The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-05

Northumberland Casey, MI. CaWpoe.l
and General Scott. If, then, Harneys
selection had only listened to Halter az
first. think how much inexpressibie
anxiety of the commercial public, and how
much government money would nave
been saved, which counted far up IN the
thousands of dollars After all, Harvey
could have made more economical seiec-
ton, and, perhaps. not o bad one.
The expedition to Esquiinait haroos
failed, Colonel Casey informed
Halter, in consequence OF his stan stahu-
ing upon etiquette. 1t seems captain
Pickett proceeded in small boat to the
Gauges. and was admitted to the presence
OF the admiral, who was engaged at ina. mo
ment with Governor Douglas. PICKETT IN
| formed the admiral that Lieutenant-coio-
| mel Casey, commanding the United States
| forces on San Juan island, had come 10
Esauimalt harDor to request an interview
| with Admiral Bayne, and would be pleased
| to meet him on board the American
| steamer. In reply Admiral Bayne sug-
gested that Colonel Casey might not be
| aware that Governor Douglas was then on
| the Gauges and he could not leave MN,
| but would be pleased to receive Colonel
/ Casey on board the Gauges, where he
| would have the pleasure OF meeting Gov
| ernor Douglas The staff deemed 1t the
| proper thing TO stand on the order of the
| old admiral first calling on Lieutenant
| Colonel Casey, and he did not, and there
/ upon they steamed to San Juan.
| Again, Colonel Anderson says: THE
| fact remains undisputed that warrant
was issued from British court for the
arrest of an American citizen, etc. What
| OF this fact? The fact remains undis-
! puted that the warrant was not served:
We have internal evidence that General
| Harvey, for at least one month after he
| ordered Captain Pickett on San Juan. did
| not know that such warrant had been
| .al L t. 1a off tut
report to the war department August 4
1889, and would most certainly have men
| toned it, being the strongest considera-
| ton to justify his proceedings, but he
| simply says: 1.-THE next day the British
| ship-of-war Satellite, with Mr.. Dallas on
/ board, who is chief factor Of the Hudson
| Bay company, and a son-ln-law OF Cover
nor Douglas, visited the island and threat
| ened to take the American to Victoria by
force, for trial. The American resisted,
| ETC." No warrant between July and
| August 7. Then. it follows, that any war
| rant from British cour. counts for moth
| lng-it cannot enter into the considera-
ton of General Harney's proceedings in
occupying San Juan, because he was ignor-
f, ant of the fact; therefore it could have no
influence whatever on Harney's motives
| or actions.
But certain other facts remain undis-
| puted: Mr.. Dallas did not visit the Island
of San Juan on the British ship of war
Satellite: that he had no intention, on
| leaving Victoria, to arrest an American
| citizen on San Juan by force and take him
to Victoria for trial. for Mr.. Dallas did
not know OF the hog-kiliing until after he
had landed on San Juan. because the kill
ing had only occurred few hours before
he arrived there. Halter simply exposed
General Harney's ''pernicious state
ments," positive falsehoods," and a
respected member of the Historical So
ciety. relying on General Harney's high
position as guarantee of his veracity.
flied in the archives extracts from General
Harney's official falsehoods as part of the
history of Washington in 1859, and ven
tured to assert that President Buchanan
complicated our rights as against Eng
land when he sent General Scott to adj
! Just matters.
The colonel continues: "Harney, as de-
partment commander, very properly went
up to investigate the matter" Could he
| have done so and report as he has? "Stili
more properly he decided to protect him. !"
| Harvey reports the affair as past, and
that Guitar successfully protected himself.
when he came to this decision, he asked
the question, What officer will defend
| this place (he was then on the islande
| ask no questions and disregard all bluffs. ,
Some one suggested Pickett, and he was
at once ordered down with his company
from Beliingfam bay, ETC." This quota
| tIOH CcFtuiUiy COHsitCtS Will well kHoWl
facts. to-wit: Captain Pickett, some time
previous, did visit San Juan island. and,
from what Captain E. s. Fowler stated, he
expected to be ordered thereon. That
| General Harvey had decided to order
Pickett on San Juan, before he General
Harney) had visited the boundary COM
| missioner at Semiahmoo, or Governor
Douglas at Victoria; after which he visited
and stood on San Juan island for the first
time.
Much more might be written. but to take
up every statement in the review would
make this paper much longer and more
tedious. | have never questioned General
Harney's personal bravery IN action, for
saw him in the battle at Cerro Gordo, Mex
ico and admired his gallantry. | find the
army register shows that William S. Har-
ney was born in Louisiana and appointed
from Louisiana. Commissioned second
lieutenant First infantry 18th of Febru-
airy, 1915 General Jackson's great battle
below New Orleans, La, was fought on the
Sth of January, ISIS.
Certain data, as places of birth and con-
duct at the period under consideration
| (ls59-60 etc. }, are very suggestive, and the
previous actions and conduct of officers
| are not always a guaranty as TO their fu-
| ture. We have melancholy instance in
the history of our war with Great Britain
| IN 1Sl2, where gallant and meritorious
old officer. for reasons best known to him.
| sell, surrendered his army at Detroit to
| the raw head and bloody bones.
Lastly, let me say that perfectly agree
with Colonel Anderson that it is not just
to condemn men simply because they were
Southerners." [ think further examIna-
ton OF HaAer's lecture at Tacoma will
show that the indisputable facts there pre-
sented nave er propria rigore severely crIti-
cised General Harney's proceedings. Hal
Ter did not create those facts. ana should
not, indeed cannot, he blamed for pre-
sentlng an accurate history, II possible, of
. period in which he has been an actor.
In conclusion | wish TO express my
thanks to Colonel Anderson for his COM
| plmentary remarks on my paper, and for
testing its accuracy by his review. The
fact Of his considering my contribution to
history worthy of his pen in review is
alone 4 compliment. only regret that
do not possess the polished dictlon which
be has attained. to present my arguments.
Granville Q. HALLER,
Colonel L. ;. A., retired.