Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Labouchere, Henry 26 November 1856, CO 305:7, no. 2422, 130.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Other documents (2).
Douglas announces the arrival of Captain Swartwout with “87 native Indian prisoners.” Swartwout reported that his prisoners had been “plundering the inhabitants, and spreading alarm
among the United States Settlements in the Puget Sound.” After a violent conflict, Swartwout captured the group on the promise that they would be released on Vancouver Island. Douglas objected to this proposal and came to terms where the prisoners would be released
“100 miles north” of the colony. Douglas seeks approval of his actions from his superiors.
The minutes agree to remit approval to the Foreign Office and concur if Lord Clarendon finds Douglas’s actions satisfactory.
Enclosed is a letter from Merivale to the FO forwarding Douglas’s despatch and a draft reply from Labouchere approving the “course” Douglas “adopted.”
No. 31
1. I have, on the present occasion, to report for your information
that the United States Steam Ship "Massachusetts" under the command of
Captain Swartwout, commanding the United States naval Forces, in Puget's Sound, arrived yesterday at
at this Port, with 87 native Indian prisoners
on board, of whom about 45 were able bodied men, the rest being women
and children.
at this Port, with 87 native Indian prisoners
on board, of whom about 45 were able bodied men, the rest being women
and children.
2. It appears from Captain Swartwout's statements that those
Indians have for some time past been plundering the inhabitants, and
spreading alarm among the United States Settlements in Puget's Sound;
that they, on one occasion, set the United States troops at defiance,
and finally when the "Massachusetts" was detached to compel their
departure from the Territory, they refused to remove their camp, beat
off the boats crews, and opened a fire of musketry upon the ship, which
was warmly
warmly returned from her batteries, with round shot and shell at the
distance of 600 yards.
warmly returned from her batteries, with round shot and shell at the
distance of 600 yards.
3. After a desperate contest, with considerable loss of life on
both sides, their camp was taken and burnt, their canoes destroyed, and
the savages driven to the woods, when they agreed to surrender on
condition of being left in possession of their arms, and safely landed
on Vancouver's Island.
4. The object of Captain Swartwout's present visit, is to carry
out the terms of that capitulation, by landing his prisoners in this
Colony, and he sent an application to me for permission to do so.
5. That course appearing to
to me in every respect objectionable,
and, at the same time, contrary to the usage of civilized nations I
decidedly objected to their being landed in any part of this Colony, and
I was further confirmed in that resolve, by the fact, which I gathered
from the prisoners themselves, that they were natives of Russian
America, and not as Captain Swartwout reported to me, of the British
Territory on this coast.
to me in every respect objectionable,
and, at the same time, contrary to the usage of civilized nations I
decidedly objected to their being landed in any part of this Colony, and
I was further confirmed in that resolve, by the fact, which I gathered
from the prisoners themselves, that they were natives of Russian
America, and not as Captain Swartwout reported to me, of the British
Territory on this coast.
6. Captain Swartwout appeared disappointed and irritated at my
decision, and somewhat inconsiderately held out a threat of landing his
prisoners, with or without my sanction, on some of the uninhabited
islets on our coast, but
but on being reminded that such a course, would be
a breach of international law, and immediately become the subject of
complaint to his Government, he apologized for the warmth into which he
had been inadvertently betrayed.
but on being reminded that such a course, would be
a breach of international law, and immediately become the subject of
complaint to his Government, he apologized for the warmth into which he
had been inadvertently betrayed.
7. I then proceeded to open my views, on the subject of landing
criminals, without authority, on the coasts of other states, and
concluded by shewing that the Indian prisoners on board the
"Massachusetts", having been guilty of offences against the laws of the
United States, ought properly to be taken to Washington Territory and
there delivered over to the civil authorities, for trial, and to be
dealt with according to law; but, as I further
further observed, as I had no
wish to throw obstacles in his way I would not object to their being
convoyed to the distance of 100 miles north of our settlements, and
there discharged, provided however that they be found with canoes, and
food sufficient for the journey to their distant homes.
further observed, as I had no
wish to throw obstacles in his way I would not object to their being
convoyed to the distance of 100 miles north of our settlements, and
there discharged, provided however that they be found with canoes, and
food sufficient for the journey to their distant homes.
8. He preferred the latter course, especially as the prisoners
protested against being taken back to Washington Territory, as a breach
of the capitulation, and Captain Swartwout confesses that he could not
have induced them to surrender, after the battle, had it not been for
the promise given of landing them on Vancouver's Island.
9. He has purchased six
six large canoes at this place and proposes to
leave this afternoon, with the Indian prisoners on board, and I send an
officer with the "Massachusetts" to see that the Indians are fully equipped and provided for their journey according
to that arrangement.
six large canoes at this place and proposes to
leave this afternoon, with the Indian prisoners on board, and I send an
officer with the "Massachusetts" to see that the Indians are fully equipped and provided for their journey according
to that arrangement.
10. I have been thus particular, at the risk of being considered
tedious, in describing the substance of my communications to Captain Swartwout, on the subject of the disposal of Indian prisoners, in order
that you may be acquainted with my proceedings on that occasion, and
that you may otherwise direct me, if wrong.
11. Unless I receive your instructions to the contrary, I shall
shall
continue to oppose the landing of any criminals whether natives of
British America or not, from the ships of other nations, on the coast of
Vancouver's Island, and I hope that Her Majesty's Government may approve
of my proceedings.
shall
continue to oppose the landing of any criminals whether natives of
British America or not, from the ships of other nations, on the coast of
Vancouver's Island, and I hope that Her Majesty's Government may approve
of my proceedings.
The Right Honble Henry Labouchere Esqre
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department.
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department.
Minutes by CO staff
Foreign Office—saying that if Lord Clarendon concurs Mr
Labouchere proposes signifying his approval of the Governor's proceeding in this case?
Labouchere proposes signifying his approval of the Governor's proceeding in this case?
I agree.
JB
20 Mch
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 26 March 1857,
forwarding copy of the despatch with approval for Douglas's actions.
