The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-04

military purposes 70 which there are no claims, upon
which there were no improvements aud, OF course 10
which there u no objection To The government taxing
possession But, III addition TO that, they have taken
possesson of the town of Astoria, containing thirty
houses MORE turned out the inhabitants, and approps-
aed the houses and property Of these inhabitants TO the
use OF the troops To this there IS objection. This is
al old town The present inhabitants there paid money
or The lots upon which 'es houses stand and when s
own property The government takes possession OF H.
and makes compensation Tor y al All; Inc 4uesuon
is. whether there shall De provision u ,ns oi .na VIII
confirm that act on the part OF the officers IN command
OF the army IN Oregon !,
Again the officers wished have pasture Tor their
horses. They found that Mr.. William Meade had a
very good farm for that purpose-one that he bought
three years ago. paying 1000 IN money iof H. Inc o.
fcer takes possession OF that farm, disegardihs ths
claims OF the owner, him out OF possession, ana
appoprates il to the OF the government he ques,
toa whether that act shall be confirmed and aanohcd
by the amendment of the senator from Mississippi Ihey
have also gone up the river Columbia TO missionary
station, near where there large fisheries and
taken possession OF tract four miles square, including
the mission, and have refused TO allow whlte men 70
come and catch the fish in these fisheries he question
is whether this shall be sanctioned and egaized by the
amendment Of the senator from Mississippi repeat ihai
cannot vote for proposition thai turns one setue oa'
OF his house, deprives any oil the claims oil when
he was possession before the government troops ar
rived Wherever the government OF the United States
has selected land that was unoccued al the me ths
bill protects the rights OF the United States But where,
il occupied al the ime then the government Oh
the United States ought to pay for IT. II II desires to nave
Mr.. BENTON thank the senator from Mississippi
for having the paper read which he sent to the Chair
Astoria the point OF collision between the settlers OF the
Columbia and our ofhcers Astoria was settled ~ lne
year l40 years ago, save one. And those VINO nave
been there 40 years. the descendants OF ihem or the
purchasers who have gone through every hardship and
every suffering incident to the settlement OF new coun'
Try at the distance oil 5000 miles from the country to
which they belong to be subjected TO the arbitrary
will OF military officer. who comes to them and says,
"Od settler, depart the military wants this, and the 40
labor that have IL has made IL out
the convenient for and therefore we will
take it." That to be the precise point that is pre-
sented.
Astoria is not upon the seashore Ii is up the river,
the south side of the river, and may or may mol be
the place where any military post is necessary A fort
may be necessary on the sea shore and along he en-
into the bay, can all comprehend But AS.
tora is pretty well up the river 10 the first place, |
think is agrea, question whether It Is wanted and IN the
next place, there is question with me that the United
States, il they want this land, should take II and pay fairly
and fully for it, and not take with the strong hand SO
OF other places say from my experience. iha. THIS =
very vexatOus authority be put into the hands oil the
officers. They execute this power IN military point Of
view only, suits themselves And alter II is once DONE
know that it is very hard work to get 1t undone We
had hard work enough to get something of this sort
done when it close by, and it will be still harder
when 5000 miles Off Now sir, the United States can
afford purchase anything that they need, and am
against running the risk OF giving an ohcer any night to
disturb a settler "H
Mr.. DAVIS. Of Mississippi. One would suppose. from
what the senator from Illinois has remarked that the
from Mississippi had offered amendment pounc
ing upon particular locations FARMS and fisheries and
taking them away from those to whom they belong, that
they might be used for military purposes Now, slr the
from Mississippi presents amendment which
gives TO the President OF the United States the power TO
reserve from the lands we are giving away those neess
aor from Mississippi proposes. But. SIR, should expect
that the gentleman who is commanding on the PACING
coast who was a lawyer before he a soldier and
eminent citizen he was, became still more eminent
soldera upon whose Judgment at least In the ord
nary affairs OF hie reliance might be paced-could being
upon the ground decide upon the rights and authorities
OF the United States better than any senator who is here
hearing but one side OF the question. IL that ofhcers
judgment should he could violate the private rights
of any one, then the would be brought before the
Presidents and trust If he would not do justice when
the final appeal made here TO protect the frontier IN
habhanis, ue could come TO their elie and al least Sc
cure them from any injury t2H-t 2f 1s#t
This is, however, bat a phantom OF the Imagination
Thai officer would not crowd himself into settlement as
matter OF choice. There is no officer who knows the
interests of his garrison but would get away from the
settlements if he could He would exclude those settle
mens except such he found il ssary for the gar
son to have II does seem TO me strange that such alarm
should be taken against allowing ofceer TO report TO
the President the reservations necessary for military pur
poses The President then To decide with Congress, 10
SIT in judgment on his act. and II he commits wrong at
the last moment TO give indemnify II this s not
the Uniied states WILL IN proportion TO the necessity Tor
The military garrison, be compelled pay for the Site for
the claim will be held ulon the value OF the ground
bat upon the value OF the position military position
and The owner or claimant will graduate his price by the
absolute necessity of occupying II for military position
protection, louder than any that the from Illinois
has made account of the effect OF my amendment
Mr. DOWNS, The objection which has been urged
to this amendment by the senator from Illinois and the
senator from Missouri is conclusive 10 my mind that
the amendment ought not to pass. would not vote Tor
denying TO the military officers o, the government the
usual authority in making selections. Understand from
this very letter OF the Secretary of War that this ques
ton is that The United States shall have the right
make reservations OF unoccuped land but whether they
shall dlspossess the present owners The referred 10
~ the OF Astoria IL Is said that collision has
arisen there and understand that the senator from Mis-
sssppi wants authority TO apply 10 that very Now,
slr never will sanction principle by which military
officer go into settled country, where the occupants
have cultivated The land for years. and turn them out be-
cause the United States has wish TO occupy IT, II IT is
unoccupied, let them take 1t certainly. suppose they
have that right now.
Mr. DAVIS OF Mississippi. No, sir.
Mi DOWNS Ii the honorable senator has any doubt
upon the matter, and will put the remedy in proper
FORM will vote for IT, But never will vote to give
military officer the right TO 20 into the settled country and
turn out body he eases because he wishes have
his land for will not any pripcl
pie OF that kind do any necessity for IT, do
not see, matter OF consequence, that where military
post exists there should be reservation How s in the
States We do not require military reservation wherever
troops sent II garrison anything else is wanted,
purchase what is necessary. do not the absolute
necessity, from the nature of the military that there
should be this reservation certainly never
lion the idea that military officer 20 into settle
lent and turn out the Inhabitants
The senator from Mississippi has alluded to the present
commanding general in that quarter. | have a. much
confidence In him as any man can have. He is from my
own State. But, sir, Influenced by the very con.
sideratons that the honorable from Missouri
..Ax - a. D. "A - a.