The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-02
Oregon.


The eloquent memorial, which we publish below. from
the legislative council of Oregon the Congress of the
United States appeals with irresistible force to the best
feelings of every American. We had long struggled for
the possession of its territory Negotiation followed ne
goation, almost the verge of war. We reluctantly
yielded an inch of its land to Great Britain After this,
who would have supposed that we should have turned
its distant inhabitants adrit-tha should have failed
70 extend to them any adequate protection, to give them
territorial government, to send them officers who might
restore order TO her affairs, and relieve them from the
outrages of blood thirsty savages The only emblem of
our national power which they have among Them is the
ensign and union-jack which were saved in 1916 from
the wreck of the schooner Shark No arms have been
sent them, and they had scarcely powder sufficient 10 fire
national salute on the last anniversary of Washngons
birthday.
Thus thrown out OF the pale of the national protec
tonno government conferred her people-the means
OF resisting the savages being denied them they now
come forward to tell the pathetic story of the outrages
and massacres which the Indians have perpetrated
upon them And why is all ths AS soon as the
controversy with England had been adjusted by a
treaty. and the boundary lines marked out the President
earnestly commended Congress the establishment of
territorial government for her distant people Congress
failed to discharge its duties and the Executive again
appealed, in emphatic terms, in behalf of Oregon We
shall not enter into the which have delayed the
action Of Congress They insufficient in them
selves, and their results have been unfortunate
Oregon. Harasscd by long delay, massacred by the
sangunary who threaten their determinations they
send special messenger invoke the protection of
the government The English language contains few
memorials which distinguished for the beauty OF
its expressions, and the pathos of its appeals We under
take TO say that OF extraordinary character
from people Distant exposed, unprotected, yet
so anxiously won to our arms appealing to high
minded proud, and powerful naton is rarely to be met
with in the annals OF civilized nations. We say it with
due notifications; and trust that not another week
will pass our heads without extending TO them full
justice and adequate relief Some gentlemen talk of
sending them regiment 10 protect them, and OF auhorz
ing other forces among themselves, to be raised armed
and paid for by the United States This is certainly
proper enough but IT is not all that the President
recommends and which the occasion calls for military
force should be promptly authorized, and Immediately
organized, before the SHOWS of the mountains sha
cut Oft their transportation. But they want something
more than troops. They want government under the
wing OF the United States They want energetic MEM
bers of that government to be sent with necessary powers
and qualifications from the United States They
government to create order out OF confuson-to give
confidence to her residents and her emgrantso protect
their lives and property in the most efficient manner-to
send agents among the Indians to control their
They want government to give full value 10 the
public territory and to make the very bounty lands which
we propose to give to the soldiers, desirable posses
SION We trust that time will be lost in agita
ting debates upon idle abstractons but that Congress
will promptly act, redeem the national honor, extend re-
lief from the ruthless savage, bind the 10000 citizens of
Oregon firmly to the affections of the mother coun.
and attach their distant poserty to the Atlantic States
by grateful recollection of the services which their
received The speech of the senator from Mis-
souri, Wednesday one of the most effective appeals
which have ever been addressed to that chamber twas
appeal to all the best passions OF nature against all
the worst Can Congress longer resist the calls which
humanity, justice, even policy, makes upon them Can
they refuse to heaken among Others the following
peroration of the memorial which J. Quinn Thornton,
of Oregon has Just addressed the Congress of the
United States'
"The circumstances existing when your memoralist left
Oregon, such the serious apprehen
sion of general Indian 1t is incredible that twelve
thousand American citizens, than three thousand
miles distant from the of the metropolitan government
should neither be governed by you yet be permitted
make declaration of indie pendence, place them
selves in a position discharge those duties incumbent
upon them, and to enjoy those rights which denied
to any of their brethren the eastern side OF the Rocky
mountains; but which, if withheld, would deluge this
country and this capital, with iraterna blood You
moralist would adopt the language report made by
the lamented late Lieutenant Mel M. Howison and pub
shed among documents must take leave say,
that good policy requires the government retain
the affections of this hopefu ohsptng by attentions and
fostering 1t needs help at this moment and If II be
rendered, lasting of gratitude and dependence will
be the consequence But if neglected in this its tender
age, and allowed fight its way independent
uty, the ties OF consanguiniy may be forgotten in the
energy OF its unaidcd exertions.'"
| MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.
To the honorable the Senate and House of Representation
the United States of dmerica Congress embed:
GENTLEMEN: 1t is made my duty forward your hon
)rabe body the memorial passed by the legislature of Ore
yon and the papers containing the documents referred to
n the memorial all of which is enclosed here with
have the honor remain gentlemen, your obedient
| servant,
/ GEO. ABERNETHY,
| Governor OF Oregon Territory.
OREGON CITY, December 20, 1917
To the honorable the Senate and House of Representation
the Uaited States of Amerca IN Congress assembled
Your memo ialiss the legislative assembly of Oregon
territory, would respectfully beg leave lay
ore your honorable body brief of their situa-
ton and
tho tp{th he Tlnaf Gt,fau