The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-12-12

/ ultHCe IN one or
our vessels of war TO their destina,;ou
The governor was fully advised of ,t-
great importance of his early arrival :" ;s
the country, and ii is confidently beI;sr.I
he may reach Oregon in the latter na,.Nc
the present month, or early in the ~
The other officers for the Territo,v h.
proceeded by sea.
in the month of May last, comuuD;;
Gated information to Congress that an +"
dian war had broken out in Oregon .ns
recommended that authority be given -
raise an adequate number of volupleprD
to proceed without delay to the assistsras
of our fellow>citizens in that Terr;,o.
The authority 10 raise such force ~.
having been granted by Congress, as soOn
as their services could be dispensed with
in Mexico, orders were issued to the ror
iment of mounted rihemen to procerd =
Jefferson Barracks, in Missouri. and ~
prepare to march to Oregon as soon As
the necessary provision could be mado
Shortly before it was rea ly to march, il
was arrested by the provision of the ac,
passed by Congress on the last day of the
last session, which directed that all the
non-commissioned officers, musicians. and
prIvates of that regiment, who had been
In service in Mexico, should, upon their
application, be entitled to be discharged.
The effect of this provision was to dis
band the rank anG file of the regiment:
and before their places could be filled bS
recruits, the season had SO far advanced
that 1t was Impracticable for it TO proceed
until the opening of the next spring.
In the month of October last. the &C.
companying communication was received
from the governor of the Temporary GOV
eminent of Oregon, giving information of
the continuance of the Indian disturban.
ces, and Of the destituiion and defence
less condition of the inhabitants. Orders
were Immediately transmitted to the com.
mander Of our squadron in the Pacific TO
dispatch TO their assistance part of the
naval forces on that station, to furnish
them with arms and ammunition, and to
continue TO give them such aid and pre-
lection as the navy could afford, until the
army could reach The country.
1t is the policy of humanity, and one
which has always been pursued BY the IT,
nited States, to cultivate the good will of
the aboriginal tribes Of this continent, and
to restrain them from making war, and
indulging in excuses, by mild means,
rather than by force. That this could
have been done by the tribes in Oregon,
had that Territory been brought under
the government of our laws at an earlier
period, and had suitable measures been a.
dopted by Congress, such as now exists
in our intercourse with the other Indian
tribes within our limits, cannot be doubt
ed Indeed, the immediate and only cause
of the existing hostility of the Indians of
Oregon is represented to have been, the
long delay of the United States in making
TO them some trilling compensation, in
such articles as they wanted, for the conn
try now occupied by our em:grants, which
the Indians claimed, and over which they
formerly roamed.
This compensation had been promised
to them by the temporary government cs~
tablished in Oregon, butits fu6lment had
been postponed from time to time, fr
nearly two years, whilst those who made
1t had been anxiously waiting for Com
gress TO establish a territorial government
over the country. The Indians became
at length dIstrusiful of their good faith,
and sought redress by plumber and massa-
ere. which finally led to the present diff
culties. A few thousand dollars in suita-
BILE presents, as compensation for the
country which had been taken possession
OF by our citizens, would have satisfied
the Indians, and have prevented the war.
A small amount properly distributed, il is
confidently believed, would soon restore
quiet. In this Indian war our fellow-ciii-
Zens of Oregon have been compelled to
take the field in their own defence, have
performed valuable military services, and
been subjected to expenses which have
fallen heavily upon them.-Justice de-
mands that provision should be made by
Congress TO compensate them for their
services, and TO refGnd to them the nee
essary expenses which they have incurred.
/ repeat the recommendation heretofore
made TO Congress, that provision be made
for suitable number of Indian agents TO
reside among the tribes of Oregon, and
that small sum be appropriated TO ena-
bic these agents 10 cultivate friendly rela-
tons with them. If this be done, the
presence of small military force will be
all that is necessary TO keep them in check,
and preserve peace.
l recommend that similar provision be
made as regards the tribes inhabiting
Northern Texas, New Mexico, California,
and the extensive region lying between
our settlements in Missouri, and these
possessions, as the most effective means Of
preserving peace upon our borders. and
within the recently acquitted territories.
The Secretary of The Treasury wiz
present in his annual report highly sat-
isfactory statement of the condition OF
the finances.
The imports for the fiscal year ending
e l.. IL.