Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-12-13

THE MESSAGE OF GEN. LANE
To the Territorial Legislature.
LETTER FROM JUDGE BRYANT
INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE

OREGON CRY, August 18th, lS49.
To the Editors Of the Indiana State Sentinel:
Enclosed | send you the message of our
mutual friend, Gov. LANE, to the Legislative
Assembly of the Territory of Oregon. This
document, as well as all the Governors official
acts, shows the good sense, and | may add,
the good heart of the man, and is well recev-
ed here by the citizens, and assembly. The
Governor is very prompt in defending the
Indians in their fisheries and other rights, es-
sential to their comfort and subsistence, and
on the other hand exacts from them more
respect TO the rights of our citizens than one
not accustomed to them would suppose them
capable Of yielding. We have had no late
difficulties with them, and | believe his poll
cy will secure US against any future difficult
ty The Governor is almost constantly en-
gagged in hearing their petty grievances, and
redressing them in plain and summary
way, that makes them pay respect to the
rights of one another, and abstain from de-
predations upon the citizens. Our leg
islature is in session. They are men of
good sense, and well understand the wants
of the people of the Territory. Several of
them have filed important stations in the
States, and Col. Chapman was once dele
gate in Congress from Iowa. The courts in
my district are in session. Last week held
court in Linn county, in this, in Champoeg,
and next week will hold court in Clackamus,
and week after in Vancouver, which will
end my circuit. Judge Pratt's circuit will
commence LIST Monday in September. /
found but little business to do. The Grand
Jury found four or five indictments for small
If horr nd Gle Incr
horses from the Indians, &C., in Champoeg.
Such things will happen at first, but think,
Judging from the mass of the citizens, who
are mainly very orderly and honest, that
these lawless characters will not long remain
amongst us. was up this, the Willamette
valley, as far as the Calapooa settlements.
never saw a richer valley of land, and the
mountain scenery is captivating. The health
of the country is good, and the harvest is
abundant. This is the greatest country for
wheat on the continent. have never seen
finer wheat grow than we have this year in
Oregon, not near all of which will be saved
for the want of laborers. The ordinary
wages for laborers in the harvest field is Sc
per day to each man. Every kind of labor
commands nearly any price asked for ii,
The packers, in advance of the emigration.
arrived to-day. They report 5000 wag-
ons on the road /; about 1000 bound for
this Territory, the residue for California.
The cholera had been fatal out from Mis-
souri, TO Blue River, about 400 miles; about
700 deaths, and had abated but there was
much sickness of fevers among the emf
grants, and some deaths We anticipate
much sickness and distress among the land
emigration. The packers are of opinion
that they are rushing and pressing their cat
tie so hard in order to get out TO the mines,
that they will break them down. ! hope
there will not be sufficient emigration come
here to make us a famine. Our people are
returning from California every day with
large sums of gold, the product of the mines.
1t will surprise you dare say to learn the
trade of the Columbia River this year, in
comparison with what it has heretofore been.
have before me statement showing the
arrivals and departures of vessels coming in
and going out with freight over the Column
bia Bar which has heretofore been considered
impossible. Since the 9TH Of May, ships of
every size, from forty tons to seven hundred
tons burthen, amounting to ffty-eight up to
the 18th of this month, and not single ac-
cident of serious character, has happened.
II tWCuuCll part Vi tilC piOiCOuOH Was
given to the trade of this river that is ex-
tended TO the mouth of the rivers in the
States, the Columbia would be found TO be a
much better bar than that Of most rivers in
the States Of its size. The lumber trade of
this river is quite an important trade; SO Of
the wheat and flour.
The Legislature were this evening engaged
in devising means to alleviate the suffering
of the emigrants. Many of them will not
be able to get through, it is believed, with
the best assistance we can give them.
We bave no paper published in this Ter
ritory, and | cannot furnish you with a
printed copy of the Governors message. He
is quite well left here this morning for the
Umpqua valley, accompanied by Lieut.. Tai
bert, with an escort, to examine Alcie's
Bay, and TO see the Indians of that part of
the Territory. 1t turns out that there are
several good harbors on the coast below the
mouth of the Columbia river, although it has
heretofore been reported an iron-bound
coast. Yours, truly,
VIM. p. BRYANT.
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