Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/218



208 ANDREW FISH

"I must add that they [the captains] seem to doubt the authority of the general commanding, and do not wish to acknowledge his right to occupy this island, which they say is in dispute, unless the United States govern- ment have decided the question with Great Britain. I have so far staved them off, by saying that the two gov- ernments have without doubt settled this affair; but this state of affairs cannot last, therefore I most respectfully ask that an express be sent me immediately on my future guidance." 40

This shows at least that Pickett was uneasy; there is no evidence that Harney was.

Commissioner Campbell was surprised at the occupation. That Pickett should land troops seemed to him natural enough it had been done before when Indians threatened, but that 1'icket t should refuse to allow liritish forces to land for the protection of their nationals was strange. He saw Pickett's confidential instructions and wrote to Harney that he could only suppose it "possible, if not probable" that he had received instructions from the War Department for the occupation of the island. Not having heard from the State Department him- self, however, he felt "considerably troubled lest there might be some misunderstanding." He advised "caution; so 'as to prevent if possible any collision, which," he thought "under no circumstances ought to be allowed to occur." He expressed a fear that Harney's action might "somewhat embarrass the question," and declared, "I shall be greatly relieved to learn that you have some authority from the government for the decisive step you have taken." 41 Inferentially, then, Campbell blames Harney, for there was no "authority from the gov- ernment for the decisive step." In his explanation to the commissioner Harney declared that the relative claims of the two governments were not in any way affected by his action. "The British authorities chose to violate treaty stipulations made in good faith, and maintained by the United States in good faith, by attempting to arrest an American citizen on San Juan Island to carry him to Victoria to be tried by British

40 Ibid, p. 17.

41 Ibid, p. 59.