, 1864-06-06
Your most ob't and humble serv't,
WILLIAM A. q. YOUNG.
(coPY.)
(coPY.)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, !
Washington Territory, !
Olympia, May 9th, 1854.

| washington ACTTltOfJ1
Olympia, May 9th, 1854.
To h $ Ercelieney Governor ReaRedy, Van.
coWper Lsiaad.
Sir,--In acknowledging the receipt o.
the communication Of your Excelleney bear.
ing the date 4th instant, respecting the re.
ported statement signed by one Richard J
Wilkinson, dated Fort SIeilacoOm, w. T..
April 2Sth, 1864, addressed to the Editor
Of the EeeHiag EFpress, setting forth 0
case of great cruelty and hardship, Of false
imprisonment, of his having been arrested
at the hotel in Steilacoom on the 18th Oi
April last, dragged Of to the fort, locked
up as y deserter from the United States
Army, and up to the date Of his letter, the
18th, not allowed a hearing by the Officer
in command of the fort, and that he claims
to be British subject. | have the honor
to state in reply, first, beg leave to pre-.
sent my personal thanks for the cOmmuni.
cation Of your Excellency, and more espe.
cially for the confidence expressed therein,
that just aud proper measures would be
taken by myself in the premises"
From principle of right and duty as well
as from humanity, l Immediately requested
Capt. Egbert II. Tucker, the officer com.
manding Fort Steilacoom, to inform me Of
the facts Of the case.
The said officer in command assures inc
that he has no knowledge whatever Of any
such person as Richard j. Wilkinson,
and he further states "the assertion that
such person has been in confinement in
the fort since April 18th is without fOun-
dation in truth"
have great satisfaction in taking this
opportunity Of assuring your Excellency
that during all the time since my arrival
here the most friendly official and personal
relations have uniformly existed between
myself as Governor of Washington Terri.
tory, and your honorable and praiseworthy
predecessor Sir james Douglas, the late
Governor of Her Britannia Majesty's Colo.
nies of Vancouver Island and British Go.
lumbia.
And it is with great pleasure l most cor.
daily receive and welcome the assurances
Of your Excellency in the expression oi
your earnest desire at all times to coop
crate with me in any manner that may tend
to the welfare Of our respective countries. y
That liberal sentiment and proposition on
your part, Sir, commands and merits my
warmest admiration and respect; itreaects
great honor and credit upon yourself per.
sopally, and upon your distinguished posi-
ton OF Governor Of Her Majesty's Colony
Of Vancouver Island. Your friendly as.
snrances i fully appreciate, and consider
them in every respect well worthy Of my
example, and therefore beg leave to assure
your Excellency most sincerely rccipro
cate that true spirit Of international cour.
tesy, right, and justice, 50 happily expressed
and selt-evidently necessary to insure the
continued preservation Of the peace, wei
fare, harmony, and prosperity Of tho diver
sified and intermingled pursuits Of tho com.
mercial interests and personal relations d
the contiguous population Of the said Colo
nies Of Her Britannia Majesty and Of the
adjoining Territories Of the United State.
of America.
! chcerfully present my sincere congratu
lations on your accession to your honorable
arduous, aud responsible position, and hear
tily wish your Excellency popular and
successful administration.
Given under my hand, with the Seal Of tht
Territoryof Washington affixed, , at Olym
pia, this 9th day Of May, A. d., 1854.
WILLIAM PICKERING,
Governor of WdskingsoR TERRITORY.