, 1860-05-04

Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.. Walker, advocated
the extreme line of 544O;"-Jut, with
the exception of the Postmaster General,
? Mr.. Cave johnson, all were earnestly in
favor of so modifying the pyojst aF to in
clude within the domdn of theI United
States, the Island of Vancouver But the
Senate, doubtless moved by what they just
ly believed to be the worthlesSnesS Of the
territory in dispute, and alarmed at the
possible consequences Of double war to a
nation which thirty years Of peace had rcu-
dered too careless as TO its means Of de
fence, Immediately adopted without altera-
ton, as the bacis of treaty, the preject
forwarded by our minister at London.
There was one difficulty The 49th par
alel was to he forever the boundary be-
tween the two nations. But the 49th par
allel run out to mid ocean, woald cut Off
the southern end of Vancouver'5 Island
upon which then recently there had been
established a British station. 1t was nee
essary, then, that the line should defect to
the southward, so as to avoid the southern
end Of Vancouver, and it was for this pur-
pose alone the stipulation in the first arti-
Gle of the treaty was 0ssented to by the
! United StateS-that the line, after leaving
the mainland, should run mp the middle of
the channel separating Paneourer's Island
Crom The continent TO the Straits of Fuca,
and thence to mid-ocean BY the stipula-
ton we have a right to claim even the ISL
and Of Saturna; but we have never assert
ed this claim, as the channel inside that ISL
and has not hitherto been, what the Canal
de Haro has been, the beaten track for
vessels from the continent to Vancouver's
Island and the Straits Of Fuca.
We have already quoted from the speech
| OF Mr.. Benton in secret sessio Of the Sen
ate, on the ratification of the treaty Of
June Is, lS46, in which, with the cXtraor-
binary and profound knowledge that states-
man exhibited on oil questions of national
importance, he declared the Island of Van
couver comparatively valueless, und that
for its REIMBURSEMENT we were fully com
pensated by the possession Of San Juan
and the other islands of the archipelago
east Of the Canal de Haro, secured to us
by the stpulations of the treaty. We
have also shown in Il former article that at
the time of the ratification Of the Oregon
treaty there existed no reason why San Juan
should be included within British territory,
as there was not at that time single in
habtant on the island. nor was it pre-
viously known to or visited by white men.
In 1858, for the 6rst time, it was arbitra-
rily occupied by Governor Douglas as q
sheep range. The claim now set up, there
fore, by the British Government is wholly
an afIerthought aud must Nppear-even for
that grasping and selfish power-more than
ordinarily dsereditable, when one takes
into consideration its utter groundessuess
and bald injustice.
We see by late number Of the London
Times, that u proposition has been made
by the British Government 10 settle the
question they themselves have raised, by
giving to the United States all the other
islands but San Jnan,-possesSion of which
with the Canal de Haro is TO be retained
by Great Britain. The cool impudence of
this prolfer Of adjustment will be best ap
prcciated when we state, that with the ex-
ception Of San Juan and Lopez islands,
which are scarcely more than q mile apart,
and the space between which affords excel
lent holding ground for vessels, and forms
a safe and cupacious harbor, there is not a
single island of the group which will afford
Il refuge for our ships, or can be made a
naval depot, or Is in the least degree val
liable in strategic point Of view. To US,
therefore, the possession Of San Juan is not
merely a question Of national pride, as it is
ours by treaty stipulation, but it is, further
more, Of exigeut necessity to our commerce
and to the safety Of our northern possessions
on the Pacific. North Of San Francisco
to the 49,h parallel there is 10 safe harbor
on our coast. There is no shelter, then, for
our vessels in those attitudes, from the
vicissitudes Of the elements during the
stormy months; no retreat from n superior
force of the enemy in time of war. In the
event of war, all intercourse with Washing
ton and Oregon would be suspended; the
gates of the Sound would be closed 10 our
commerce, and all our possessions border
ing upon those waters would be subject to
contribution or occupied by hostile force.
| AS our Government are fully alive to
the Importance OF these considerations and
as they are fully aware Of the dishonesty
of the claim set up by Great Britain, we
have no fears that any amount Of diplo-
matte cajolery will induce them to surren-
der the Island Of San Juan. 1t belongs to
US. 1t is necessary to US; and we must not
part with it, even if England-coEeting
her neighbors' goOds-should, to obtain
possession Of it, force upon us wicked and
unjust war.