Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-03
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, May 30, ls4s.



OREGON
The SPEAKER laid before the House the following mes
sage from the President OF the United States:
TO The Senate aud House Of Representatives. ofMe United
States:
lay before Congress the accompanying memorial papers,
which have been transmitted by special messenger
employed for that purpose by the Governor and Legislative
government which the inhabitants OF that distant region our
country have from the necessity OF their condition. organized
for themselves The memoriaists citizens the United
States They express ardent attachment their land
and in their present perlous and distressed situation, they
earnestly invoke the aid and protection of their Government
They represent " the proud and powerful tribes OF In
dsns residing their vicinity recently raised the war
whoop and crmsoned their tomahawks in the blood of their
citizens " that they apprehend that many OF the powerful
tribes nhabng the upper valley Of the Coumba formed
alliance for the purpose OF carrying hosles against
their settlements - that the number OF The white population
far inferior to that OF the that they deficient in
and money! fear that they strength to
repe the " attack Of formidable foe and protect their
families and property from violence and rapne They
cude their appeal the Government OF the United
relief by declaring off be all the intention of honored
spread her guardian wing her and dag
tiers Oregon she surely will refuse do now when
they struggling with all the Ills Of weak and temporary
government when pers daily hickenng around them
and preparing to burst upon their heads When the ensuing
summers shall have dspeed the from the
tans shall look with glowing hope and restless anxiety for
the coming Of your laws and your arms"
In my message OF the 5th OF August 1885, communicating
copy of the convention for the settlement and adjustment
Of the Oregon boundary recommended Congress that
should be made earliest practicable
period Tor the organization Of territorial in Ore
gon" In annual message Of December, 1885, and again
in December, isi7, this Recommendation was repeated
The population OF Oregon is believed exceed twelve
thousand SOULS and it is known that will be increased
large number Of emgrants during the The
facts set forth the accompanying memorial and papers show
that the dangers which fellow exposed
imminent that deem it to b. my duty again to impress
Congress the strong claim which that distant
country have to the benefit of laws and the protection
our Government.
therefore again invite the attention of Congress
H.
ing Territorial Government and granting authority raise
adequate volunteer force for the defence and protection
its inhabitants 1t isbeeved that regiment of mounted men,
with such additional force be raised in Oregon will be
sufficient TO afford the required protection 1t is recommends
ed that the forces raised for this should
for twelve months, unless discharged No doubt
entertained with proper inducements in land bounte such
force be raised in short time. Upon the expiration
their service many them will doubtless desire remain
the country and settle upon the land which they receive
as bounty.
1t deemed important that provision be made for the APP
pontment of suitable number of Indian agents reside
among the various tribes in Oregon and that appropriations
be made enable them with these tribes with
to restore and peace between them and the white in
habitants
Should the laws recommended be promptly passed. the
sures for their execution completed during the
and before the severity of winter will nerpose OBJ
sacle in crossing the Rocky Mountains. Ii promptly
passed delay another year will be the consequence
may prove destructive TO the white settlements IN Oregon
4 JAMES X. POLK.
WASHINGTON MAY 90 1S4S
Mr. COBB, of Georgia. said the information contained in
OF the President United which had
just been read had been confirmed by private letters which
gentlemen this floor had received from citizens
Oregon. The time which it them very oppor-
tune. He happy 10 hear the gentleman from Indiana
(Mr z. b. SMITH this morning introduce resolution to
make the bill for the establishment of territorial government
in Oregon special ORDER but he feared if il be pre-
ceded by the appropriation bills that weeks would epse
before this House could take action upon it. and that would
not be reached until the arrival of period late for the
purpose contemplated by this message. What had they
heard Why that the Indian tribes waging against
citizens in Oregon who called upon for assistance
and was our duty to respond promptly TO that call and
furnish them with the of protection The bill TO
abish territorial government in Oregon bad been long be-
fore Congress- and had been postponed again and again.
until the people of that Territory had been driven form
government for themselves, using for their protection all the
power which God and Nature had given them But they
now appealed 10 this Government in unusual emergency
and that appeal should be promptly responded by this
House Immediate action should be had for the protection
OF people in OF territories. He suggest
ed therefore, and be should make such motion when he
had opportunity do so, that the Presidents message
should be laid the table and printed and he should then
amendment the motion Of the gentleman from In
diana Mr G. b. SairH) to strike out all that portion which
provides for king the Oregon territorial bill the special
order Immediately after the general appropriation bills and
insert words TO postpone the present special ORDERS that mme
date action might be taken the territorial BILL to dis
pose ofit at the earliest practicable period.
Mr.. COLLAMER desired to ask the gentleman from
Georgia if the Oregon territorial bill contained provision
the protection Of the citizens Of Oregon and in 1916 there
not act passed provide for raising regiment Of
mounted nemen and for establishing military stations the
route Oregon He wished know what had become OF
those troops which ordered be raised for that specific
purpose
Mr. COBB replied that the Oregon territorial bill did not
contain any provisions to furnish the protection for which
appeal had now been made and he hoped the gentleman from
Vermont would now cooperate with him in the adoption Of
measure which should furnish the aid required Though il
contained such provision il could be easily amended
to that purpose, and he hoped would be amend
ed carry out the wishes of the people Of Oregon, and
| afford them protection against the Indian tribes.
In reference TO the act Of 1885, Of which the gentleman
from Vermont had Spoken il would be recoected that il
passed before the broke with Mexico and il the gen.
eman would examine the provisions Of that b he would
that that regiment designated for any particular
vice. That regiment addition 10 the forces in the
United States service and when the broke out all the
troops in the service required to carry the
Mr. MURPHY wished TO ask the gentleman from Georgia
IL necessary in order give protection TO the people Of
Oregon to organize territorial in that terrific
ny Could they not act promptly, and adopt measure to
furnish them with protection Nay, could the Executive
do il without any action of this House
j Mr. COBB said 1t be admitted that II was in the
power of the Government of the United States protect its
people without the passage Of this BILL but this bill was
protection TO which the people Of Oregon have been entitled
for two years For than years they had been pro-
missed the protection Of laws and now, when such oppo
uny presents ITSELF and the people exposed immediate
danger and the consequences which follow il support
withheld why, he would ask the gentleman from New York.
should they stop half way
After other observations he moved that the message
be laid on the table and printed.