Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-02-27
From the Louisville DsmOcrai.l
Sketch Of the Journey Of General Joseph Lane TO the
Pacific and Of his course Governor Of Oregon untu
has remoral By the Federal GOreraaent.


Pacific, and Of his course Governor Of Oregon until
has remoral By the Federal Government
ASTORIA, (Oregon) Dec. 6, 1850.
Since General Joseph Lanes removal from the oiiiee
of Governor OF Oregon, have noticed in several pa
pers Of high repute attacks upon his character and
ltIcal reputation which if lett unanswered may pao-
duce impressions upon the public mind, not
only regards the he pursued while in Office, but
also the motive and principle which actaated his
conduct.
We will notice no particular SANDER, coming as they
all do from political opponents for we have no sinister
motive view no political projects TO build up'-and
must be excused from shaping this article only to sub
the purpose Of reutaton partisan declarations
or heated political assertions Our sole object TO do
justice TO the character OF one who has devoted large
portion OF his life and services to his country and now
in the eyes OF his countrymcn eXampe-yeriiyng the
truth of that maxim, which belongs TO the vocabulary
of the sneering monachst, that republics migrate
ful.
Let these simple facts attest Gen. Lane at the time
he commissioned Governor of the territory of Ore
gon by President Polk resided the banks of the Ohio
river, hundred and fifty miles below the city of Lou
svlle. He absent from home aud received the first
ielegraphic news OF his appointment ar Madison On
his return he visited General Butler, 10 whom he
pressed doubts to the correctness of the prev
ously heard; for he had never asked for any way
solicited, that any other appointment from the admin
stration. Gen. Butler, with characteristic judgment,
assured him that he had doubt of its truth for said
he, when was in Washington Mr.. Polk spoke to me
the subject, and told him ii had the appointment
TO make, and the whole world choose from, | would
say Gen. Lane is the very man. Gen. L. proceeded
home, where he arrived the 9th August and found his
commission in the hands Of Major Meek. On the morn
ing OF the 2Sth at O'Clock OF that morning. he with
his eldest and Major Meek, started for Oregon.
1t is to be regretted that few officers, and parcu-
larry the recipients OF Executive favors display that de-
cson OF purpose and energy of character that mark the
conduct of Gen. Lane this occasion The distance
be travelled the obstacles and almost insurmountabe
difficulties attending it, the political condition of the
people of Oregon, their utter destuon of any effective
ton of their homes and families from the merceSs
ahawk of the savage all demanded of the President the
appointment OF TO the chief magistracy of the
ritory who would quickly repair his post of duty and
discharge faithfully and eaessy the responsibilities OF
his Office. President Polk doubtless knew well the man
of his choice; he knew, the history of the Mexican
war fully atess, that he was selecting whose stern
integrity, undoubted courage, rmness and decision
purpose, had been sufficiently tried and fully established
by the annals OF "times that try mems souls"
Gen. l.. arrived at st Louis the evening of the 30
August visited Gen. Kearney Jefferson Barracks
the morning OF the 31St who promptly furnished orders
for Capt Roberts, OF the Rifles Leavenwor.h to hold
himself in readiness 10 the General and party
Oregon Gen. Kearney, seriously doubling the POSSIBLE
ty OF making the trip late the season. attempted
CEssuade them from starting. Gen. Lane however,
feeling the responsibility incurred by accepting his Office
moved He arrived at Fort Leavenworth on the 4tl
September. and told by both officers and citizens
that it impossible to the mountains late in
the An outfit was purchased and with an es.
cort of 20 men under Lent Hawkins, they left the Fort
the 10th September, and arrived at Los Angeles on
the Pacific coast, on the 30th December following. The
party camped out more than hundred nights, and
from Santa Fe Los Angeles distance Of several
hundred miles, were without tents and compelled to
pack their provisions. They encountered the deepest
SHOWS, covering rugged mountains, and slept the
rocks without the common comforts OF the camp They
travelled at one time during the trp hundred
miles without wafer, necessarily suffering the pain
Iu sensations of thSst. 1t is remarkable that Gen
Lane, man, we suppose, more than hy years OF age
Should have ability
tolls and hardships of the Journeys and other agen-
cy we now attribute it, other than that Xedness oil
purpose which belongs TO the energetic mind OF the
Gen. Lane arrived the mouth Of the Columbia river
Oregon, on the 18Th February, at time when there
was means Of transportation to Oregon City, one
hundred and fifty miles above, except the small oil
the Indian There were but five white families at As
tOrla; ana the dangers attending voyage up the
were sufficient to deter many from undertaking it, Tie
new Governor, however promptly chartered Chanook
canoe, and taking the bOw himself pushed off for the
capitol oil the territory where he arrived ID March
1919 He took the oath of office, aud commenced the
discharge OF its duties on the day following
1t necessary in order fuller understanding of the
arduous duties of the executive OF Oregon during the
time he in Office that make brief statement OF
the political and local condition OF the country and the
relations which that time subsisted between the white
settlers and the various Indian tribes Oregon was
without territorial government, and thus for several
years had the inhabitants lived exposed to internal
vusions and the dangers of anarchy. True they had
established with tile view OF protecting individual liberty
and property, what was termed provisional government
hut the necessity of the case-the absence Of a
sufficient population, well the want OF power
enact and enforce laws-ther organization weak
and inefficient.
After the organization of the territory by Congrss ol
the want OF proper officers. wTts OF election had is
sued to Legislature, and nothing had been
done towards the organization of courts election
OF any officers Judicial mlnsteral-those appointed by
the President had yet arrived
The Indian title the lands remained unexngushed
and treaties had been established between tue United
States and the savage tribes the fierce of tho
Kyuse and the white man had never smoked The pipe
peace together and the temple of Janus had beer
closed west u the Rocky mountains Depreciation
almost daily being committed by the Indians upoI
the emgrants peaceful settlers and oil the tribes
seemed already to have resorted murder and rapne
not only occupation by which they accumulated
wealth. but with the savage intent OF exerminatns
from their midst the intruders upon their soil.
At this time the arrival of Gov Lane, the first office
under the territorial government, hailed with JOY 10y
the people of Oregon They could now anticipate
brighter future more desirable destiny and looked
forward with hope the time when their country shout,
become of the bright and fixed stars in the American
constellation OF sovereign States. What did Gov. Lane
do towards the realization of these hopes sand these
ticipations! Again let facts attest:
His first official act to appoat officers to take the
censns of the territory to apportonment be made
preparatory to the election by the peoep OF members
the Legislative Assembly. This accomplished, in but
few days after his nstalment he visited the Indians
the Columbia at the ''Daes, and having assembled the
III thol sectOh vi es
tabllshed our relations with them upon proper basis
Immediately on his return to the of government
having learned that bad white had been steal
ing horses from the Indians, he In quest of thu
guilty persons he arrested and brought them back
delivered the property that had been taken its right
full owners. Ii will be remembered that there
territorial officers to aid him the execution of thes,
duties. While out the last tme Governor l.. Learned
that the Snowquallimack Indians had murdered party
OF white men at Pugets Sound; he immediately
proceeded to the SOUND distance of more than 20t
miles, through wilderness counry-tcok with him arms