Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-22
NATIONAL INTELLIGEN G Err
THE NEBRASKA" TERRITORY.
roR rnE NATIONAL rSTrLLIeENcER.

FOR THE NATIONAL ISTELLIGENcER.
The projef Of new Territory, contained in the
last annual report of the Secretary of War, has
struck me with some astonshment The circum
stances of the country TO be thus provided for are
Unprecedented it is believed, in those of all present
or past Territorial Governments
From very remote point have observed with
curiosity the reception of the report and the pro-
gress OF events. That il has received little or no
remark from the Press, seems strange; and the
prompt action IN Congress, apparently TO carry out
the recommendation, scarcely less so.
The Secretary says, The eastern section of the
region embraced by these boundaries, from the Mis-
sour river westward for two hundred and fifty miles,
IS Of great agricultural beauty and facilities thckly
timbered the numerous tributaries of the Kanzas,
Usage, and Neosho rivers and in fertility equal to
the best land in Missouri. From the limit of this
fertile portion, for space of four hundred miles,
the country is entirely covered with rich grasses,
which improve in quantity and quality up to the
snow of the mountains
Now, all of this "eastern sector" is the proper
ty and possession of Indians, many of them emf
grant tribes land, on the indigenous, the Govern
ment now seeks to intrude two other large nations
because they are in Iowa Territory
Under present laws, no whites but licensed ira
ders can enter and remain in these districts Is the
Secretary's plan based on renewal of the system
OF forced treaties for further emigration and whittier
Does ne not know that having beenrepeatedy remov-
ed in their last treaties the Government has soemnly
pledged itself that they shall not be again disturbed!
About two millions of acres of the very best of this
section have been thus granted TO the Delawares
and kickapoos. Thus, in the Delaware Treaty
ratified twelve years ago, sand the United States
hereby pledges the faith Of the Government to qua
ranty to the said Delaware Nation for ever the quiet
and peaceable possession and undisturbed enjoy
ment OF this country. So, also, to the Kickapoos,
their country is assigned, conveyed and for ever
secured "as their permanent residence"
lnvariable experience has taught every intelligent
citizen that it would be the destruction of these
tribes to loosen the barriers of law and military force
which now restrain the torrent of restless migrate
~, almost nomad whites.
In the extract, the Secretary highly exaggerates
the attractions and advantages of this eastern Sec
lion Of two hundred and fifty miles" Timber be-
comes scarce five miles from the Missouri, from the
Running Water to the Kansas. The country, al
though too hilly has good soil generally but woods
are Uery scarce. The numerous tributaries of the
Usage and Neosho rivers so far from being hea-
Willy timbered,' would, within the proposed bounda-
ry, IN all, hardly fence hundred farms. The
"space four hundred miles, westward &c. is
desert, scantily clothed with peculiarly hardy
grass.
The nature of g the immediate valleys of the head
streams of the Arkansas, the Platte, and the Yellow
Stone rivers = is equally misrepresented. Fremont
gives different account of it. The country sup
ports but parched heritage on some of the streams
few willows or cottonwoods delight the eye of the
wanderer by their greenness and their rarity.
But who but fur-trader would settle there
Would the most inveterate mover" the keenest on
the scent of fine 'openngs" and the traffic in :" i'm
provements,' stop there, with rocky mountains on
the one hand and thirsty wilderness on the other
without the possibility of market for agricultural
produce to brave, too, the awakened jealousy and
warfare Of the Sioux, Blackfeet, Crows, Chians,
Arapahoes, and Camanches--precisely the most
formidable of the Indians-the warlike American
Arabs
!" The limits of this Territory include the extreme
head of the navigation OF the Arkansas This is
mistake. That head is many leagues to the south
OF the proposed boundary. "All The good lines Of
communication with California" What! does the
Secretary wish 10 pave the way for expatration
or is the Texas game TO be played over on the Pa
cihc! The road from our frontier TO the Mexican
boundary and Santa Fe." The Secretary makes
slip there, ian honest one) BY the new political
geography the Mexican boundary is west of Santa
Fe. But will the Territorial Government promote
udNGl I'D SANTA Tie, or through the eNIellent
and more direct pass to Oregon =
In the next paragraph, he acknowledges that thers
are not enough agricultural" or other inhabitants
TO authorize a Territorial Government but speaks
of extending the authority of the General Govern
ment and protection TO the Oregon emigrants"
There no agricultural settlers and the law has
not allowed them. The authority of the General
Government is already extended on the Territory,
and its courts exercise jurisdiction throughout. IL
the Oregon emgrant needs protection in his passage
il is solely OF a military nature.
In the next paragraph military force is placed
on the "very summit" of the Rocky Mountains
/" whence flow all the great streams" TO the east or
west II may be poeica idea to preside over
these farfowing fountains but il is difficult TO con-
ceve of any practical military advantage from their
vicinity and il is be hoped that the Secretary is
so far from being serious that he would at least de-
scend below the line Of perpetual snow to place a
military post.
But this paragraph Lets out the only apparent OBJ
ject OF this territorial and military scheme. The
Secretary has learned that every advancing army,
for supplies and reinforcements must keep open its
communications with its base of operations; and he
mas very deliberately and openly planned military
conquest. Troops and supplies from the project
ed Nebraska Territory would be able TO contend for
Its possession with any force coming from the sea "
But il has been made manifest that no aid can be
derived for the purpose from the Territory" and
that the object to settle and nourish warlke DO
pulahon at the eastern base Of the Rocky Mountains
IS lmPracucable. The emigrants have not stopped
there, and will not, cannot stop there.
The report asks for SlOO OOOl WHY NOT an ho