Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/202



192 ANDREW FISH

shall not be construed into any concession to the adverse party.

"By a conciliatory and moderate course on both sides, it is sincerely hoped that all difficulties will be avoided until an adjustment of the boundary line can be made in a manner mutually satisfactory. The government of the United States will do what it can to have the line estab- lished at an early period." 20 The note to Mr. Crompton said :

"I am under some apprehension that collision may take place between our citizens and British subjects in regard to the occupation of the disputed points along- the line between Washington Territory and the British possessions on the north of it.

"In the hope of avoiding such a difficulty, I have, by the direction of the President, addressed a letter to the gover- nor of that Territory on the subject, and herewith furnish you with an extract from it. I presume that the govern- ment of her Britannic Majesty will be willing to recom- mend to her subjects along the boundary in question a similar course until the line can be established. In that way I sincerely hope all collision may be avoided." 21

That Governor Douglas was advised is evident from his. ref- erence to the subject in writing to General W. S. Harney on August 13, 1859. He says :

"With reference to San Juan, in particular, I have al- ways acted with the utmost caution to prevent, so far as might lie in my power, any ill feeling arising from collis- ions between British subjects and American citizens, and have in that respect cordially endeavored to carry out the views of the United States government as expressed in a despatch from Mr. Marcy, dated 17 July, 1855, to Her Majesty's minister at Washington, a copy of which I here- with enclose for your information, as I presume that the document cannot be in your pos'session." 22 It would seem, then, as if no trouble could possibly arise. Clear and unmistakable instructions are issued (and apparently accepted in all good faith) to the responsible officials of both

20 Ex. Doc. No. 65, 36th Cong. 1st Scss. p. 6.

21 Ibid, p. 7.

22 Ibid, p. 40,