Year: 1860

The London Times on the American Armx


In General and General Harney in Par.


ticular.


The London Times Of June 9th saws:


There is no class of her citizens of which
America has better reason to be proud than of
the officers of her Army. Educated, for the
most part, in the delightful and romantic sal.
itude Of West Point, shut out from the world
around them by gigantic chain of mountains
on the one side and the circlinp conrse Of the
Hudson on the other, and subjected to a discip-
line which teaches them to command them
selves and others, the officers of the American
Army join to full share of the national in
telligence an amount of modesty and gentle
ness which We may be permitted 10 say is not
quite 80 universal among their fellow-country-
men as some other more brilliant qualities In
the pursuance Of q profession peculiarly ar
duOus and ill-remunerated, possessed of the
knowledge which, according to the European
system, is subdivided among half a dozen SER
vices, thoroughly understanding the duties of
Infantry and cavalry officers, excellent artil-
lerists and admirable engineers, the officers Cf
the American Army are among the bravest
the most enduring, and the most accomplished
In their profession. We have in two wars had
ample reason to regret their skill and daring;
and, while we have often had but too much
reason to complain of the treatment we have
received from statesmen who have sought to
improve their political position by pandering
".
We have had every reason to be satisfied with
the gentlemanlike and considerate conduct of
the officers of the American Army


1t has been, however, at last our misfortune
to light upon single exception, in a man
who, it is quite evident, will leave nothing un-
tried in order to embrOll the United States
with a nation which feels the heartiest good
will towards them, and has no other desire
than that they should go on increasing year
by year and working out the DESTINY which a
partial fortune has reserved for them, if they
will only be content with it. We cannot trace
In the conduct of the American Government,
or OF its military commanders-always with
the exception of Gen Harney-the slightest
wish to disturb the good understanding which
has hitherto so happily prevailed between Eng
land and the United States on the western side
OF the American continent. But Gen. Harney
chose TO seize upon an island which had hither-
to remained in our undisputed possession, aud
the American claim to which we were per-
fectly willing to consider and discuss in the
most amicable manner. He was permitted to
land troops upon and to take armed possession
Of the Island of San Juan, on a pretense which
he himself was forced 10 admit to be utterly
grOundless, and this at a time when owing to
our overpOwering numerical superiority, the
officer who offered US this unproyoked insult
was entirely at our mercy. While he seized
by armed violence the subject of contention
we contented ourselves with the simple remon-
STRANGE and negotiation, thus giving the most
conclusive proof Of our determination that if
Offense did come they should not come through
Us. The Government of the President met US
it must be allowed, in a cOnciliatOry spirit


1t did not indeed. do what the occasion re-
ally demanded-recall and disavow Gen Har-
ney, but it did the next best thing-it sent out
Gen. Scott, an officer deservedly looked up to
by his fellow cOuntrymen, covered with laurels
won In many well-cOntested field, and pos
sesslng that moderate and concilatory spirit
which is so often the accompaniment Of true
bravery. Gen. Scott, feeling, we suppose,
from his instructions some difficulty in abso-
lutely overruling Gen. Harney's ill-advised
aggression, offered joint occupation of the
island Of San Juan, an offer, which though at
first declined, we were sfterward willing to act
upon At this moment the northern point of
the island Of San Juan is occupied by British
and the southern by an American force, with
an interval of - miles between them an in
terval, however, not sufficient to prevent the
interchange of mutual civilities and good off
ces. This state Of thingsis is intolerable to Gen.
Harney, and he is evidently rscking his in
yentiOn for some method by whiehhe may put
an end TO ii.


He has removed the American officer in COM
mand, who, it seems, has English proclivi-
ties, - and has replaced him by commander
Of a very different character, the same gentle
men whom he selected as his instrument when
he FIRST seized upon the island, and who, more
over, seems to have been removed from his
post by General Scott at the request of the
British authorities. Thus, having carefully
selected his instrument, the General next pro-
ceeds 10 look about for a cause of quarrel. He
issues his instructions to his officer, a copy of
which he transmits to the English Admiral,
and in which he repudiates altogether the pro-
position Of General Scott for a joint occupa-
ton. He asserts that our troops were permit
ted to land on the island, whereas il is noto-
IiOus that the superiority of force was entirely
on our side, and declares that inasmuch as the
Legislature Of Washington Territory has been
so good as TO include the island still in dispute
within the county Of Whatcom, any attempt to
ignore this sovereignty will be attended with
deplorable consequences. These proceedings
we must add, are in direct contradiction to
the instructions of the Commander-in-Ch Chief,
and the sentiments Of the President himself
who wishes that the status of either party
should remain unchanged until the question as
to the property in the island shall be finally
decided.