Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-02-13

Mnen Your former lettef, TequestJ
was received it occurred to me that your wish might
be have copies of all the papers file in this office
which reference had been made, in the recent discus
sion in the Senate the subject of Governor Lanes
removal from office And deferred answering the let
ter for the purpose of informing myself certainly
as to your desire which would have done without de-
law but for the pressure Of other business Understand
now that you desire to be furnished only with charg
es against Gov Lane have the honor 10 state that
there are file in this Office unless the letters of
the Hon. Samuel r. Thurston, copies OF which
closed, may be so considered.
Very respectfully
Your obt servant,
l.. LEA, Commissioner
HoN. NATHANIEL ALBERTsoN,)
House Of Representatives. !
Mr. ThrsfoH's Lettersl
WASHINGTON. Jan. 30, 1851
Sal received from you, few days ago, the fol-
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. "a. 1851.
SIR-On reading the speech of Hon Thomas Ewing
OF Ohio, sustaining the charges made by him. that Gen
Lane removed for neglect of duty, he refers
yourself on the subject. My colleague, MIR. Albertson,
has applied the Indian bureau for a copy of these
charges, but has received You will confer
favor only myself, but the numerous friends
of Gen Lane in Indiana by stating the nature of these
charges II any such Were made.
am. very respectfully,
Your obj servant,
WI BROWN.
HoN. SAM. r. THURsToN.
In reply, have say it gives much pleasure to
answer your enquiries not only matter OF duty to
myself but Of Justice to General Lane, and know Of
better way to do it, than to give you copies Of the
letters to which Mr.. Ewing refers, and explain you
the history Of each The letter which Mr. Ewing pub
shed in his speech, reads as follows:
''WAsHISGToN, February 6, 1850
''SIR-Ths morning had a conversation 18th Mr.
Brown Commissioner OF Indian Affairs relative To the
Indians located in Linn city by Governor Lane and
concerning which had an interview with you last night
He like YOURSELF heartily in their removal from
the limits Of the He said it would be proper that
it should be stated in the order the that the
removal in way affect any title said Indians
might have to the lands. To this very willingly
sented Now, the town there was laid off of part
of two claims-the Linn city part by Robert Moore
and the Munoma city part by Hugh Burns. / am
aware that the Indians will be removed unless the
order is perempfOry and uRequrOcal. have to desire
YOU therefore, order to be issued Joseph
Lane, Governor OF Oregon Territory, to his
in said office, whoever may be dlseharging the Of
fetal duties of governor and superintendent of Indian
affairs when said order shall reach the of govern
of said Territory, TO all Indians camping
or living within the towns of Linn city Mutnoma
city, laid off in lots by Robert Moore and Hugh
Burns in Oregon Territory, at the Falls OF the Villa
mete river, he removed outside the limits OF said
towns and to allow the return within said
limits for the purpose OF camping and dwelling.
81 have been thus specific because believe your
der should be the letter. to obedience.
should have added provided the order and removal
sequent thereon shall in way affect any title which
said Indians may have TO the lands included within the
limits of said towns.
greeted by the people of said towns or villages with
gratitude and the modesty of our a little re-
lieved by its prompt execution.
would suggest that your order go as soon as pos
sble and If you will cause TO be furnished with
duplicate, that may inform the people, in the
der should be obeyed, that the Department has de-
sired otherwise, you will oblige me.
have the honor be- sir with high consideration
yoars truly, SAM. r. THURSTON.
Hon. THOMAS EWING,
% Secretary Of the Interior
You will perceive that this letter commences by say
ing that had personal interview with the Secretary
of the Interior, and Commissioner of Indian Affairs
The Indians question had been living camps in Linn
city down to 1913; in the summer, when being absent,
their camps were burned by some person unknown and
the proprietor Of the town, Mr.. Robt Moore had re-
fused 10 permit them to rebuild. On Gov Lanes arri.
val the Territory the Indians applied him
state them into possession OF what they conen9ed
their own ground Upon consideration, Governor Lane
took the ground that by law he was compelled TO REIN
the Indians and to protect them there until such
time the Government should exfnguish their title
the land in question. Mr. Moore the other had con-
tended that the Indians in question had title TO the
land Linn city, and that IL they had them under the
peculiar OF thingsin Oregon, Gov Lane Super
inendent Of Indian Affairs had the authority remove
the Indians outside the town. and that he ought do
Gov Lane OF the opinion that their presence was
annoying tie people, but that the evil he had
the power remedy but the contrary, CON-
PEELED by law protect the Indians and that the evil
must be removed by Congress He concurred in the
opinion thar provision should be made for their removal
but that then, such provision existed These were
Gov Lanes opinions and this the history Of the case
when presented il TO the Department.
My object in applying TO the Department was to see
if these Indians could be removed outside the viii
lagc without detrment their title land il any they
had. stated the Mr.. Ewing have stated It
YOU and endeavored show to him that the Depart
ment had the power to grant the request But
ed him, that Gov. Lane, notwithstanding the law as
have stated, wond them, unless the order
from the department explicit relieve him
from all responsibility and that he might consider his
oath 10 support the law paramount order do
what he believed the law prohibited and that the
why requested copy Of the order that, in
case Gov Lane determined in his judgment, that he
could legally obey the order, might be able sat
sly the people that had done all could to procure the
removal Of those Indians the expedency OF which. Gov
Lane himself openly avowed. and regretted that he had
sot the right 10 do H.