The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-25

10 FAVOR MN win TURNER INSTRUCTIONS, nor Win soil
iary comnunical upon any subject whatever.
The legislature, as before remarked, was convened
early in July 1t being the hrst session, and large
amount OF business necessarily before it, il did not ad-
lourn until October. During all this time Governor Lane
was compelled 10 be at the seat OF government, ready to
d and Cooperate with The legislature in its action And
yel sr as early as be 22d OF that month, he had pre-
pared hs report giving detailed account oil the
and numbers the number Of warriors and general char
acier The mode oi life and subsistence, and the dispo
sion towards The whites, whether pacific or hostile Of
some sixty tribes and bands of Indians nhabiting that
extensive Territory This report was duly received At the
department, and, rs have already said no complaint
has been made 10 It's character sucency Nor does
appear that any particular benefit would have resulted
from lis earlier preparations had tha. been possible
Mr. President referred on former occasion 10 the
fact that Gen. Lanes successor-Maor Gaines--with his
family, was favored by the late cabinet with passage 70
Oregon IN government vessel. and al the public expense
have since ascerlaned, inquiry, that although II il
now more than since his appointment, yet be.
even he, has not yet made has report as suPernteld-
ent OF Indian affairs with all the advantage of his prede-
cessors bors 10 aid him. And the lace OF this
array OF facts and dates the ground taken that General
Lane was removed on account OF delay in making his
port! al
| Mr.. EWING. Mr.. President, / did not say 50 did
not say because he delayed in making his report
What did say was, that he had delayed in making re-
port commissioner OF Indian affairs, and that there
were complaints from the Territory. i did not say any
thing about his removal further than that.
! Mr.. WHlTCOMB. l would like the hoaorable sena-
tor from Ohio TO inform why he mentioned that FACT
unless had bearing upon the subject o. ms removal
movals in which there complaint against the in
dvidual said there was complaints and TO the inquiry
hs bs nad s.sn
have been removed, did not reply, did in the other
case distinctly but not as to Gen Lane. ,gasI
| Mr. WHlTCOMB Mr. President If have mistaken
the meaning OF the senator from Ohio, he ought TO be
obliged to me for giving him opportunity for expana-
tion, for senators near understood him as did, The
senator from Iowa lMr. DoDGE] had directly charged
that General Lane and Colonel Weller had been "srpped
Of their commissions for other offence than their po
pShed the y ssPs
represented saying, The senator also refers to two
cases Of remoyals General Lane, governor Of Oregon,
and Colonel Weller, OF the boundary commission and
speaks of these OF naked prescription In this
he Is incorrect As to Governor Lane, no report was
made by him to the department for very long time af-
Ter his appointment Great complaints were made against
him from the Territory Of Oregon, and from anthem
tic and reliable sources, which the Executive ought 10
respect There were, therefore, for his removal,
Now, Mr.. President understand the senator, by these
remarks denying that General Lane had been removed
for his political opinions onyas denying that his
was one of "naked prescription" And asproof of this
statement he went on to enumerate the real causes OF
his removal The very first assigned the alleged
delay in making his report TO the department II this
charge not introduced reason for remouGt, for
what purpose, repeat. was ii introduced Besides,
in my reply to the senator on the same day, repeat
edy and expressly gave the same meaning TO his re.
marks which | have done and which he then
lie! pass without correction, and submit therefors
whether by that omission he is not justly chageabe with
my present msapprehensions However, understand
the senator 10 concede that. although complaints
that account and consequently that he would have been
removed, e. prescribed" believe, the term)
however unexcepionabe his conduct public and private
might have BEEN and merely on account oil his political
opinions thank him for the explanation, late though IL
be- Had this course OF policy been early avowed by the
senator and his associates in the late cabinet applicable
to removals generally the resolution now before us,
will venture TO say would not have been introduced and
the Senate would have been spared its discussion Gen
temen ought 10 be satisfied TO take the Offices, without
seeking deprive the late ncumbens oil their character
also. Speaking of my own State, am satisfied that
such impuaton was scarcely merited by single re-
moved officer within It's limits; and every one believe,
has been removed whose position was OF value enough
to excite the cupidty OF neighbor But do not now
propose, however strong the nducement, 10 speak on
that subject might indeed close here, il not that
the senator from Ohio has stated that great complaints
made against General Lane from the Territory OF
the senator, that they not sufficient in his es
nation, 10 justify his removal from office The senator
has not thought proper TO enghlen US as to the nature OF
these complaints nor TO give US the names OF the au-
thors Nor II pretended that the late cabinet ever al
lowed General Lane an opportunity OF knowing much
less OF defending himself against them. Now, cir,
venture 10 say that no charge derogaory his character
would have been publicly made for the reason that none
could have been uuthfay made in Oregon, where Gene
raj Lane was known In every point OF view they are
now TO be regarded nothing but anonymous attacks,
without point specification, and consequently suscept
Die only OF negative proof But hs' prooi s a. nand'
as fitting conclusion TO my published remarks and
consists OF sundry resolutions passed by the territorial
legislature, highly commendatory OF the conduct and
policy OF General Lane as governor Of the Territory, as
superintendent of Indian affairs, and To the purity OF
his private life These resolutions passed as late
as tfe 18th OF May last, after his removal from Office,
when he had again mingled among his fellow citizens
private individual, and without official favor or pa
tronage TO bestow. They were voluntary tribute Of
regard to retiring officer, who had just renqushed the
power and influence of Office 10 his by whose
appointment he had been supplanted They were passed
too. believe, unanimously, (and OF course without dis
tinction Of pary,) and yet the third resolution sgnih
cany expresses the sincere regret OF the assembly that
the OF the United States had deprived the peo
pie OF Oregon OF the future services OF eminenty
the people over whom he was placed"
/ Mr. President, have done. had not designed, nor
is il necessary pass encomium on the character OF
General Lane simple narrative al his life would con-
sute his best eulogy, the leading events oil which are
already embamed in the grateful recollectons oil his
countfymen There he stands the architect OF his own
fame and fortunes far above the reach OF caumny The
shafts OF defamation fall harmless his feet and the
medaied mischief will only 10 rally around him
the sympahies OF just and grateful people. e3
Be IL rssored By the kgisiafive asamby Of s Tuvsfory
of Otgon That the oil General Jos Lane, super
intendent OF Indian affairs. meets with their fullest sppro
baon and that his extraordinary energy ia that depart
ment merits thanks OF the people Of Oregon that the
ced towards the Indian tribes within the Ter
rtoy, have secured the peaceful relations with them,
and that few could have plished so sscceSiy
what his kindness. Integrity and frmnes have done 70
secure the bonds OF lasting peace win tne uioes sur
rovndng NN
Rssoipsd That in the discharge Of his execnve duties
governor OF Oregon, he has uniformly acted with view
to the best interests Of the ho people. and that his de-
meanor Office has afforded no ground Of just complaint,
Il y salInA ~ thA ~.