Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-12-13


should be paid 10 the Commissioner and
Surveyor to be appointed on :he part of
the United States. 1t is desirable that the
amount efcompensation which they shall
receive should be prescribed by law, and
not left as at present, to Executive discre.
| ton.
Measures were adopted at the earliest
practicable period 10 organize the srerrito.
rial government Of Oregon" as authorized
by the Act Of the 14lh Of August last
The Governor and Marshal Of the Terrific
left the frontier Of Missouri in September
last, and took the Southern route. by the
way of Santa Fe and river Gila, to Cali.
tornia, with the intention of proceeding
thence in one Of our vessels Of war TO
their destination The Governor was full
| ly advised of,he great Importance OF his
early arrival in the country, and it is con-
6dently believed he may reach Oregon in
the latter part Of the present month, or
early in the next. The other officers for
the Territory have proceeded by sea.
In the month ofMay last communicated
toCongress the information that an Indian
war had broken out in Oregon, and recon-.
nended that authority be,,given to raise an
| adequate number Of volunteers to proceed
wi, hout delay TO the assistance of our fel.
low citizens in that territory The author.
ity TO raise such force not having been
granted by Congress, as soon as their SER
vice could be dispensed with in Mexico,
orders were ISSUED TO the Regiment OF
Mounted Rihemen, to proceed to Jefferson
| Barracks, in Missouri, and to prepare to
| march to Oregon as soon as the necessary
| provision could be made. Shortly before
! i! was ready to march, it was arrested by
the provision of the Act passed by Con.
gress on the last day Of the last session,
which directed that all the non commission.
ed officers, musicians, and privates Of that
regiment who had been in service be dis
charged. The effec, Of this provision was
to disband the rank and file of the regiment;
and before their places could be filled BY
recruits the season had SO far advanced that
it was impracticable for i: 10 proceed until
the opening of the next spring.
In the month of October las, the accom-
panying communication was received from
the Governor Of Oregon giving in(orma-
ton of the continuation of the Indian dis
lurbances and ofthe destitute and defence.
less condition, Of the inhabitants. Orders
were Immediately transmitted to the com.
mander of our squadron in the Pacific, TO
despatch to their assistance part Of the
naval forces, in that station, to furnish them
with arms and ammunition, and to contin-
ue to give them such aid and protection as
the Navy could afford, until the army
could rach the country.
1t is the policy Of humanity and one
which has always been pursued by the U.
S. to cultivate the good will of the aborig-
inal tribes Of this continent and constrain
them from making war and indulging in
excesses by mild means, rather than by
force. That this could have been done
with the tribes in Oregon, had that terri.
tory been brought under the government
Of our laws q, an earlier period and had
suitable measures heen adopted by Con-
gress, such as now exis. in our intercourse
with the other Indian tribes within our linn
its, cannot be doubted. Indeed the imme-
diate aad only cause Of the existing hos,il-
itv of the Indians of Oregon Is represented
to have been the long delay Of the United
States in making TO them some trihing
compensa,iou,in such articles as they want
ed, for the country now occupied by our
emigrants, which the Indians claimed and
over which they formerly roamed. This
compensation had been promised TO them
by the temporary government established
in Oregon but lis fulfillment had been post
poned from time to time for nearly two
years, while those who made it had been
anxiously waiting for Congress to establish
territorial government, ever the country.
The Indians became ut length distrustful
of their good faith, and sought redress by
plunder and massacre, which finally led to
the present difficulties. A few thousand
dollars in suitable presents rs compensa-
ton 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 Of properly dis.
tributed, it is confidently believed would
soon res tore quiet. In this Indun war
our fellow citizens of Oregon have been
compelled to take the field in their own de-
fence, have performed valuable military
services and been subjected to expenses
which have fallen on them. Justice de-
mands that provision should be made by
Congress to compensate them for their ser.
vices, and to refund to them the necessary
expenses which they have incurred.
repeat the recommendation heretofore
made to Congress, that provision be made
for appointment Of a suitable number OF
Indian. Agents to reside among the tribes
OF Oregon, and that small sum be appro-
priated to ennble these Agents to cultivate
friendly relations 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.
recommend that similar provision as
regards the tribes inhabting Northern
Texas, New Mexico, California, and the
extensive region lying between our settle.
ments in Missouri and these possessions, Us
the most effective means Of preserving
peace upon our borders, and within the re-
Gently acquired territories.
The Secretary fthe Treasury will pre-.
sent in his Annual Report a highly salts
factory statement Of the condition of the
Finances
The imports for the fiscal year ending
on the 30th of June last, were Of the value
Of one hundred and fifty -four million nine