Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-14
THURSDAY, DECEMBER IL, 1850.
IN SENATE.

Mr.. WINTHROP. have in my hand memorial of
Mrs Martha Gray, Of Boston, the widow Of Capt Robsrt
Gray the discoverer of the Columbia river Capt. Robert
Gray in the naval service Of the country during part Of
the Revolutionary Being afterwards employed in the
merchant service, he made voyage between the years 1887
and $780, in the soop Washington and the first carry
the flag OF our Union at the masthead of vessel bearing that
august in triumph round the world. In subsequent
voyage the year 1892 he discovered and entered the CO.
umba river, and gave to the of the ship which he
then commanded.
The memorial is accompanied by some very interesting
papers, Here is the original sea-leer signed by George
Washington and attested by Thomas Jefferson under which
the Columbia sailed from Boston in 1870. Here is similar
paper bearing the seal Of the Commonwealth of Massachu
se and the signature Of John Hancock its then Governor
Here the clearance certificate from the Boston custom
house, signed by Lincoln, then collector of the port
but whose name is familiar TO history in s connexon
with than of great Revolutionary tatlefelds
both the North and at the South. 1t seems 1T and st
ing conccnce that many Of the foremost Of Re-
pubic should have been thus associated in auhencang the
national character Of the vessel and the voyage which
achieve so important discovery.
Here too the original instructions Of Joseph Dael
the Of the Columba, and of the most eminent
merchants of that day. showing the objects with which the
voyage undertaken, and the liberal and patriotic spirit in
which it to be prosecuted.
The voyage was merely mercantile in its design but il
minated is we'll known in securing 10 this country the
first and best element in its title territory the Pa
cc In the protraced controversy between Great Britain and
the United States, which happily brought close
few years snce point successfully relied by
American negoators than the discovery of the Coumba
by Capt Gray. 1t is not too much to say that that dis
covery gave us Oregon.
Capt Gray did not live his country reap the fruits
Of his adventure and enterprise much less to taste any of them
himself He died in 1906 leaving widow and four chill
dren, and very little properly.
Mrs. Gray and her daughters, only of whom has been
married. have since supported themselves mainly by their own
exerons and economy the widow having enjoyed
the benefit Of pension for her husbands Revolutionary
vices owing part the date Of her maage and in part
technical defect in the evidence. She calls upon
Congress cheer her old by making such grant herself
and daughters shall he in accordance with the liberal
spirit in which it may be proper that great and magnani-
Government should regard the circumstances Of the
widow and children OF citizen whose nautical skill and bold
enterprise have been instrumental in rendering SO distinguish
ed benefit to his country"
similar petition behalf Of this venerable lady was pre-
sened to the other House Of Congress few years SINCE
referred to the Committee of Revolutionary Pensions who
reported in favor Of giving Mrs. Gray an immediate pension
Of five hundred dollars per during the remainder of
life and recommended further that whenever the disputed
question of boundary should be settled when surveys should
have been made and territorial government organized
Oregon should granted to her and her children
report was acted upon and Congress has
way recognised the mertoous services Of Capt Gray
seems to me that grant Of land in the Territory which
Capt trays discovery furnished the very of the
American title would be an emineny appropriate tribute to
his memory, and that would approve itself the general
sense of Congress and the country With this view pre-
sent the memorial and move that be referred to the Com
mittee on Public Lands.
i The memorial 80 referred.
/ MILITARY PUNIsHxENTs.
Mr. BORLAND, from the Committee on Printing, Il
which referred the motion print the report Of the Sec
rotary Of War, communicating the proceedings Of court
martial in the case Of William Hannver, reported in avo
Of printing the same
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. stated to the Senate yes
eday that hoped the print would lie upon the tab
until the Committee Military Affairs shall be able to rePoI
upon the matter. therefore lay the report uPo
the table.