Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1865-06-24
SATURDAY voRNI>G. HNE u. I~5a.


O,snas,s<Aet1ea ~ taz JBan-
We have received the foI.o~inS eozuu-
nica,ior from an intelligent oifixrn 81 San
Juan. and eherrfully give IT place in cur
columns to the end that justice may be
done the American residents of the Island.
We know no, that Maj. Biss,ll has exceed
I'd lis authority in the premises, bu, Ger
tain it is that much dissatisfaction exists.
and the matter should receive the consid
Grafton its importance seems to warrant.
In December las. We received letter from
q citizen of the island, making substan-
TALLY the same complaints, but We declined
to publish the statement at the time, be-
lieving that the commandant would not
have exercised authority unwarranted by
his instructions. This may be the true
view of the matter now, and # so, the pub
LEGATION of of the letter can do no harm. A
statement from Major Bissell, in this event,
will undoubtedly be satisfactory TO the cit
liens of San Juan, so far as his action is
concerned:
SAN JUAN ISLAND, June S, 1865.
ED. STANDARD: deem it necessary to
make known to the citizens of Washington
Territory, and particularly the Union
party of the Territory, the cause of their
being no election held at this place in con-
formity with the law of the land in which
VIC live.
On the 9th day of July, 1859, Gen. w.
S. Harvey arrived here in the steamer
Massachusetts,. The person who now ad-
dresses you, received him as he landed on
the beach, and it was through my excr-
tons on that occasion that troops were
sent to San Juan to protect lis against
British aggression and Indian hostlites.
At first the British objected to the occu-
patton of the island by our troops, and
threatened collision "unless the status
established on the moderate and conciliato-
ry views laid down in Secretary Marcy's
dispatch to Governor Stevens" Of the 14th
of July, 1855, be complied with. The ad-
vent of Lieut. Gen. Winfield Scott restored
peaceful relations between the two Gov
ernments, by reducing the American
troops then occupying the island to one
company, and enjoining its commander to
protect the citizens of his Government
in their persons and property, and prevent
the descent of marauding Indians.
Prior to reducing the troops at San Juan.
propositions were made by Gen. Scott to
James Douglas, Governor of Vancouver's
Island, to have the island jointly occupied
with a company of British troops for the
equal protection of their subjects; and it
was further enjoined that the troops should
exercise strict police over their respective
countrymen. to prevent any dissentions
among the settlers of the one nation with
the settlers of the other. This proposition
was accepted, and the island is now occu.
piee by company of U. s. troops and
also by company of British troops,
whose duties are as above stated. The
occupation of the island by troops did not
alter the civil Jurisdiction Of the United
States and of Washington Territory from
being exercised as before until the election
of 1862. At this period, Major Lyman
Bissell assumed command, who disfran-
chised and dismembered the American
citizens of this island from all Of the rights
and benefits of the American laws-the
privilege of every freeman, where the
right Of domain is asserted and maintained
BY the Government. He has prevented
the Justice of the Peace, chosen by the
people. from performing the duties Of his
Office; he has abroxated the civil jurisdic.
ton Of the island in al cases, and pro-
claimed himself the sole ruler over the
American citizens Of San Juan. Taking
these facts into consideration. the most in
telligent ard prominent cifi.ens If the
island got together yesterday morning. At
the house where the election was - be
he!d. and after some CONSULTATION relative
20 the past and pr->~nf state Ut aEsir> On
the island. agreed 10 bid no nas~ el~c-
sissns until j; was asc--tsin~d from the
United States whether she Americas csfi-
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