Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/204



194 ANDREW FISH

Bay Company establishment at that point. This duty is to afford adequate protection to the American citizens in their rights as such, and to resist all attempts at inter- ference by the British authorities residing on Vancouver's Island, by intimidation or force, in the controversies of the above-mentioned parties."

A sufficiently uncompromising order. "Resist" no limit stated "all attempts at interference" no exceptions apparent- ly contemplated.

The gallant captain was as thorough-going as his com- mander, and caused the following unequivocal order to be posted by Second Lieutenant James W. Forsyth, his post adjutant:

"1st. In compliance with orders and instructions from the commanding general, a military post will be estab- lished on this island, on whatever site the commanding officer may select; 2nd. All the inhabitants of the island are requested to report at once to the commanding officer in case of any incursion by the northern Indians, so that he may take such steps as he may deem necessary to pre- vent any further occurrence of the same ; 3rd. 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." 23

In a despatch dated August 6 General Harney supported Captain Pickett in this attitude and said expressly:

"The general approves the course you have pursued, and further directs that no joint occupation or any civil juris- diction will be permitted on San Juan Island by the British authorities under any circumstances." 24

To state it mildly, this was not the language of 1855 ; it brought about a new situation.

Some events that took place in 1859 and before, leading up to Pickett's action, should be related.

The commissioners met with difficulties that delayed the work of determining the line, while the Americans wishing to settle on San Juan were getting more and more impatient. We said that the labors of the commission began in 1857. The

23 I quote from H. H. Bancroft's History of British Columbia 1792-1887, p. 618.

24 Ex. Doc. No. 65, 36th Cong. 1st Scss. p. 23.