tions to Pickett, of the last month (herewith), that Harney considers San Juan Island as a part of Washington Territory, and Pickett is directed to acknowledge and respect the authority of that Territory. If this does not lead to a collision of arms it will again be due to the forbearance of the British authorities, for I found both Brigadier-General Harney and Captain Pickett proud of their conquest of the island, and quite jealous of any interference therewith on the part of higher authority. I beg it may further be remembered that I intimated a doubt to the War Department whether BrigadierGeneral Harney would carry out my pacific arrangement respecting the occupation of the island with good faith, or even with courtesy, and hence one of my reasons for wishing to relieve him from his command. 66 Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. "May 14th, 1860." 66 WINFIELD SCOTT. Captain Pickett relieved Captain Hunt on the 30th of April, 1860, (1) and as soon as the intelligence reached Washington (2) Lord Lyons wrote to Mr. Cass, and called his attention to the change which had been made, stating that he was confident that the Government of the United States would lose not a moment in taking measures to arrest the deplorable consequences which would, indeed, be only too likely to follow any disturbance of the settlement so justly and wisely effected by General Scott. He also enclosed a copy of the above instructions of General Harney to Captain Pickett. Mr. Cass replied as follows:(3)— “Department of State, Washington, June 8, 1860. "MY LORD, I have received your lordship's communication of the 6th instant, enclosing copies of orders issued by (1) American State Papers, p. 257. (2) Idem, p. 256. (3) Idem, p. 258. General Harney to the commanding officer of the United States troops on the island of San Juan, dated on the 10th of April last, and communicated by the General's direction to the officer in command of Her Majesty's troops on the same island, and have lost no time in bringing the subject to the attention of the President. "I am now instructed to inform you that the arrangement entered into by General Scott in the month of October, 1859, in order to prevent any collision on the island of San Juan between the British and American authorities, pending the negotiations between the two Governments, was strictly in pursuance of a previous arrangement which was made with Mr. Crampton by the Secretary of State of the United States, in July, 1855, and met the full approval of this Government. The orders of General Harney, to which his attention has been called by the note of your lordship, and which appear to be in violation of the arrangement of General Scott, have been read, therefore, by the President, both with surprise and regret. It is earnestly hoped that, upon a full explanation of all circumstances attending them, it may be found that they were not intended to bear the construction which seems naturally to belong to them, and that in any event they will lead to no collision between the American and British authorities on the island. To prevent this as far as possible, instructions will be immediately sent to the commander of the United States troops in that region, revoking the orders of General Harney, and giving full effect to the arrangements of General Scott. A strict inquiry will also be instituted into the conduct of General Harney, with a view to such measures on the subject as may be found necessary, and for this purpose he has been recalled from his command, and ordered to report at Washington. "I have the honour to be, my lord, with high consideration, your lordship's obedient, humble servant, "Lord Lyons, &c." "LEWIS CASS. On the same date the following orders were issued:(1) (1) American State Papers, p. 213. "War Department, June 8th, 1860. "The Adjutant-General will order Brigadier-General Harney to repair to Washington City without delay. "JOHN B. FLOYD, "Secretary of War." "War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, "Washington, June 8, 1860.(1) "Brigadier-General William S. Harney, United States Army, will, on the receipt hereof, turn over the command of the Department of Oregon to the officer next in rank in that department, and repair without delay to Washington City, and report in person to the Secretary of War. "By order of the Secretary of War. "S. COOPER, By orders of General Scott, Captain Hunt was again placed in command of the United States troops on the island of San Juan. Of the details of General Harney's reprimand I am ignorant. He was without command for a short time. Whatever the displeasure of the supreme Government, the citizens of the United States highly applauded his conduct, and, according to their custom, they serenaded him night and day during a long period. The Government of the United States was evidently ashamed of the mode in which the proceedings complained of had been conducted by General Harney and the officers under his command. It is possible that at this juncture a favourable consideration (1) American State Papers, p. 213. of the case, on its merits, might have been brought about, the United States Government having allowed itself to be placed in a false position. It is certainly to be regretted that our Government did not insist upon a withdrawal of the United States troops from the island, for the joint occupation has complicated the question, and rendered its settlement more difficult than it would otherwise have been. The island having once been in the quasi-possession of the United States, any one acquainted with the temper and character of American citizens can readily understand that they will consider it as a point of honour to acquire and retain full possession thereof. CHAPTER XIV. It is time now to return to the correspondence between the Governments of Great Britain and the United States with reference to the boundary question. On the 10th of October, 1859, Lord Lyons wrote as follows to Mr. Cass :(1) 66 66 Washington, October 10, 1859. SIR,-Her Majesty's Government have received my report of the verbal communication which you did me the honour to make to me on the 5th of last month, with regard to the recent occupation of the island of San Juan by United States troops. "It is satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government to learn, as to the past, that General Harney did not act on that occasion upon any order from the United States Government, but entirely on his own responsibility. "But, as to the future, Her Majesty's Government cannot consider it satisfactory that my note of the 12th of May last should have remained without an answer. They have, consequently, requested me to press for an answer to that note, and to urge that orders be sent to the United States officers not to use military force on disputed territory without direct authority from the President; for Her Majesty's Government cannot but think that if such acts are to take place by the sole direction of subordinate officers, and the President does not disavow them, the consequence must be as evil as if the President had authorised them from the beginning. (1) American State Papers, p. 229. |