatening prominence. In order to
prevent unfortunate collisions on that re.
mote frontier, the late Secretary Of State,
on the 18th Of July, 1855, addressed q
note to Mr.. Champion, then British Min
lster at Washington, communicating to
hlm a copy OF the instructions which he
Mr.. Marcyl had given, on the l4lh Of
July, to Gov. Stephens, Of Washington
Territory, having special reference to
an unprecedented conflict between our
ci''zens and the British subjects on the Is.
land OF San Juan" To prevent this, the
Governor was instructed that the officers
OF the Territory should abstain from all
acts on the disputed grounds, which are
alculated 10 provoke any conficls, so far
as It can be done, without implying the
concession TO the authorities OF Great Brit.
ain, OF an exclusive right over the prem
lses. The title ought to be settled before
either party should attempt TO exclude the
other by force, or exercise complete and
exclusive sovereign rights within the fairly
disputed limits"
In acknowledging the receipt on the
next day of Mr.. Marcy's note, the British
Minister expressed his entire concurrence
Sin the propriety of the course recon.
mended to the Governor Of Washington
Territory by your Mr.. Marcy'sl instruc-
tlons to that officer,' and stating that be
had "lost no time in transmitting a COPY
Vt that document to the Governor. Gener.
al OF British North America" and had
earnestly recommended to his Excellen-
cy 10 take such measures as to him NAV
appear best calculated to secure on the
part Of the Rrilish local authorities and
the inhabitants Of the neighborhood OF
the line in question, the exercise of the
same spirit OF forhearance which is incul.
Gated by you Mr.. Marcy on the aulhori.
ties and citizens Of the United States"
lhus matters remained upon the faith of
this arrangement, until the 9th of july last.
when General Harnoy paid visit to the
Island. He found upon it twenty. i've Amer
lean residents with their families and also
an establishment of the Hudson's Bay Co.
for tho purpose of raising sheep. A short
time before his arrival, one Of these resi-
dents had shot an animal belonging to the
Company, whilst trespassing upon bis prem-
lses, for which, however, be offered 10 nav
twice its value; but that was refused. Soon
after the chief factor of the Company, at
Victoria, MIR. Dallas, son .in.law of Governor
Douglas, came to tho Island, in the British
ship. oi.war Satellite, and threatened to take
the American (Mr Cuter) by forco to Vic
for thn l. L
mltted. The American seized bis rifle and
told MIR. Dallas if any such attempt was
made he would kill him on the spot. The
affair then ended"
Under those circumstances, the American
settlers presented petition to the General,
Through the United States Inspector of
Customs, Mr. Hubbs, TO place force upon
the Island to protect them from the Indians
as we'll as the oppressive interference OF the
authorities of the Hudson Bay Company, at
Victoria, with their rights as American citi.
zens." The General Immediately responded
to this petition, and ordered Capt. George
L. Pickett, Ninth Infantry, to establish his
Company on Bellevue, or San Juan Island
on some suitable position near the harbor.
at the southeastern extremity" This order
was promptly obeyed, and a military post
was established at the place desiguated.-
Tho force was afterwards increased, so that
by the last return, the whole number of !
troops then on the Island amounted ia the
aggregate to 59l men.
Whilst do not doem il proper on the
present occasion to go further into the sub
ject, and discuss the weight which ought to
be attached to the statements Of the British |
authorities cOntesting the accuracy
of the information on which the gallant Gen.
acted, it was due to him that should thus
present his own reasons for issuing the or
der to Capt. Pickett. From these ID is |
quite clear his object was to prevent the
British authorities on Vancouvers Island |
from exercising jurisdiction over American
on the Island of San Juan, as well
as to protect them against the ncursions of
the Indians.
Much excitement prevailed for some time
throughout that region, and serious danger
of collision between the parties was appre-
hended Tho British had large naval
force in the vicinityj and it is but an act of
simple justice to the admiral on that station
tn state that no wisely and discreetly for
bore TO commit any hostile act, but deter
mined to refer the whole affair TO his Gov
ernnient, and await their instructions.
This aspect of the matter, in my opinion,
demanded serious attention. 1t would have
been a great calamity for both nations had
hey been precipitated into acts of hostility
not on the question Of title to the island,
out merely concerning what should be its
condition during tho intervening period
whilst the two Governments might be em-
1loyed in settling the question to which of
hem it belongs For this reason 1t Gen |