Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-10

er their services in cases of emergency, and
among the last to leave the field as long as
an enemy remains to be encountered
Such policy will also impress these pat
riotic pioneer emigrants with deeper feel
ings of gratitude for the parental care of
their government, when they find their
dearest interests secured to them by the
permanent laws of the land, and that they
are no longer in danger of losing their
homes and hard improvement by be-
ing brought into competition with a more
wealthy class of purchasers at the land
sales.
The attention of Congress was invited, at their
last and the preceding session, to the importance
| of establishing Territorial government over our
possessions in Oregon; and it is to be regretted
that there was no legislation on the SUBJECT Our
citizens who inhabited that distant region OF coun-
try are still left without the protection OF our laws
or any regularly organized government Before
the question of limits and boundaries OF the terrl
! tory of Oregon definitely settled, from the
necessity of their condition, the inhabitants mad
estabhshed temporary government OF tneii own.
Besides the want of legal authority for continuing
such government it is wholly inadequate to pro-
tect them in their rights of person and property,
or to secure to them the enjoyment OF the prlvll.
eyes of other citizens. to which they are entitled
under the constitution of the United States. They
should have the right of suffrage, be represented
in Territorial legislature and by a delega te in
Congress; and possess all the rights and privi-
eyes which citizens of other portions of the Ter
ritores of the United States have heretofore en-
ioyed, or may now ENJOY.
Our judicial system, revenue laws. laws regulat-
ing trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes,
and the protection of our laws generally should be
| extended over them.
In addition to the inhabitants in that territory
who had previously emigrated to it, large numbers
of our citizens have followed them during the pre-
sent year; and it is not doubted that during the
next and subsequent years their numbers will be
greatly increased.
Congress, at its last session, established post
routes leading to Oregon, and between different
points within that territory, and authorized the
establishment of post officessat "Astora and such
other places on the coasts of the Pacific, within
the territory of the United States, as the public
interests may require" Post offices have accord
ingly been established, deputy postmasters appoin-
ted and provision made for the transportation of
the mails.
The preservation of peace with the Indian tribes
| residing west of the Rocky mountains will render
it proper that authority should be given Oy law for
the appointment of an adequate number of Indian
agents 10 reside among them.
i | recommend that surveyor generals office be
established in that territory, and that the public
lands be surveyed and brought into market at an
early period.
| recommend. also, that grants, upon liberal
terms of limited quantities of the public lands be
made to all citizens of the United States who have
emf grated may hereafter within prescribed
period emigrate, to Oregon, and settle upon them.
| These hardy and adventurous citizens who have
encountered the dangers and prvations of a long
and toiIsome Journey and have at length found an
abiding place for themselves and their families up
on the utmost verge of our western limits, should
be secured in the homes which they have improved
by their labors.
l refer you to the accompanying report of the
Secretary of War for detailed account of the OPP
erations of the various branches of the public SER
vice connected with the department under his
charge. The duties devOlvng this department
have been unusually onerous and responsible dur
ing the past year, and have been discharged with
ability and success
Pacific relations continue to exist with
the various Indian tribes. and most of them
manifest a strong friendship for the United
States. Some depredations were commit
ted during the past year upon our trains
transporting supplies for the army, on the
road between the western border of Mis-
souri, and Santa Fe. These depredations.
which are supposed to have been commit
ted by bands from the region Of New Mex
leo. have been arrested by the presence of
of military force, ordered out for that pur-
pose. Some outrages have been perpetra-
ted by portion of northwestern bands up
on the weaker and comparatively defence
less neighboring tribes. Prompt measures
were taken to prevent such occurrences in
future.
Between one and two thousand Indians
belonging to several tribes, have been re-
moved during the year from the east of the
Mississippi to the country allotted to them
west OF that river, as thel' permanent home;
and arrangements have been made for
others to follow.
Since the treaty of 1916 with the Chero-
KEGS, the teuds among them appear to have
subsidized and they have become more unit
ed and contented than they have been for
many years past. The commissioners. APP
pointed in pursuance of the act of June
tWenty-seven. 1916, to settle claims arising
under the treaty of lS35-'36 with that tribe,
have executed their duties and after pa
tient investigation, and a full and fair OK
animation of all the cases brought before
them. closed their labors in the month of
July last. This is the fourth board of com
missloncrs which has been organized under
this treaty. Ample opportunity has been
afforded to all those interested to bring for
ward their claims No doubt is entertained
that impartial Justice has been done BY the
late board, and that all valid claims embrac-
ed by the treaty have been considered and
allowed. This result, and the final settle
ment to be made with this tribe. under the
treaty of 1916, which will be completed and
laid before you during your session, will
adjust all questions of controversy between
them and the United States and produce
a state of relations with them simple, we'll
defined, and satisfactory.
Under the discretionary authority con-
ferred by the act Of the third of March last.
the annuities due to the various tribes have
been paid during the present year to the
heads of families instead of to their chiefs.
or such persons as they might designate, as
required by the laws pre-, ously existing
This mode of payment has given general
satisfaction to the great body of the Indians.
Justice has been done to them. and they
are grateful to the government for it. A
few chiefs and interested persons may object
to this mode of payment, but it is believed
to be the only mode of preventing fraud
and imposition from being practiscd upon
the great body of common Indians. consti-
tuting majority Of all the tribes.
1t is gratifying to perceive that a number
OF the tribes have recently manifested an
increased interest in the establishment of
schools among them, and are making rapid
advances In agriculture-some of them pro
ducing a sufficient quantity of food for their
support and in some cases a surplus to dis
pose of to their neighbors. The comforts
by which those who have received even a
very limited education, and have engaged
in agriculture are Sl1rrOunded tend rr,1,,