Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-28
REMARKS OF MR.. wHITCOMB.

REMARKS OF MR.. WHITCOMB,
or INDIANA,
In the Senate, on IhursdGy iasf' IN dJence q
General Lane.
Mr.. WHrTCoMB. Mr.. President, wish very briefly
a 10 ;ns,ce 70 an absent individual who and whose friends
had not anticipated the mpuiston upon his official conduct
th,t was thrown out the other day by the Senator from Ohio
.lude 70 the case Of Gen. Lane late Governor Of Oregon
The Senator aned . reason or ns removal that ne had
DELAYED making report for unreasonsby long time
There was no statement that he had made report but
merely that he had delayed IT, Nor any exception taken
20 the character Of the report ITSELF its uness lis
racy or its being satisfactory ia every respect.
When making few remarks the other day, repellng that
attack was then minated, not in possession Of the
facts necessary enable to do full justice 70 Gen. Lane
have since had time possess myself of suthencst-
ed particulars simple statement Of which, in addition to
what then said will be sufficient for bis triumphant vindi-
cation. wish in brief terms TO place them upon the
record in order that the charge may be accompanied BY It's
refutation.
as August Is, ls4s and yet already find him at
St. Louis on the thirteenth day afterwards his way over
land to the Pacific He had In the time, with that re-
mskabIe ompude and energy which have ever character
lied him. hastily arranged his private affairs. equipped him
self for distant and PerlOus journey and taken leave o.
his family and Of the endssrment Of homo for long and
uncertain period He had scarcely rested from bis brilliant
campaigns in Mexico, In which be had won mporshabIe
Iaures a military commander and the title Of the Marion
Of the Mexican war, and he now, at the summons Of bis
country promptly dedicated himself once more 70 her service
in civil capacity.
his face westwardy for the performance Of long and ted
GUS journey, inhospitabe wds and the
Nevsda hsn but seldom navesed by the foot Of civilized
man. He was accompanied BY only twenty-five men, under
Lieut. Hawkins Of the naea having expressly declined
larger force which had been offered him BY the Government
He and his little command engaged in the prosecution
of their hazardous undertaking throughout the entire winter
srnA h~f
yelled hundreds Of dreary miles through winty SHOWS and
on foot There pvation labor that he did mot
cheerfuy divide with his men, to tho cooking Of his
food He soothed them BY biz kindness, cheered them
by his voice. and encouraged them by bis example, He at
last reached Oregon with but nine mem the remnant Of his
little party, on the Sd Of March, ls49.
Keeping in mind the accusation Of delay, ID clear that
he not obnoxious to it up to tina. time Finding him
now the theatre Of his duties, il natural and proper
inquire what these duties wer6 Among Others the Of
Congress Of August H. ls4S approved only four days be-
fore the date Of Gen. Lanes commission, required him. in
the first place, enumeration Of all the
white inhabitants Of the Territory be taken He then
assign each county district the proportion Of repre-
sentson in the Territorial Legislature to which should be
entitled He next to fix day for the election Of the
members, and give sixty days notice Of by proclamation
After the election devoved him to appoint day for the
meeting Of the Legislature and give not exceeding ninety
days notice Of il. The first session Of the Legislature was
by law limited to not exceeding one bundled days.
In view Of the condition of the settlers at that time who
entirely destitute Of any government organization
cspt such had been adopted by them from sheer necessity
in their primary capacity Gen. Lanes duties Governor
of the Territory Of far importance than those which
dsvoved on him superintendent Of Indian affairs and chal-
lenged his first and earliest attention. Especially bis
duty look the Government for the protection and the
welfare Of that weak and distant colony, which had been
long deprived of the fostering Of the General Govern
mento attend in other words to the condition Of the set
tiers before informing the Department at than four thou
sand miles distance, of the condition Of the Indians Giving
the priority them to his executive duties and putting together
hu in
required to be perormedha is to say sixty days
tee Of the territorial election, ninety days notice allowed for
the meeting of the Legislature hundred days notice for
the length Of the first session, and if only thirty days be al
lowed for taking the census have 10 all than nine
months which the circumstances Of the Territory might
que should be occupied in the discharge Of these important
duties before Gen. Lane ought to have been required
peed to attend 10 the preparation Of his report Indian az
fairs This would have brought down December 8,
lS49, supposing him TO his abos the
men he arrived In Oregon without interval of after
his long and fatieuing journey
But Independent Of this consideration he would have been
justified, presume in postponng action in the promises,
and remaining quiescen in the absence Of the formal written
instructions which bad bean prepared for his guidance but
about three months and half after his arrival Besides but
partial supply Of funds received BY him desy the
cessary expenses, and that not until the month Of April
What Gen. Lanes conduct under these circumstances
Did he avail himself Of any of these excuses legitimate
they were. to defer action and to consult his and
quiet No, sir the very day after his arrival he issued his
proclamation and appointed suitable persons take the
in every part Of the Territory. The enumeration
accomplished and accomplished too without cant Of money
But the want Of money compensated BY bis
fuenc by the confidence and attachment he inspired among
the people, and by the zeal in the public service Of those
whom be employed The apponionment was made among
the different districts the election held and the Legisa-
ture finally convened in the early part Of July, only
three weeks after the instructions hand and not
til these instructions arrived appointments received Of
subagens Of Indians whose duty aid the Governor
in the collection Of information for the preparation of his rs
port Superintendent Of Indian Affairs Yes of this very
report which he 10 censured for delaying unrea-
sonably long time No subagens received their appoint
to assist him until the middle Of June and yet was
determined and actually attempted him by the APP
pontmen Of "a citizen Of Indiana) the 9th
August following Here then, have the late Cabinet in
the Penude Of their magnanimy allowing Gen. Lane loss
than two months within which examine $50 square
miles Of territory, and ASCERTAIN, far practicable the
Names location, numbers character, and disposition of the
various tribes and bands Of Indians nhabng its surface
and for his report afterwards reach Washington. Bear in
mand, too, that there regular mail communication
with Oregon until June last.
have said that Gen. Lane did wait for money OF
sucons before entering upon the active discharge Of his
ties Bot sir he was mot sats6ed stop there Although
as before remarked his executive duties claimed his first
CARDS yet no found time besides dschsrgng them promptly
TO give his unweaed and personal attention to bis duties a.
Superintendent Of Indian Afain Long before any sub.
sscns received their appointments assist him. within the
very month altar no reached the shores Of Oregon he made
journey Of three hnndrsd miles, going and returning TO GER
tain tribes on the Columbia river business connected with
AA~l 49, H. m III .-lap