Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-01-19
The British Colonist and MI. Hyatt.


ton Territorial Legislature" gives an
improper impression of a short cdito-
rial note, accompanying the report of
certain remarks made by Mr.. Hyatt,
in our Legislative Assembly. Mr.. Hy-
att is representative from Whatcom
county, which Americans i'll this. Terri
tory as unanimously believe, includes
the Island of San Juan within its
boundaries and limits, rs that Victoria
is situate upon Vancouver Island. We
took occasion to approve the general
vein and sentiment of Mr.. lis speech !;
but We expressed doubt as to the pol
icy of that gentleman using terms of
rcproach against individuals entrusted
with the administration of British Col
onial affairs. Had we then known that
several of that gcntlcman's constituents
had recently been removed from their
settlements on San Juan Island, by the
100 marines on duty there, as an "army
of occupancy" making reservation
of some eighteen miles square, VIC
could have found cxtcn,mtion for the
feeling he displayed. But as it was,
we expressed no doubt whatever that
the British authorities deserved unqual-
flied condemnation by every American
Our only doubt was whether any good
would result by calling their officials
hard names.
The ColoniH admits that in 1853, the
course of those authorities deserved
and received the ccnsurc of all people,
was discountcnanccdby the British gov
crnmcnt, and was abandoned. For
this reason Mr. II. has no further rca-
son for complaint. But it seems to for
get, that Americans in 1850 were pre-
vented from celebrating the birthday
of the immortal Washington. That
although Victoria is Il free port. vet
American vessels are obliged to pay S.
for entering, while British vessels arc
charged 81 so.
That the " Southern Boundary Act,
1860" and the comments upon it by
the British C1lo"ist, in its weekly issue
Of Jan. 9Th, 1861, establish the fact that
the same narrow-mir.cd, restrictive
and unjust policy actuatcs tho authori-
ties of that Colony in 1861 as in 1858
The G"|onist justly condemns Gov.
Douglas, first for cva,linga law. in order
to tax Americans travelling through
British territory who cannot possibly
enter their goods at New Wcstminis-
ter. Srcond, in his effort to subject
American traders to such restrictions
and cXactions, as to amount to prohibi-
ton to them to import merchandise,
thereby prccluding competition with
British traders.
We regret that the articles in that
issue on the Southern Boundary
trade" cannot appear at length in this
week issue, from the crowded state of
our columns, but we really believe that
those two articles have supplied Mr.. II.
with all the evidence to make good his
charge against the colonial authorities
for the restrictive policy pursued
towards Americans.
Again, Americans have Just occasion
to complain of the conduct of those
same authorities in regard to the MUIR
acrcls of Schrotcr and others. That
conduct was shutiling and cvasivc, UNI
worthy Christian nation. First, hope
was held out to the authorities of this
Territory that those pirates would he
surrendered on rcquisition. Our effort
to secure them, Of course further in
ccnscd the Indians; failing to get them
we arc noe the more subject to their
dcprcdations. Second, if they were not
encouraged to escape by the authorities
Of the Island, no assistance was rem
dcrcd to bring the guilty to justice, and
the omission thus to aid was equivalent
to harboring them. Does any sane
man doubt for a moment that had the
authorities of Vancouvcr's Island de-
sired the punishment of these heather
murlcrcrs, that they could possibly
have escaped the just rctribution they
so richly deserved? Thus arc those
| IuliunS tauuht fiat tho Rritish aro fLe:..