Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-19
The san Juan Dimcuity.

the territory in dispute the conduct Of the officials
both sides the matter is not undeservng Of serious
dle.
The question TO the ownership Of the Island turns
1gon the Interpretation Of the treaty which makes "the
channel on this side Of Island part of the
boundary line between the English and American pos
sessions. There it channels (lhe Island
Of San Juan lying between vancouvers Island aud the
main land the Canal Gel HarO Runs the side of
San Juan Island and the Rosario Straits the east side
of t. The Americans claim that the former is the
channel and that the Island Of San Juan belongs to the
Uai,ed States The English maintain the contrary
W ,hout enterug into the merits Of the question: it is
SUN .en for the present say that the best informs
Americans, less than the general Of the people
in Washington Territory, fully convinced that
title IS clear and unquestiOnable."
AZ far back as 1882, the Legislature of Oregon Terri
tory organized the Island of San Juan together wi
other Islands as Island County" In 1854 the Legs
lative Assembly Of Washington Territory established
new county called "whatcom," embracing the Island
Of San Juan The assessment Of taxes was made on the
IAnd the year. by the authority of the Legislature
and collection enforced in March, 1885, as to the pro-
psrty of the Hudson Bays Company on the Island by
the seizure Of thirty sheep for which that Compa-
nav preferred claim amounting to fifteen thousand dol
lars or drHGgss Both English and American settlers
were resident upon the Island But the former, under
the shield Of the Hudson Bay Company enjoyed a Sc
Guilty from the nroads Of hostile Indians which the
Americans, without organization, and unprotected by
government force did possess The Americans were
ofteu pluudered several murders we're committed and
those who escaped were more than once Indebted for
their safety TO the protection Of Mr.. Griffin the agent
Of the Hudson Bay Company, This condition of things
prevented the settlement Of the Island the part Of the
Americans and led to repeated requests from the set
ters to Gen. Harvey, that be would station small force
upon the Island for their security.
In compliance with these requests Gen Harney issued
the order to C,p Pickett proceed with his command
from Fort Belhngham, and take up position on San
Juan Island. The order obeyed, and camp formed
To which Colone Casey subsequently gave the Of
"CAnp Pickett"
Ga the day that Capt Pickett landed Fan English
vessel 81 war arrived bringing an English magistrate
whom the British Governor Douglas had sent to exercise
authority such upon the Island and whom the "Saie
lie" support At the time the vessel sailed from
victora the movement Of the American troops was not
known anticipated, aud the immediate object Of
the British authorities 70 arrest IN American ,slo
ry, asl 10 take him 10 Tietora for trial. The attempt
90 arrest was actually made By constable for the
purpose butthe offender happened to be in the woods
Warned OF bis danger be went to the American camp;
aud the British magistrate notified by Capt Pickett,
that he could noe be permitted to exercise any authority
over American settlers.
Gov. Douglas has been lcng connected With the Hud
son Bay Company and interested in their aggrandize-
That bis ofcia action was dictated quite as much
BY desire TO promote their views by of pub
lie duty is very obvious But what is still less to his
credit he has endeavored by equvoeaton and subter
fage evs1e the responsibility Of that official action
and has aOemDly denied that any attempted
By British authority. The facts however, are establish
ed and Gov. Douglas completely fully shown in the En-
Doc No To- printed by order Of the Senate Of 18th Feb
ruary 1850 and Ex. Doc. No ~ printed by order Of
the House of 26th April, 1860.
The Satellite was soon followed BY two other British
sSips-tbe Pumper and the Tribune-all of which
chored With their broadsides bearing the American
camp Capt Pickett vas "~arned or by the Hudsons
Bay AgeuL He was then summoned before the British
magistrate But he declined TO comply with these re-
quests, a negotiation opened BY Capi. Horribly Of
tie Tribune on behalf Of himself and the commanders
Of the other vessels Il proposed by them to land
al equal force with that Of Capt Pickett and to esab
iish Joint military occupation of the island. Under the
Instructions he had received Capt Pickett felt bis duty
% refuse bis consent without the appreciation Of General
H,raey the English captains then said that they must
land without his consent: TO which Capt Pickett replied
that they did so. he must oppose them by force. He
wll reminded by them Of the handfGl Of me0 under his
eommand-nOt exceeding sixty in number-and the mad
ness Of attempting resistance against the strength Of
thSee vessels Acknowledging his ineriory OF force
Cap: Pickett adhered firmly to his resolution declared
that he would not depart from bis orders and that the En-
sh officers must take the responsibility Of the collision,
II any was Oeeasoned by their action Fortunately for
both nations the English captains, influenced by higher
and better motives than those of Governor Douglas fer
bore the attempt 10 land afOrbearAnce which, in view
of the overwhelming force at their command could be
1scrbed nothing else but reluctance to involve the
40 countries IN Matters remained in this eondi-
ton until the arrival of General Scott except that in
the meantime reinforeemens to the amount Of five hun
red men bad been sent by Gen. Hlras and Col Casey
had assumed the command. The conduit OF Capt Pick
EFT vas pointedy approved BY Gen. Harvey and be vas
recommended by the same Officer for bceyet 'or the
cool Judgment ability and galantry" which distinguished
him in his command on San Juan Island" The sen;i-
Eeat thus expressed by Gen. Harvey certainly not
dsspproyed By the President for in the Instructions
communicated Gen Scott the l6h September 1852
BY W. K DTinkArd the acting Secretary Of War, while
the President authOrses consent to the joint oecupa-
ton which bad been proposed by Capt Horribly and re-
fused by Capt Pickett be goes to say: -" being ''
drstOOdlGt Capt Pieksts eomp0Nysk shall remain on tie
ssopd to resist if need De- The iHeirSiO"s Of Northern
Indians on oar frontier ssstnsRtS and TO afford proee-
non to American citizens resident hersOa'
Ia conformity with bis Instructions Gslerll Scot.
tered into an arrangement uh Governor Douglas for
the joint occupation Of the island by miltUy dstAch-
ments Of both nations exceeding ore hundrsi men
Of each until the question Of ownership should be set
lied between the tao governments. And, in the first
place Capt Piekets company suggested by the Pre-
sdent was ordered by General Scott to remain the
island for the protection Of the American settlers but
afterwards the order changed, and Captain Hunts
company was substituted for Captain Pieksns. During
abe making Of these arrangements Captain Pickett was
absent On the mainland having been detailed mem
her court martial before the arrival Of Gen. Scott
and chen be learned what had been done he reOined
, his company at Fort ssllinghAm, As directed.
For the change thus made, 10 assigned in
the order Of Gen. Scott Il apprehended By some
of Capt Pekstts friends that il might be construed un
vorAbly him. and inquiries we're made BY them q tie
War Department They we're answered that there Vas