Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-11

mountor sum of two hundred pounds.''
Subsequent TO the date of this act of
Parliament, grant was made from
the "British crown" TO the Hudson's
Bay Company, of the exclusive trade
with the Indian tribes in the Oregon
territory, subject 10 a reservation that
it shall not operate to the exclusion s'of
the subjects Of any foreign States who,
under or by force Of any convention for
the time being, between US and such
foreign States respectively, may be en-
titled to, and shall be engaged in the
said trade"
1t is much to be regretted, that while
under this act, British subjects have
enjoyed the protection of British laws
and judicial tribunals throughout the
whole of Oregon, American citizens,;n
the same territory, have enjoyed no
such protection from their government.
At the same time, the result illustrates
the character Of our people and their in.
stitutions. I'm spite of this neglect,
they have multiplied, and their number
is rapidly increasing in that territory.
They have made no appeal to arms,
peacefully fortified themselves.in their
new homes, by the adoption of republi-
can institutions for themselves; furnish
ing another example of the truth that
self-goyernment is inherent in the A
mercan breast, and must prevail
1t is due to them that they should
be embraced and protected by our laws.
It is deemed important that our laws
regulating trade and intercourse
with the Indian tribes east Of the
Rocky mountains, should be ex-
tended to such tribes as dwell beyond
them.
The increasing emigration TO Ore
gon, and the care and protection which
is due from the government to its citi-
zens in that distant region, make it
our duty, as ii is our interest to cultivate
amicable relations with that territory
For this purpose, | recommend that
provision be made for establishing an
Indian agency, and such sub-agencies
as may be deemed necessary, beyond
the Rocky mountains.
For the protection of emf grants
whilst on their way to Oregon, against
the attacks of the Indian tribes occu-
plying the country through which they
pass, | recommend that a suitable
number of stockades and block house
forts be erected along the usual route
between our frontier settlements on
the Missouri and the Rocky mountains;
and that an adequate force of mounted
rihemen be raised to guard and protect
them on their journey. The immedi-
ate adoption of these recommendations
by Congress will not violate the provi-
sions of the existing treaty. Ii will be
doing nothing more for American citi-
zens than British laws have long since
done for British subjects in the same
territory.
Hrequires several months to perform.
the voyage by sea from the Atlantic
States to Oregon; and although we
have large number Of whale ships
in the Pacific, but few Of them afford an
opportunity of interehanging intelli-
gence, without great delay between our
settlements in that distant region and
the United States. An overland mail
is believed to be entirely practicable,
and the importance of Establishing such
mail at least once a month, is submit
ted to the favorable consideration of
Congress.
1t is submitted to the wisdom of
Congress TO determine whether, at
their present session, and unit! after the
expiration of the years notice, any 9th
er measures may be adopted consis-
,ently with the convention of 1927, for
the security of our rights and govern
ment and protection of our citizens in
Oregon. That it will ultimately be
wise and proper to make liberalgrants
of land to the patriotic pioneers, who,
amidst privations and dangers, lead the
way through savage tribes inhabiting
the vast wilderness intervening between
our frontier settlement and Oregon, and
who cultivate and are ever ready to de-
tend the soil, lam fully satisfied. To
doubt whether they will obtain such
grants as soon as the convention be-
tween theUnited States and Great
Britain shall have ceased TO exist,
would be to doubt the Justice of Con-
gress; but, pending the years notice,
1t is worthy Of consideration whether a
stipulation to this effect may be made,
consistently with the spirit Of that con-
vention.
The Communications which | have
made, as TO the best manner of sccu-
ring our rights in Oregon are submitted
to Congress with great Difference
Should they, in their wisdom, devise
any other mode better calculated to ac-
cOmDlJSb tho Soc,o Chioof ~ cban