The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-19
OREGON.

To The People ofthe United States:
FELLOW CITIZENS: The object OF this brief cir
cular is to make you acquainted in the fewest
words possible, with the most extraordinary in
ducenents held out to emgrants to Oregon and
with the several modes ofreaching that country
The cloud of distractions no long lowering
down over that Territory WAS completely dis
persed by Congress nj its late session. and the
certsntics heretofore existing to the removal Of
the Indians, aud the titles to lands, have been
removed by the enactment Of laws for that pur-
pose
A law was passed at the late session, providing
for the extinguishment Of the Indian title 10 all
that part Of Oregon lying west Of the summit Of
the Cascade Mountains, and for the removal of
the Indians nhabiting II to some point east Of
those mountains. A Board of Commissioners have
been appointed under that law, to treat with the
Indians west Of those mountains, for their lands,
and with the Indians east Of the same mountains,
for other lands TO which to remove the Indians
first named A superintendent Of Indian affairs
has been appointed, whose duty 1t is, under the
protection Of the military force stationed In the
country, TO occupy his whole time In attending to
the duties of this department; and under him are
placed three Indian agents, and three sub-sgents
for the more efficient management Of the affairs in
this department. Heavy appropriations have
been made, 10 be followed by still larger ones, to
fully the objects OF the law. All people, there
fore, everywhere, may rest fully assured, that
there is not the slightest danger Of trouble with
the Indians hereafter. | would also state that
there Is no danger from Indians In going to
Oregon, overland, nor after you have reached the
country.
On the heel OF this law, another one was pass
ell, ut the last session Of Congress, giving to all
men, over eighteen years Of age, arriving and set
linz. In ~
acres Of land IL single, and II married, $40 acres.
The bill then provides that II those single men
marry In one year from the first Of December,
1850 they shall receive GAO acres In all cases the
wife is TO receive one half Of the above grant In
her own right Four years. residence and Guilt
walton, to be completed either before the date Of
the law or after IL required before the final title il
made from the Government, though the title il
good TO all intents and purposes, against every
body but the Government, from the moment the
claim Is taken Ii the man or woman, or both, die
after taking the claim, and before the four years
expire, the same goes to the survivor and heirs 80
that II cannot be Loaf by this casualty.
The bill next provides, that all white males
over twenty-one, emigrating TO the country and
settling there, between the first day Of December,
1880 and the first day Of December, 1853, shall
receive 100 acres OF land, IL single man, and II
married, then $40 acres. But there Is also pro-
vision here, that IL single marry in one
year after arriving In the Territory, they then
receive 800 acres. All male minors who go TO the
country and settle, and become 'wen'y-one before
December, 1883, will receive 100 acres OF land,
absolutely and IL they marry in one year AFTER
arriving at majority, they will receive 800. All
foreigners, by fling their intentions Of becoming
A merican citizens, are treated like native born
American citizens, and they are only required
10 complete that naturalization before they gets
final title or course this would have to be done
In the shortest time they would lose their land.
The same residence and cultivation are required
~ before, and ~ before, the WOMAN receives, ~