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

safest and best harbors in the world. 1t
affords fine ship navigation into beautiful
and important portion of our country.
refrain from dwelling further upon to-
pics so interesting as the features and re-
sources of the country, conscious, as | am,
that my feeble attempt to delineate them is
entirely inadequate to do them Justice
| am happy to know that many of our
people who have been TO the mines, are re-
turning TO their homes and farms, and It is
to be hoped, are satisfied and determined TO
remain and renew their farming and other
occupations. The gold excitement occa-
stoned the absence of large part of our
laboring population; many of them had
failed to put in crops; fine farms are lying
idle; consequently, this year, the crops will
fall short of an average one. But there is
no doubt that with the grain on hand, there
will be sufficient supply for home con-
sumption.
We have good reason to believe that the
extraordinary emigration to California, in
consequence of the gold mines, will in
short time result in adding SO largely to our
numbers. that our population, now only
about nine thousand, will be doubled in the
next twelve months. The healthy climate,
rich and beautiful vallies of Oregon, will
doubtless induce many of. them 10 seek
permanent home amongst us. She will thus
be benefited by those mines equally with
her sister territory.
1t is estimated that upwards of two mil
lions of dollars in gold dust have been
hrn int hafr
This new element Of prosperity, invested in
agricultural and other branches of industry,
must have most cheering effect upon the
prosperity of the country. 1t should, how
ever, arrays be borne in mind that the
wealth of country does not consist so
much in dollars and cents as in the number,
virtue, intelligence and patriotism of her
population; in cultivated fields, focks and
herds, and those facilities natural and artif-
cial which afford an easy and certain mar
ket for its surplus production.
From the best information / have been
able to gather, from estimates and otherwise,
the expense of the late Cayuse war may be
set down at about one hundred and ninety
thousand dollars. This Indebtedness has
borne heavily on many individuals who adj
vanced money to the provisional govern
ment, some of whom borrowed money for
the purpose of arming and subsisting the
troops. and have since paid those sums out
of their own funds, by which they have
been greatly injured in their private affairs.
The justice of the war and the good con-
duct of the citizens in promptly turning out
in defence of thei' country, entitle them not
only to the good opinion of government,
but to an appropriation by Congress suffi-
cient to pay the expense of the war. 1t is
for you TO take such steps as in your wisdom
may seem best to ascertain the exact amount of
the expenses of the war, and to whom it is
due; and to lay the subject before Congress,
with request that they make the just and
proper appropriation.
In regard to donations of land, the people
Of Oregon have long been KEEP. in suspense.
They believe that the faith of the govern
ment is virtually pledged to a grant of land
to each settler who has made location
and improved it. The immediate attention
of Congress should be called to the subject,
and their early and favorable attention re-
quested.
The necessity of good roads, in aiding the
settlement, as well as inpromoting the present
and future prosperity of the country, is too
manifest to require illustration. The enact
ment of laws to this end, and for the making
such other improvements, as may facilitate
intercourse between the different sections OF
the country, so far as it may be, within the
ability of the Territory, is earnestly rec
omended. A good road leading from Walla-
Wala TO Pugets Sound; one from Chehales
to some point on the Columbia, and another
from the Falls of the Columbia to the valley
of the Willamette, one of the greatest inn
portance to our country in military point
of view, and will doubtless be so considered
by our Government, if their attention in a
proper manner is called to the subject.
A matter of the deepest interest to the
prosperity of the Territory will be the estab-
lishment of judicious system TO raise reye-
nue.. This is no less demanded for the re-
demption of the plighted faith of the Provis-
ional Government, than it is for raising by a
practicable and legal method, sufficient funds
not obtainable from the federal treasury, to
meet incidental and necessary expenses of the
Territory. While the home Government
contributes in liberal spirit to the maintain
ance of our temporary existence as Terri
tory, it is expected that all revenue, necessa-
ry to the local interests of the several coun-
ties will be supplied by system of equal as
sessments, levied upon the people who are to
be permanently benefited thereby. Your
early attention to this delicate but necessary
duty, is earnestly recommended.
Your immediate attention is most respect
fully urged, to the examination and remedy
of the loose and defective condition of the
statute laws, declared by the organic act to
be operative in the Territory. No others