Captain Prevost to Mr. Campbell. HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SHIP SATEllite, Simiahmoo Bay, 49th Parallel, July 31, 1859. SIR: A body of troops, professedly belonging to the army of the United States, having entered upon an armed occupation of the island of San Juan, in the Haro Archipelago, I have the honor very respectfully to request you will be pleased to acquaint me, at your earliest convenience, whether such occupation has been effected with your cognizance or consent, previous or otherwise, and, if so, whether you have received any intimation that the exact direction of the line of water boundary south of the 49th parallel of north latitude, under the treaty of 15th June, 1846, has been settled, or whether this movement of occupation is the result of instructions, direct or otherwise, from the government of the United States. 2. If you are prepared to return me a negative answer to the foregoing queries, I would most earnestly implore you to undertake, individually or in concert with me, such steps as may induce the military authorities in Washington Territory to abstain from any course which might lead to acts of violence, and which might in the least degree imperil the amicable relations and good understanding of two countries knit together by firmer bonds of kindred and more extensive ties of commerce than any other two nations of the world. 3. It is not for me to comment upon the act, during a period when the most friendly relations are existing, of seizing by violence a portion of territory which we were commissioned by our respective governments amicably to assign to either government as the treaty might be found to determine, and which has not yet been so assigned; but I may remark that an act so unprecedented in the history of civilized and enlightened nations, and so contrary to that natural courtesy which is due from one great nation to another, cannot be productive of good, and may in the end entail such serious consequences, that I am sure both you and I would deplore to the last hour of our existence any hesitation or neglect on our parts to do all that lies in our power to avert impending evil. To this end, I have lost no time in seeking you, and I would again let me beg you to urge the adoption of some instant measures calculated to prevent any untoward and lamentable crisis. 4. With every assurance of personal estcem, and with confidence that you will not, if possible, hesitate to co-operate with me in this serious matter, I have the honor to remain, sir, your most obedient and humble servant, JAMES C. PREVOST, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, Esq., Her Majesty's Commissioner. United States Commissioner, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Campbell to Mr. Prevost. CAMP SIMIAHMOO, August 4, 1859. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, in which you propound to me certain inquiries in regard to what you are pleased to characterize as the armed occupation of the island of San Juan by a body of troops professedly belonging to the army of the United States. As the supervision of the movements and operations of the military forces of the United States forms no part of the duties of the Joint Commission for carrying into effect the first article of the treaty of June 15, 1846, I cannot recognize your pretensions to catechize me thereupon, and therefore I decline to return you either a positive or negative answer to your queries. I cannot, however, allow your communication to pass without expressing my surprise that one who has had so many opportunities of forming a just appreciation of the military authorities in Washington Territory, as you have, should venture such a reflection upon their honor and integrity as implied in your earnest entreaty to me to undertake, individually or in concert with you, "such steps as may induce "them" to abstain from any course which might lead to acts of violence." Notwithstanding the friendly relations that subsist between myself and the officers of the army constituting the military authorities in Washington Territory, I have too much prudence and self-respect thus to intermeddle with the performance of their duties. Considering the professed object you have in view, I think you are most unfortunate in your comments upon the presence of the United States troops on the island of San Juan, and I may add that they are not altogether in accordance with that "natural courtesy" which might be expected in a communication like that which you have stepped out of your official position as commissioner to address me. Notwithstanding the apparent air of moderation with which you have clothed your words, there pervades your whole communication a vein of assumption and an attempt at intimidation by exciting apprehensions of evil, not well calculated to produce the effect you profess so ardently to desire. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, United States Commissioner. Captain JAMES C. PREVOST, R. N., British Commissioner, &c., &c., &c. Captain Prevost to Mr. Campbell. HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SHIP SATELLITE, Simiahmoo Bay, August 4, 1859. SIR: A body of troops belonging to the army of the United States having entered upon armed occupation of the island of San Juan, in the Haro Archipelago, and as such island forms part of the territory involved in the boundary established by the treaty between Great Britain and the United States of the 15th June, 1846, I have to call upon you, as the commissioner appointed by the government of the United States to determine, in conjunction with me, the line of boundary under the aforesaid treaty, to enter into a protest against the armed occupation of any part of such territory, the same being contrary to every principle of international law, and antagonistic to the pacific mission upon which both you and I are employed. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and humble servant, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, Esq., Commissioner on the part of the United States, &c, &c., &c. Mr. Campbell to Captain Prevost. CAMP SIMIAHMOo, August 5, 1859. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, and in reply thereto I refer you to my letter of the same date for the views I entertain of the duties of the Joint Commission, in regard to the movements and operations of the military forces of the United States. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain JAMES C. PREVOST, R. N., British Commissioner, &c., &c., &c. Captain Prevost to Mr. Campbell. HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SHIP SATELLITE, Simiahmoo Bay, August 4, 1859. SIR: I have duly received your letter of this date acknowledging the receipt of my letter of the 31st ultimo. 2. I need scarcely observe to you that your said letter is not a reply to my communication of the date mentioned. On the contrary, it evades the principal question at issue, and exhibits no desire to reciprocate with me in a friendly intercourse, such as I have a right to expect from a commissioner appointed to treat with me by a government whose relations are in such perfect harmony with the government of Her Britannic Majesty. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, Esq., Her Majesty's Commissioner. United States Commissioner, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Campbell to Captain Prevost. CAMP SIMIAHMOO, August 8, 1859. SIR: I have received your letter of the 4th instant, acknowledging the receipt of mine of the same date. In reply thereto, I have to say that I fully agree with you in your observation, that my letter of the 4th instant is not a reply to your communication of the 31st ultimo, if you mean thereby an answer, either general or particular, to the series of questions therein embodied. But that there is any evasion of either the principal question or any other question you propound to me, I flatly deny. I did not recognize your right to question me, and therefore I declined giving any answer whatever to your queries. In the discharge of my official duties, it has ever been my desire and disposition to exhibit towards you a spirit of courtesy and frankness. In my private relations, I have never been backward in meeting your most cordial advances. But how far, outside of our legitimate official duties, you have a right to expect me to reciprocate with you in a "friendly intercourse" in my official capacity, as Commissioner, is not for you alone to judge. It is hardly necessary for me to add that I am equally desirous with yourself for the preservation of the peace and harmony which now subsist between the United States and Great Britain, and which I trust most sincerely may long remain unbroken. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain Pickett's Military Order. [Orders, No. 1.] MILITARY POST, SAN JUAN ISLAND, I. In compliance with orders and instructions from the general commanding, a military post will be established on this island, on whatever site the commanding officer may select. II. All the inhabitants of the island are requested to report at once to the commanding officer in case of any incursion of the northern Indians, so that he may take such steps as are necessary to prevent any future occurrence of the same. III. This being United States territory, no laws, other than those of the United States, nor courts, except such as are held by virtue of said laws, will be recognized or allowed on this island. By order of Captain Pickett: JAMES W. FORSYTH, Second Lieut. 9th Infantry, Post Adjutant. Protest of Governor Douglas against the Occupation of Sun Juan Island. By James Douglas, Companion of the most honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-chief in and over the colony of Vancouver Island and its Dependencies, Vice-Admiral of the same, &c., &c. The sovereignty of the island of San Juan and of the whole of the Haro Archipelago has always been undeviatingly claimed to be in the Crown of Great Britain. Therefore I. James Douglas, do hereby formally and solemnly protest against the occupation of the said island or any part of the said archipelago, by any persons whatsoever, for or on behalf of any other powers, hereby pro testing and declaring that the sovereignty thereof by right now is and always hath been in Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and her predecessors, kings of Great Britain Given under my hand and seal, at Victoria, Vancouver Island, this 2d day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, and the twenty-third of Her Majesty's reign. [SEAL.] JAMES DOUGLAS. Message of Governor Douglas to the Legislature of Vancouver's Island. To the Legislature, Council, and House of Assembly of the Colony of Vancouver's Island: GENTLEMEN: I have to communicate for your information the intelligence of the landing of a detachment of United States troops on the island of San Juan, avowedly (see enclosures Nos. 1 and 2) for the purpose of forming a military post, and of asserting the sovereignty of the United States to that island. Having received no information from any quarter that the government of the United States ever contemplated taking military possession of any part of the disputed territory while the boundary line remained unsettled, I am forced to believe that the late unwarrantable and discourteous act, so contrary to the usages of civilized nations, has originated in error, and been undertaken without the authority of that government. That impression is corroborated by a letter (a copy of which is herewith enclosed) from the Hon. W. L. Marcy, Secretary for the United States, dated Washington, 17th July, 1855, to Her Majesty's minister at Washington, which contains instructions from the President of the United States to the governor of Washington Territory, and displays in the clearest manner the conciliatory and moderate views entertained by his government on the subject of the disputed territory. Though the right of Great Britain to all the islands situated to the westward of "Vancouver 66 or Rosario" Straits is, to our minds, clearly established by the first article of the treaty of 1846, and though those islands have since the foundation of this colony been considered as a dependency of Vancouver's Island, it is well known to you, gentlemen, that, out of respect to the construction that has been put upon that treaty by the government of the United States, we have abstained from exercising exclusive sovereignty over them. Convinced that any officious or unjust assumption on either side of exclusive right to the disputed territory would simply be a fruitless and mischievous waste of energy, neither detracting from nor adding force to the claims of either nation, wise and considerate policy enjoins upon us the part of leaving so important a national question for settlement by the proper authorities, and of avoiding complications foreign to the views and wishes of, and probably embarrassing to, both governments. Immediately on being informed of the landing of United States troops at San Juan, Her Majesty's ship Tribune, under the command of Captain Hornby, was despatched to that quarter, and soon afterward a detachment of royal engineers and royal marine light infantry were ordered from New Westminster, by Her Majesty's ship Plumper, Captain Richards, and those troops will be landed at San Juan, to protect the lives and property of British subjects. You will observe, gentlemen, from enclosure number one, that the captain in command of the United States detachment of troops, in a public notice, dated 27th of July, assumes the exercise of exclusive sovereign rights in the island of San Juan, while the President of the United States altogether disclaims such pretensions, and seeks at most to continue the joint right of sovereignty and domain in common with Great Britain. We may presume from that circumstance that the notice in question was framed in ignorance of the intentions of the United States government, and that the pretensions set forth will not be maintained. Entertaining such opinions, I have not failed to impress on Her Majesty's naval officers now stationed at San Juan the desire of Her Majesty's' government to avoid every course which may unnecessarily involve the suspension of the amicable relations subsisting between Great Britain and the United States; at the same time, those officers have been instructed, and are prepared, to assert the rights and to maintain the honor and dignity of our sovereign and Her dominions. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, JAMES DOUGLAS. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, VICTORIA, August 3, 1859. Address of the Legislature of Vancouver's Island to Governor Douglas. The House acknowledges the receipt of Your Excellency's communication of the 3d instant, relating to the clandestine invasion of San Juan Island by United States troops, and the steps to be adopted in relation thereto. Since that communication it is well known that additional forces have been landed. |