, 1860-03-16

tended in landing our troops fur,L.
protection against Indians and "a l llsn
that the British troops should bs s'preelaII rII
excluded, pending. the settlement "tfelCJ of
boundary by the joint commissio0 y, 'le
his letter of the 3Oth of the samS while
written after being fully advised uiOnlh aS
facts, is quite silent as to approyal VI :, lae
Generals coarse. 4' VI lde
Gen. Scott arrived at Vancorvo, IT,
T., on the goth of October, and w. ~, w.
25th despatched to Governor Don,r 'ne
communication proposing settlsmSo.".
the difficulty on the basis suggested Su' 6u ;, o.
President. y 'Ae
The 9Th of December found c.,.,
Scott embarked on his return, havin" euVlSl
complished the object of his yisit n,' Se
ing the British Governor enterta;.S E'nd'
hostile purpose, he had reduced the Su 10
can force at San Juan to one companr S', !,
infantry, retained solely for the brpls:,;o y u
of settlers, with the understanding tb., y
the same spirit, the larger of the R,i,;I u
ships should be withdrawn. Access
ing the Generals despatch of that dr.
the correspondence which led to this al
justment. From it we find that Gen.
Scott proposed that, until the setilemsn, -
the question by the two governments ,S'
island should he occupied by two comn.
MES Of foot troops, one of each nation ia
that all disturbances should be dealt With
by the authorities of the government to
which the offending party might beloDv
Governor Douglas replied that, having no
Instructions from his government and h'.
ing unacquained with its views he coDld
not undertake to embarrass its measure,
by agreeing to these terms, but suggested
that all the troops should be withdraw
and things restored to their former aalu
by JOINT civil occupation. But to this
General Scott objected, in turn, On he
ground that the civil magistrates on our
part would be beyond the control Of The
Executive
Finally, however, General Scott directed
the number Of our troops to be reduced
and the attitude Of neutrality to be Oh
served, as at first proposed by him to Gov.
ernor Douglas, who, on being advised Of
these orders, issued corresponding instrue
tions to the British officers. What could
not have been accomplished by diplomacy
was thus effected by mutual action.
Before taking his departure General
Scott, believing that one of the FIRST De.
mands of the British government would be
General Harney's removal from the CON.
mand of the military department Of Ore
gon, suggested to that officer the propnety
Of relieving the President from any posi-.
BILE embarrassment, by voluntarily with.
drawing from the command. He accord
ingly authorized General Harney to pro-
ceed to st. Louis and assume command oi
the Department of the West, giving him,
at the same time, leave to decline tue Or.
der, if he saw fit M
Gen Harney saw ft. He declined comply
ing with such an order, saying" do not
believe the President Of the United States
will be embarrassed by any action of The
British government in reference to San
Juan Island; nor can suppose the Presi-
dent would be pleased to see me relnquish
this command in any manner that does not
plainly indicate his intentions towards the
public service" Thus stands the affair
General Harney still remains in charge Ol
the Department Of the Pacific.