Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-27

boundary line between the TWO countries.
but did not fix the amount of salary which
'shoald be piid to the commissioner and
surveyor to be appointed on the part Of
the United States. It is desirable tina!
the amount Of compensation they shall re-
ceive should be prescribed by law, and
not left, as at present, to Executive dis
cretidh.
Measures were adopted at the earlies,
period to organize s'the territorial govern
went Of Oregon" as authorized by the
act OF the fourtecath of August last
The Governor and Marshal Of the Terri.
tory, accompanied by small escort, left
the frontier Of Missouri in September last
and took the southern route by the way
Of Santa Fe AMI the river Gila, to Cali.
fornia, with the intention of proceeding
thence on one Of our vessels to their des-
tination. The Governor was fully adj.
yised Of the great importance Of his early
arrival in that country, aud it is confident
~ believed he may reach Oregon in the
latter plrt Of the present month, or early
in the next. The other officers for the
Territory have, proceeded by sea.
In the month of May last, I comm.ni-
Gated information to Congress, that an In
dian war had broken on. in Oregon, and
recommended that authority be given to
raise an adequate number Of volunteers,
TO proceed, without delay, to the assist
tance Of our fellow citizens in that Ter
'ritory and the authority to raise such a
force. MT having been granted by Con-
.gress, as soon as their services could be
dispensed with in Mexico, orders were
issued to the regiment of mounted riAemen
to proceed to Jefferson Barracks, in Mis-
sour, and to prepare TO march to Oregon
IS soon as the necessary provisions could
be made. Shortly before it was ready TO
7narch, it was arrested by the provision
Of the Act passed by Congress on the last
day Of the last session, which directed
that all noa-commissioned officers, must
Clans, or privates in that regiment, who
1nd been in service, be discharged. The
effect 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
impossible to proceed until the opening of
nextspring
In the month of October last, the ac-
conpanying communication was received
from the Governor of the temporary gov
ernment Of Oregon, givin, information of
the continuation Of the milan disturban
ces and of the destitute aud defenceless
condition Of the inhabit,n ts. Orders
were Immediately transmitted to the com
manier of our squadron in the Pacific, to
despatch to their assistance part of the
navy on that station, to furnish them with
arms and amnu li;lon, and to continue TO
give them such aid and protection as the
navy could aiforl, until the army could
reach the country.
1t is the policy Of humanity, and one
which has always been pursued by the
Unltei States, to cultivate the COOL will
OF Aboriginal tribes Of the continent, and
70 rcstrain them from making war and in
dllsing in excuses, by mild means rather
taan by force. That this could have been
done with the tribes in Oregon, had that
Territory been brought under the govern
ment Of our laws at an early period, ana
had suitable measures been adopted by
Congress, such as now exist in our inter-
course with the other Indian tribes within
our limits, cannot be doubted. Indeed.
the Immediate and only cause of existing
hostility Of the indians of Oregon, are
represented to have been the long delay
OF the United States, in IN king to them
some trIfiing compensation in such arti-
Giles as they wanted, for the country now
occupied by our emf grants, Which the In
dams elaine /, anl over which they for
merly roamed. This compensation had
been promised to them by the temporary
Government established in O.egon, but
its fulfillment had been postponed from
time, for nearly two years, whilst those
who made it had been anxiously awaiting
for Congress to establish a Territorial
Government over the country.
The Indians became at length distrust-
full Of their good faith, AMI SOU yht rc,lress
BY plumber and massacre, which finally
led to the present difficulties. A few
thousand dollars in suit .ble 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 dis.
tributed, it is confidently believed, would
restore quiet. In this Indian war. our
fsllow-citizens Of Oregon, who have been
compelled to take the field in their own
defence, have performed valuable military
services, ana have been subjected to ex-
p,nses which have fallen heavily upon
them; so justice demands that provision
should be made by Congress, to compen-
safe them for their services, or to refund
to them the necessary expenses which
they have incurred.
! repeat the Recommendation heretofore
"a sde to Congress, tia: provision be made
for the appointment OF suitable number
Of Indian Agents 10 reside among the
tribes Of Oregon, and that a small sum be
appropriated to enuble these agents to
cultivate friendly relations with them
II this be done, the residue Of a small
military force will be all that will be nee. .
essary to kecpthcm in check anl preserve
peace.
! recommend that similar provisions be
IN 'de as regards the tribes inhabitinc
Northern Texas. New NT.x;oo a,d C,,j