Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-12-12

escort, left the frontier ofMissouri in Sep
TENDER last, and took the southern route
by the way of Santa Fe and the river Gil
la to California, with the intention of pro.
ceedlng thence in one of our vessels of
war to their destination. The govern
ment was fully advised of the great inn
portance ofihis early arrival in the coun>
try, and it is confderltaly believed he may
reach Oregon in the latter part of the pres
eut month, or early N the next. The
other officers for the Territory have pro-
ceeded by sea. aa % e. H-a l5ss 90 gls ele
In the month of May last, ! commune
Gated information to Congress that an In
dian war had broken OUT in Oregon, and
recommended that authority be given to
raise an adequate number of volunteers
to proceed without delay to the assistance
of our fellow citizens in that Territory
The authority TO raise such force not
having been granted by Congresses soon
as their services could be dispensed with
in Mexico, orders were issued to the regi-
ment Ut mounted riaemen to proceed to
Jefferson Barracks, in Missouri. and pre-.
pare to march to Oregon as soon as the
necessary provision could be made.
Shortly before it was ready to march, il
vas araested by the provision of the act
passed by Congress, on the last day of the
/ last session; which directed that all the
non.commias 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 disband
the rank and file of the regiment, and be.
fore their places could be filled by recruits
the season had so far advanced that it was
impractlble for it to proceed until the open.
ing OF next spring.
In the month OF October last, the accom-
panying communication was received
from the governor Of the temporary gov.
eminent ofOregon, giving information Of
the continuance of the Indian disturban-
ces, and OF the destitute and defencless
condition OF the inhabitants. Orders were
Immediately transmitted to the comman-
der of our squadron in the Pacific to dis.
patch to their assistance part of the ma
val forces ON 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
reach the country. .. 81.
1t is the policy of humanity, and one
which has always been pursued by the
United States to cultivate the good will of
the aboriginal tribes ofthis continent, and
to restralu them from making war and in
dulging in excuses, by mild means, rath.
er than by force. That this could have
been done with the tribes in Oregon had
that territory been brought under the gov.
eminent of our laws at an earlier period,
and had suitable measures been adopted
by Congress, such rs now exists in our
intercourse with other Indian tribes with.
in our limits, cannot be doubted. Indeed
the immediate and only cause Of the ex.
isting hostility Of The Indians of Oregon
is represented TO have been, the long de.
lay of the United Sta:es in making to them
some trlflng compensation, in such arli.
cles as they wanted, for the country now
occupied by our emigrants, which the In
dams claimed and over winch they former.
ly roamed. ..-.
This compensation has been promised
TO them by the temporary government es-
ablished in Oregon but its fulfillment had
been postponed from time to time, for
nearly two years, whilst those who made
it had been anxiously waiting for Con-
gress TO establish territorial government
over the country. The Indians became
at length distrustful of their good faith
and sought redress by plumber and mas.
sacre, which finally led to the present DIFF.
fculties.
A few thousand dollars in suitable pres
ents as compensation for the country
which had been taken possession of by
our citizens, would have satisfied the In
dams, and have prevented the war. A
small amount of property distributed, it
is con6dentially believed would soon re-
store quiet. In this Indian war our fellow
citizens OF Oregon have been compelled
to take the field in their own defence,
having performed valuable military servi-
ces and been subjected to expenses which
have fallen on them. Justice demands
that provisions should be made by Con-
gress 10 compensate them for their servi-
ces, and to refund to them the necessary
expenses which they have incurred.
repeat the Recommendation hereto.
fore made to Congress, that provision be
made for suitable number of Indian A.
gents to reside among the tribes Of Ore.
gon, and that small sum be appropriated
to enable these Agents to cultivate friend
| ly 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 inhabiring Northern
u Texas, New Mexico California, and the
extensive region lying between our set
Il floUlo 70 Micaonr; and