The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-18

public Indebtedness to the lowest possible
sum.
recommend that the existing laws on the
subject Of preemptlon rights be amended
and modified so as 10 operate prospectiyely,
and 10 embrace all who may settle upon the
public lands and make improvements upon
them before they are surveyed, as well as al-
tcrward, in all cases where such settlements
may be made after the Indian lille shall have
been eXtinguished.
II the right of presumption he thus extend
ed, il will embrace u large and meritorions
class of our ciiZens-lt will increase the
number Of small ircehoders upon our Dor
ders, who will DO enabled thereby TO educate
their children and otherwise improve their
condition, while they will be found at all
times, MS they hive ever proved themselves
| 10 be, in the hour of danger to their coun-
try among our hardest and best volunteer
soldiers, ever ready 10 tender their services in
case ofcmorgency, and among tho last 10
leavo the field rs long as an enemy remains
to he encountered. Such policy will also
/ impress these pUriOt.c pioncr cmigrau,s With
deeper feelings OF gratitude for the parental
care Of their government when they find
! their dearest interests secured 70 them hy the
permanent laws ithe land, and dat they arc
10 longer in danger Of losing their homes
aud hard earned improvements by being
brought into competition with q moro wealth
| Y class of purchasers at the land sales.
The attention Of Congress was Invited, ut
! their last aud the preceding session, to The
| importance ofcsiabshing Territorial gov
eminent over our possessions in Oregonnnd
it is TO he regretted that there was no lcgisla-
! ton on the subject. Our citizens who i'll
habit that distant region Of country are still
left without the protection oi'our laws, or all
| y regularly organized government. Before
the question of limits and boundaries OF the
territory UfOregon was definitely settled from
the necessity Of their condition, the inhubit-
ants had established temporary government
ofthcir own.
Besides the want oflcgal authority for con
timing SUCH Government it is wholly in
adequate to protect them in their rights Of
person and property, or to secure to them the
enjoyment Of the privileges Of other citizens,
| to which they are entitled under the cOnsti-
tuition of the United States. They should
have the right ofsuttrage, he represented in
Territorial legislature, and by delegate
in Congress; and possess all the rights and
| privileges which citizens of other portions
of Territories of the United States have here
tolore enjoyed, or may now enjoy.
Our judicial system, revenue laws,
regulating trade andintercourse with the In-
dian tribes. and the protection of our laws
generally, should he extended over them.
In addition TO the inhabitants in that terri
tory who had previously emigraled 10 it,Iargc
numbers of our citizens have followed them
during the present yearand 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 au-
thoriZed the establishment of post offices at
a. IA
of the Pacific, within the territory of the Uni
ted States,as the public interests may require
Post offices have accordingly been establish
ed, deputy postmasters appointed, and pro
vision made for the transportation oithe mails
The preservation Of peace with the Indian
tribes residing west of the Rocky mountains
will render it proper that authority should be
given by law for the appointment of an ade-
quate number ofIndian agents 10 reside a.
mong them.
RECOMMEND that Il surveyor generals office
he established in that territory, and that the
public lands be surveyed aud brought into
market ut an early period.
recommend, also, that grants, upon liber-
al termsof limited quantities ofthe public
lands be nude to all citizens Of the United
States who have cmigrated, or may hereafter
within a prescribed period emigrate to Gre
gon,aud settle upon them. These hardy and
adventurous citizens, who have encountered
the dangers and privations ola long and toll
some journey, and have nj length found an
abiding place for themselves and their tami-
lies upon the utmost verge Of our western
limits, should be secured i'm the homes which
they have improved by their labor.
refer YOU to the accompanying report of
the Secretary of War for detailed account
Of the operations of the various branches of
the public service connected with the depart
ment under his charge. The duties deVoIv-
ing on this department have been unusually
onerous and responsible during the past year,
and have been discharged with ability and
success.
Pacific relations continue 10 exist with the
various Indian trihes,and most of them man
iicst Il strong friendship for the United States.
Some deprcdations were committed during
he"past year upon our trains transporting
supplies for the army, on the road between
the western border Of Missouri and Santa Fe.
These depredations, which are supposed TO
have been committed by bands from the re-
zion ofNew Mexico, have been arrested by
the presence ola military force, ordered out
for that purpose. Some outrages have been
perpetratcd by portion oithe northwestern
bands upon the weaker and comparatively
detonceless neighboring tribes. Prompt
measures were tukcn 10 preVCit SlicIi occur
rencos in future.
Between one and two thousand Indians,
belonging to several tribes, have been reniov-
ed during the year from the east ofthc Mis-
sissippi TO the country allotted to them west
of that river, rs their permanent home: and
arrangements have been made for others to
follow.
Since the treaty of 1876 with the Chero-
KEGS, the ieuda among them appear to have
subsidized, and they have become more uni
ted aud contented than they have been for
many years past The commissioners, APP |