LAST PHASE OF OREGON BOUNDARY 215
cessful trial to unite the people of the two countries in the bonds of kindred and intimate friendship, all my labor may prove to have been in vain." He is sorry to notice from the date of Lord John's dispatch that it could not have been in- spired by the knowledge of Harney's conduct.
The third annual message of the President, delivered on December 15, 1859, was taken up to the extent of about one- tenth by San Juan. Competing for attention were many other questions, some of which have assumed a greater place in our history. The message deals among other matters with "recent sad and bloody occurrences at Harper's Ferry," the Supreme Court decision which established the right of every citizen "to take his property of any kind, including slaves, into the com- mon territories belonging equally to all states of the con- federacy," the execution of laws against the African slave trade, and the necessity of a Pacific railway. Not much is said about Harney. It was not the proper time to discuss "the weight which ought to be attached to the statements of the British colonial authorities, contesting the accuracy of the information^ on which the gallant general acted," but it was due to him that his own reasons should be presented. The admiral is praised because "he wisely and discreetly forbore to commit any hostile act." There can be no doubt of the validity of the American title, and in the meantime American citizens will be "placed on a footing at least as favorable as that of British subjects," and a company of soldiers will remain to protect their interests.
We may now leave the discussion of this dangerous crisis, thankful that it was passed without more serious and regret- table consequences. It ended with the agreement to establish joint military occupation. From 1860 until after the final award of the arbitrator in 1871 an equal number of American soldiers and British marines camped on the island, maintain- ing friendly relations throughout the whole time.
