Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-21
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
PUBLIC LANDS IN OREGON.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER II, 1850.

Office of surveyor general OF the public lands in Oregon,
and to provide for the survey and to make donations to SET
tiers Of the said public lands"
The pending amendment was one offered by Mr.. DAVIS,
of Mississippi when the bill last under consideration on
the Sd instant, as follows;
"Add to the bill the words And hat!s portions Oh the
public lands be designated under the authority
President of the United States for forts,
dockyar and other need public uses shall De
excepted from the operation OF this act
Which was modified the suggestion OF Mr. BADGER py
the addition Of the following s... ~ .ts 49,
Provided That shall be deemed necessary, in the
judgment President include IN any such Reservation
of any made previous to the passage
OF this act il shall in such be the duty Of the Secretary
Of War TO cause value of such TO De ascer
tained the shall be pad 70 he par
entitled thereto out OF any money In inc treasury h
otherwise appropriated"
Mr. DAVIS Of Mississippi. When this matter was last
under considerations statements were made In
the military proposed TO be made by the ov
ernmeu and espasses were said TO have Deen mace upon
the rights of the settlers Since that time have made some
further inquiries and find that not only what then stated
correct but that the proofs conclusive than sup
posed possible obtain. find from the official CORE
spondence and the statements Of the officer sent here IN con-
nexon with this NATTER that in instance has any one been
driven from his and that in every instance where
the Government has selected land which there were i'm
careful estimate has been made OF the value OF
the improvements found upon the land with view 70 making
therefor full compensation have learned what is probably
the foundation of the story of the at Astoria An
officer direct from that country informs me that the command
ing officer of the garrison desired to obtain sore-house
which was the property Of the Hudsons Day Company and
that he sent proposition sgen Of the company in re-
ation TO it. II had been taken OF when TINS
officer left the country but ne met the agent Oh the Hud-
sons Bay Company on his way In order to agree upon the
terms of rent be paid by the commanding officer.
have learned also, that the town of Astoria Is situated
upon four claims each mile square, with houses scattered
along the bank Of the river, having small strip OF land along
the margin of the river cleared and that the lot intended to
e If land
of the Coumba river On this two three or at most four
houses had been erected and the value OF the
ents estimated TO be worth about two thousand dollars
learn ALSO that this tract claimed by the Hudson bay
Company How far the treaty of Washington, which de-
ermned the boundary Of Oregon, confirmed the Possessory
title Of the Hudsons Bay Company in Oregon it not now
for the Senate decide It question settled BY nterna
ona agreement. Their right may be eInguished ~ Pur
chase but we can no more allow citizens Of the United States
TO sposess them by settlement than could send troops
turn them of from the lands by force There is thea be
considered in this conneIion, first the title OF the Hudson
Bay Company and then the reversionay title Of the United
States as standing in the of these locations We may
grant the settlers OF that country whatever right we
We may go further and grant whatever rights we may here
after acquire but they have no claim by settlements; we
have power make grants on lands previously occupied
and now possessed by the Hudson's Bay Company un-
dersand also that there has been some attempt at fraud IN
relation this that the Hudsons Bay Company per-
med its individuals locate on It's tracts OF land
under the impression that the companys title to their pos
in the country could not be permanently held and
have also been informed that sometimes the employees OF
the company have made locations against the claim OF the
company, SO to secure its improvements Tor their own
benefit under operation Of the anticipated law for grants to
actual settlers.
The reports Of the officers in relation to the proposed
servatons are very full. have many before me, being
originals and cope showing the position and extent Of the
particular locations selected That at Astoria is the lower
one of these sections claimed settlement rights and
which constitute the so-caled Of Astoria II is high
point of land overlooking the river, and represented as
Tkno utsonc
posed to be made for military purposes at the mouth Of the
Columbia river, Point Adams two square miles Cape
Disappointment $40 and Sand Island, contain
ing about twenty acres These points understand have
now no occupants upon them, and that there is no private
claim upon them The Astoria point has already been no.
ced Six miles above Astoria there another point Of land
overlooking the river which is also considered desirable for
military purposes and at that point is supposed that SIX
hundred and forty might be requisite Next in order
is the site for ordnance depot on the Willamette ver
And here, sir will say few words in answer to the argu-
made by the Senator from Illinois, and founded espe-
cay upon this case which be treated invasion OF the
private rights Of Mr. Meek, the Willamette river. have
sought and acquired believe very full information in ea-
ton this claim. have map before me Of the survey
which made for reservation at that place. That was
the point selected by the commanding an ordnance
depot BECAUSE being the south side OF the Columbia
river and the north side Of the Willamette, was sup
posed to be most from attack, either by approach
through the Puget Sound by the Columbia river by
land from other points 1t also possesses the water
power necessary drive the machinery required for an arse
nal OF construction. The private interest Of the resident was
treated property selecting the Site and from the estimate
made seems very small compared with the idea suggested by
the Senator's argument One would suppose from his repre-
sentaon that extensive cultivated estate and that
had been laid that was over widespread helds OF
grain and clustering vines that the ronhod hoos OF the
cavalry had ruhlessy rodden. Now, all that appears by
the map and report one of cleared and fenced land
and log cabin which is estimated hundred and eighty
dollars. One hundred dollars being the high rate allowed
for clearing the acre of land and eighty for the fence and
cabin And as to the horses running destucvey the
grain fields the reply contained in the statement made to
me of the manner in which the survey was made The
officers and two soldiers were sent to make the survey they
went by way of the in boat and had horses with
them There was according to my information, no dPos-
session of the resident These officers went to his house.
stated the object of their visit assurances that his pro-
perry should be fairly estimated and if taken for public use
would be paid they made the survey, and left in the most
friendly No troops have been stationed there
any other action by the military officers of the Govern
ment than that Of the surveying party who marked the
bounds of the proposed reservation and returned as they had
gone in boat Instead therefore, Of troops dspossessng
this RESIDENT and converting bis fields into pasture for the
cavalry horses only surveying party who went there
for the purpose Of designating reservation which was
posed to make and who when they had done left the
place. not intended if the reservation be authorized to
take immediate possession II selection and
vey Of site, that hereafter when may become necessary
to construct and ammunition in that country, might
have reservation which could ordnance depot
and arsenal OF construction without paying exorbtant price
for proper SITE In making this survey too, the greatest
exhibited to avoid collisions and needessly to
interfere with any settlement. There saw-ml the
stream the water power Of which expected and
in making the selection they with the owner of the
mill in relation TO the water privilege There also
tenent where there valuable fruit trees planted
and other improvements. They avoided that settlement and