Britannic Majesty's Island of Vancouver; also a copy of my reply to the same; both of which papers I request may be submitted for the information of the President of the United States at your earliest convenience. "Governor Douglas denies that the British authorities of Vancouver's Island were cognisant of the outrage attempted upon an American citizen on San Juan Island, as reported in my communication to the head-quarters of the army, of July 19th, and my letter to you of the 7th instant. This denial, couched as it is in strong language, does not explain how a British ship of war did convey Mr. Dallas, the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and son-in-law of Governor Douglas, to San Juan Island; that Mr. Dallas landed and threatened an American citizen, by the name of Cutler, with imprisonment at Victoria, to which place he would be taken in a ship of war waiting for him. This threat was not put into execution, for the reason that Cutler told Mr. Dallas if it was attempted he would kill him on the spot. But Mr. Dallas having left the island in the ship of war, the conclusion is irresistible, that Mr. Dallas either had the ship of war under his control by some direct authority from the British authorities, or he was acting independent of that authority in the exercise of powers delegated to him elsewhere. "If Mr. Dallas can use a British ship of war to overlook the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company on this coast, without the authority of Governor Douglas, or the British admiral, which is just what he has done, according to the facts and Governor Douglas's despatches, then the interests and rights of our citizens have been in greater jeopardy than I have heretofore supposed, and the necessity of retaining the occupation of San Juan Island is still more imperative. "Governor Douglas has opposed the occupation of San Juan on the ground of sovereignty, and lays great stress upon Mr. Marcy's despatch of July 17, 1855, to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington. "In a communication to Commissioner Campbell of the North-west Boundary Survey, I have disclaimed any intention. A of asserting any sovereignty over the Island of San Juan, beyond that which the necessity of the case has demanded. copy of this communication has already been sent to you. "Mr. Marcy's instructions in reference to the conduct of the officers of the two Governments never contemplated the case of a direct aggression on the rights of our people, backed by so powerful a naval force as to create strong surmises of its intentions. Indeed, so extraordinary has been the course of conduct of the British in reference to San Juan, and so evident has been their design to force our people from the island, that I should consider I had been recreant to the high trust imposed on me in not taking possession of the island, it being the only position from which we could defend our rights to advantage. Eight companies are now on the island, with eight 32-pounders, landed from the steamer Massachusetts. A detachment of engineer troops are engaged with the troops in constructing a field work to defend their position, and at the same time protect them from any fire from the water. This command is fully supplied for over two months, and is considered now to be able to hold its own, in the event of any difficulty, until reinforcements could arrive. I enclose a copy of Governor Douglas's message to the legislature of Vancouver's Island; also of the British Colonist, the Government paper published at Victoria, giving an account of the proceedings of the Assembly in relation to San Juan; also an editorial, complaining that an error had been committed by somebody on their side. Our quick-witted people were aware of that fact nearly two months ago. "I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "Colonel S. Cooper, Adjutant-General U.S. Army, "Washington City, D.C." On the 29th he again wrote as follows :(1) (1) American State Papers, p. 177. "Head-quarters, Department of Oregon, "Fort Vancouver, W.T. "COLONEL, I have the honour to enclose a copy of Mr. Marcy's despatch, referred to in Governor Douglas's communication to me of the 13th instant, which was received on the night of the 27th instant, with a note from Wm. A. G. Young, Esq., Acting Colonial Secretary, a copy of the same being also enclosed. "My communication of the 24th instant had been sent to Governor Douglas before Mr. Young's note and its enclosure were received. The instructions of this document from Mr. Marcy have no bearing upon the question at issue between the British authorities of Vancouver's Island and myself at this time; and my answer to Governor Douglas of the 24th instant would appear as it is, had this copy of Mr. Marcy's despatch accompanied the Governor's letter of the 13th instant. "The spirit of Mr. Marcy's instructions, when carried out in good faith by the functionaries on citizens of both countries, I not only most heartily approve, but I am satisfied my conduct will stand the most critical and searching investigation in the support of that approval. "From the time of my assuming the command of this department until the occupation of San Juan Island, I was most careful neither to increase nor change the position of the force on Puget Sound, that there might be no misconceptions of my acts on the part of the British of the good faith which animated me in the observance of treaty stipulations. Time and again our lighthouses were attacked, and the wives and children of our citizens on that coast were brutally murdered by British Indians. Reports reached me that these Indians had been instigated to these acts by the Hudson's Bay Company, in order to drive them from the lands which this immense establishment covet for their own purposes. "I was well aware of the extent and power of this great commercial monopoly, second only to the East India Company, which has crushed out the liberties and existence of so many nations in Asia, and committed barbarities and atrocities for which the annals of crime have no parallel. I knew the exacting policy of the Hudson's Bay Company would not hesitate to adopt any measure deemed necessary to insure their success, for their history had shown this; and the history of our wars with England establish the fact that an Indian alliance is their first requirement. With all these truths before me, I was still reluctant to believe that the Hudson's Bay Company would attempt the violation of the solemn obligations of a treaty, or that the British authorities would permit any action to be taken by the Hudson's Bay Company, in case an attempt was desired by them. Judge, then, of my astonishment and mortification, in my late visit to San Juan, to find an unworthy advantage had been taken of my forbearance to outrage our people in the most insulting manner. For this thing was not done in a corner, but in open day. A British ship of war lands Mr. Dallas, the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, who abuses one of our citizens in the harshest manner, and threatens to take him by force to Victoria, for trial and imprisonment. Finding the citizen resolute in the defence of his rights, the Americans were informed the British Indians would be sent down upon them to drive them from the island. I shall substantiate these facts by the affidavits of American citizens of such position and character as cannot leave a doubt of their truth, and showing the attempted denial of Governor Douglas, in his communication of the 13th inst., is only a quibble. These affidavits would have been sent before this, but the disturbances at San Juan, and the difficulty of communication in this country, have delayed their completion. "It is proper also that I should inform you that Captain Alden, of our navy, commanding surveying steamer Active, has reported to me a conversation which he held with Governor Douglas since the occupation of San Juan, in which conversation Governor Douglas stated that, in the event of a collision between the forces of the two countries, he would not be able to prevent the northern Indians from driving our people from the island. This intimation from Governor Douglas is signifi cant as indicating the conception of such an action originated before the occupation of the island, and was the foundation of the reports of our people throughout the winter, that I did not consider at the time of sufficient importance as to notice in my official reports. From all the events which have occurred before and since the occupation of San Juan Island I am convinced the British Government have instituted a series of acts aiming at the eventual sovereignty of San Juan Island, in consequence of its paramount importance as a military and naval station. Its position, in connection with the islands adjacent to it, has induced the English to call it the Cronstadt of the Pacific, and with good reason, for the power that possesses it will command a supremacy on this coast. "In the occupation of San Juan I have assumed a defensive position against the encroachments of the British, either by authority, or through the medium of their Indians, upon the rights, lives, and property of our citizens. I was influenced by no other motive in placing troops upon the island. "In the matter of ownership, I have carefully investigated the treaty of 1846, defining the boundary between Great Britain and the United States, and I have also personally examined the premises in question under the fairest auspices, and I fearlessly assert a stronger title cannot exist than that which the treaty of 1846 establishes for the United States in San Juan, nor do I believe the British would have ever attempted the hazardous game they are now playing, but for the immense prize at stake. "I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, "BRIGADIER-GENERAL HARNEY. "Colonel S. Cooper, "Adjutant-General, Washington City, D.C." On the following day, in another despatch, (1) he specified the number and quality of United States (1) American State Papers, p. 179. |