Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-12-22
WHOLE NUMBER c5.

SOHDlCSS DIT us last session. haNlnG made
no provision for executing the 18th article OF
: the treaty, by which the T. s. assumed 10
make satisfaction for the .unliquidated claims
OF eur citizens against Mexico, an amount ex-
ceedlng S3.250,0 200, the subject is again rec
commended TO your favorable consideration.
The exchange of notifications in the treaty.
with Mexico, took place the Both of Nav
ISIS. Within one year after that time. the
commissioner and surveyor which each qoy-
ernment stipulated to appoint, are required to
meet at the sport of San Diego. and mark the
said boundary IN its whole course, to tho
mouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte'' 1t will
be seen by this provision that the period with
In which these surveys of the respective GOV
ernments are to meet San Diego. will expire
I on the 10th of May, 1919. Congress at the
/ close of its last session, made an appropria-
ton for the expenses of running and MARKING
! the boundary line between the two countries
but did not fix the amount of salary (which
should be paid to the commissioners and sur
veyor which should be appointed on the part
OF the United States. 1t is desirable that the
amount of compensation they shall receive
should be prescribed by law. and not left, "a
/ at present, TO executive discretion
| Measures were adopted at the earliest NOS
! slble period to organize s'the territorial Goy-
eminent of Oregon" as authorized by the
act of the 18th of August last. The Govern
or and Marshall of the Territory, accompanied
/ by small escort, left the frontier of Nilsson
ri IN September last. and took the southern
route by the way of Santa Fe and the river
tItl. to California, with the intention of pro-
ceeding thence on one of our vessels to their
destination. The Governor was fully a6vi-
sed OF the great importance of his early arri-
val IN that Country, and it is confidently be-
lleved he may reach Oregon in the latter part
OF the present month, or early in the next
The other officers for the Territory have pro-
ceeded by sea.
In the month of May last, communicated
Information tn CongresS, that an IndIan war
had broken out In Oregon, and recommended
that authority be given to raise adequate
number OF volunteers, to proceed without de-
lay, to the assistance of our fellow citizens In
that Territory, and the authority to raise such
force, not having been granted by Congress,
as soon as their services could be dispensed
with In Mexico, orders were issued to tho
Regiment of Mounted RifeInen to proceed to
Jefferson Barracks, lii Missouri, and prepare
to march to Oregon as soon as the necessary
provisions could be made. Shortly before it
was ready to march, it was arrested by the
provisions of the Act passed by Congress on
the last day of the last session, which direct
ed that ali nome commissioned officers, musi-
clans or privates in that regiment, who had
been In service be discharged. The effect
of this provision was to disband the rank and
file of the regiment; and before their places
G. I'D be filled by re hts, the season hal SO
far advanced that it was impos 3 bic to proceed
until the opening of nextspring.
Ia the month of October last, the accom-
panying communication was received from
the Governor of the temporary Go eminent
of Oregon, giving information of the contn-
uation of Indian hostilit es and of the desti-
tute and defenceless condition of the inhabi-
tants. Orders were Immediately transmitted
to the commander of our squadron in the Pa
cifc, to despatch TO their assistance part Of
the navy that station, to furnish them with
arms and ammunition, and continue to give
them such aid and protection 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 L. States. to
cultivate the good will of Aboriginal tribes of
the continent, and to restrain them from
king war and indulging in excuses, by mild
means rather than By force. That this coud
have been done by the tribes in Oregon, had
that territory been brought under the govern
ment of or laws at an early period, and had
a suitable measure been adopted by Congress,
such as now exists in our Intercourse with
the other tribes within our limits, cannot be
doubted Indeed. the immediate and only
cause of existing hostility of the Indians Ct
Oregon, are represented to have been the long
delay of the United States in making to them
some trifling compensation, IN such articles
as they wanted, for the country now occu-
pied by our emigrants, which the Indians
elaine !. This compensation had been prom
i5ed to them by tletempofary government es-
tabished in Oregon, but its fulflment Ind
b postp from time to time, for two
years, whilst those who made it had been
a lxiously waiting for Congress to establish
Territorial Government over the county.
The Indians beca ne at lerg h distfustful of
their good faith, and sought redress by plum
der and ma ss1cre, which finally led to the
present difficulties. A few thousand dollars
in suitable presents, as compensation for the
country which had been taken possession of
by our citizens, would have satisfied the lndi-
ans, and have prevented the war; A small
amount distributed, it is believed would
store quiet. In this Indian war, our fellow
citizens of Oregon, who have been compelled
to take the field in their own defence, have
performed valuable military services, and have
been subjected to expenses which have fallen
heavily upon them; 80 Justice demands that
provision should be made by Congress to
them for their services. or to re-
fund to them the necessary expenses which
they have incurred.
i repeat the recommendation heretofore
made to Congress, that provisions be made
for the appointment of suitable number OF
Indian agents, to reside among the tribes OF
Oregon, and that small sums be appropriated
to enable these agents to cultivate friendly re-
lations with them. If this be done, the RESI-
idue of a small military force will be all that
will be necessary to keep them in check and
preserve peace.
I recommend that similar provisions be
made as regards the tribes inhabiting North
ern Texas and New Mexico, California. and
the extensive region lying between our set
dement's and possessions, as the more effect
i've means of preserving peace upon our bor-
ders, and within the acquired territory.
e