, 1860-08-24

s.OtonS 70 Ine EQrOnpor
system, is subdiVided among half a psan SpsA
services, thoroughly understanding tbS uOdeu 5
ties OF infantry and cavalry officers ovo"I w
lent artillerists and admirable ep0inesr. T1, tI-
officers of the American army sro 0, ",s 'ne
the bravest, the most ENDURING ond %Ung ing
most accomplished Of their profession W 1Ie
have in two wars had ample reason ., ue
spect their skill and daring; and wbiiS %o
have often had but too much reason ,'c 70 oo". We
plain of the treatment we have rsCsiUoJ
from statesmen who have soupbt ~ ;U
proye their political position by paDdor;nr
to some popular prejudice against this cons
try, we have had every reason to he sot;.
fed with the genilemanlike and copsidsrat.
conduct of the officers of the Amsrico"
army.
1t has been, however, at last our mi.rOr,
tune to light upon signal exception in I.
man who, it is quite evident will leave
nothing untried in order to embroil ths
United States with nation which feels thS
heartlest good will towards them, and has
no other desire than that they should 90 m
increasing year by year, and working ont
the destiny which a partial fortune has re-
served for them, if they will only be con.
tent with it. We cannot trace in the eoD.
duct of the American government or of its
military commanders-always with the az.
ception Of Gen. Harney-the slightest wish
to disturb the good understanding which
has hitherto so happily prevailed between
England and the United States on the
western side Of the American continent
But General Harney chose to seize upon an
island t0hieh had hitherto remained in our uu.
disputed possession, and the American claim
to which we were perfectly willing to con-
slider and discuss in the most amicable man.
ner. He was permitted to land troops up-
on and to take armed possession Of the
island of San Juan, on pretence which be
himself was forced to admit to be utterly
groundless, and this at time when, owing
to our empowering numerical superiority;
the officer who offered us this unproVoked
insult was entirely at our mercy While
be seized by armed violence the subject Of
contention, we contented ourselves with sim
pie remonstrance and negotiation, thus Civ
ing the most conclusive proof of our deter
mination that II offences did come they
should not come through us. The govern
ment Of the President met us, it must be
allowed, in concilatory spirit 1t didnOt
indeed, do what the occasion really demand
ed-recall and disavow General Harney:
but it did the next best thing-it sent out
General Scott, an officer deserVedly looked
up to by his fellow couhtrymen, covered
with laurels won in many well contested
field, and possessing that moderate and con-
ciliatory spirit which is so often the accom-
paniment Of true bravery. Gen. Scott We
suppose, from his instructions, experiencing
some difficulty in absolutely overriding Gen.
Harney's ill-advised aggression, offered a
joint occupation of the Island of San Juan,
an offer Shieh, though at first declined, Ts
,peEe a[lsrpqKds auiLliRg to Gt upon. AT
this moment the northern point Of the Isl
and Of San Juan is occupied by British,
and the southern by an American force,
with an interval Of fifteen miles between
them, an interval, however, not sufficient To
prevent the interchange of mutual ciVihties
and good Offices. This state of things is
intolerable to General Harney, and be IS
evidently racking bis invention for some
method by which he may put an end to ih>
He has removed the American officer in
command, who, it seems, has English pro- |
clivities," ana has replaced him BY com |
mander Of very different character the
same gentleman whom he selected as his |
instrument when he first seized upon the |
island, and who, moreover, seems TO have
been removed from his post by General
Scott at the request Of the British author1
tiles.
Thus, having carefully selected bis instru-
ment, the General next proceeds to look
about for cause Of quarrel He issues
his instructions to his officer, a copy Of
which he transmits to the English Admiral,
and in which he repndiates altogether the
proposition of General Scott for joint Oc-
cupation. He asserts that our troops were
permitted to land on the island, whereas it
is notorious that the superiority Of force
was entirely on our side, and declares that
inasmuch as the Legislature Of Washing
ton Territory had been so good as to in
clude the island still in dispute within the
county of Whatcom, any attempt to ignore
this sovereignty will be attended with do
plorable consequences. These proceedings,
we must add, are in direct contradiction to
the instructions Of the Commander-in-Chief
and the sentiments of the President him
self, who wishes that the status Of either
party should remain unchanged until the
questions as to the property in the island
shall be finally decided.
This is all we know at present: but u o
only too erident that General HarRey as SEX
ing for an occasion Of offence against US, and
if stop be not put to his misdhicuOHs carer,
he aOM most probably iHrolps us in troubles
from tohieh there l0iA be no honorable eseaps,
sroept through The open portals Of the Temple
Of Janus We are always anxious, and We
have no reason to be ashamed Of being al
why's anxious, to preserve the very best un-
derstanding with the United States Our
interests, private and public, our common
origin, our common freedom, all plead
strongly for forbearance. TIE UNited
States haze repeatedly done to this country
things 1oIich no other gopernDent in the toOTLd