Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-07

should be established in Rogue River Valley as above sag
gested.
Ihaye been thu explicit in order you may understand
the condition AID wants of the country which have
represent with the full belief that you win take such
there ard mnts and Others travelling to ana from Oregon
Herewith enclose two communications nom oregon for your
pen which you will please return TO me- One 1.-THE writers
seers 0egon He has done much TO bring the country
into requisitOn BY EXPLORING opening roads Ae sensible
have doubt of the truth Of his narrative.
With great respect, am sir your obedient servant,
What is the response 1t will be found in the letter
addressed by the Secretary of War; which these
cuments called forth: N HeHFs
II WAR DEPARTMENT.,
II WASHINGTON, DECEMBER q, 1851.
SR have received copy Of the joint resolutions Of the
Legislature of California nstructng her Senators and
ing their best efforts have
ton Of the United States troops established her borders
also have line of forts erected along the for the
purpose of protecting her citizens.
BY referring to my report Ia copy Of which is here
enclosed you viii perceive that therein aude to the
defenceess California and Oregon and the
in his message also invites the attention Of Congress
the subject The military force at the disposal
the Department will permit it to increase the number
troops the Pacific, except by filling up the companies al
ready stationed there their complement which will shortly
be DONE ta .t s@ts8 =
herewith copy letter recently addressed to
the President by the late Governor Of Oregon the
subject.
As regards the establishment Of forts wherever toops
stationed such works be required for their protection
and accommodation will of be but would
be than useless to them until they
rsoned will add that Gen. Hitchcock (who the
Pacific divson) has been directed early prompt
measures far the his disposal will enable him
establish forts points Cafor-
and Oregon where they needed for the
| of the inhabitants and of emigrant parties. 4
have the honor be- very respectfully obedient
| want C. M. CONRAD, Secretary Of War
| Hon.WM. M. GwN, United States Senate.
Sir here is honest confession of the inability Of the
Department to afford adequate protection under
ing laws and the Secretary deserves credit for it, and
equal credit is due to him for the suggestions made in his
annual report, from which will also read extracts
In the first place. would suggest that every facility and
should be afforded to the formation Of local
militia, in which possessions like all the Mexican
complement Of this object would that the Ex
ecutve be authorized to distribute among the
am fully persuaded that the advantages that would result
from the adoption of this in amarizng the people
with the of arms in inspiring them with confidence and
than compensate for the tng that would attend it
The very fact that the inhabitants known armed
would tend to inmdae the Indians The distribution should
OF course, be made with such precautions would prevent
their being sold or converted to an improper
The quantity Of arms to which the States and Terri
tories respectively entitled under the Of 1903
to be of practical advantage and they
cpaed in the issues heretofore made it would be
just they should now receive more than their str
buve share at all events they might be permitted to re-
ceive their quota for several in advance As the
lying the depots no loss to the would
result from this and they will probably be
needed than they at present
the next place. policy humanity both require that
depredations than the terror of We should the
effect of concatory There doubt that the
Indians are frequently mpeled to commit depredaons
despair and hunger As the white population has advanced
upon them they have been compelled ecede before
lands that afford nourishment cattle and also the
best adapted to cultivation and consequently the first to tempt
the settlers that the Indians compelled take refuge
IN ard plains and mountains that afford little susenance
animal life andeven there the circle of white population
rapidly closing around them.
II would also that be taken furnish
for food and other Indians
as will abandon their predatory habits and cultivate the SOIL
Authentic information recently received this Department
leads to the belief that these tribes far less than
they generally supposed to be- and have doubt
ing aside considerations of humanity that would be far
expensive to feed than to fight them'
will not detan the Senate longer in giving the rea-
that have induced to bring forward this BILL 1t
is in part based upon the report of the Secretary Of War;
and from personal observations of the of
the people of my State We must be protected by this
Government from the expenses Of Indian wars
within limits Already we have an Indian debt
of nearly million dollars, for which people viii be
taxed unless Congress make provision for its payment
and, if we to judge from the past cannot antc-
pate immediate relief We have in State the picked
men of the nation, and they only wish the Government
call for their services and pay for them to be ready
moments warning to march the utmost of
limits to protect its citizens from Indian depredatons
Give us and pay for services when you need
them, and will protect ourselves from foreign do
nestle foe.
do not wish to be understood proposing dispense
with the services of the army coast ad-
the opinion that do ask the most ample
Il
for which should have extensive system of FORTH
cations and naval defence. We need the army to man
our forts and to form the nucleus around which the force
this bill proposes to call into the field could rally when
emergency required their services Without going into
the subject further at present propose that the bill
printed and read first and second time and referred
the Committee on Military Affairs The provisions of the
bill are as follows:.
bill to provide for the better protection Of the people Of
California and Oregon
Ne enacted BY The Senate and House Of Representative IF
the United States America Congress assembled That when
the State Of California Territory Oregon
be invaded be in imminent danger invasion by any
egn nation when hosities shall be threatened
menced by Indian tribe in adjacent TO said State
Territory, it shall be lawful for the commanding general
officer in command Of the United States military the
state and Territory either Of them, for volunteers
call forth such number Of the militia and Terri
tory aforesaid he judge necessary, repel such
sion or TO suppress such hoities, who shall for time
specihed by the commanding general officer in command
provided such term Of service does exceed months
Sec BE further enacted That said volunteers militia
shall be commanded by officers elected appointed
elected or appointed in the prescribed by the law Of
the State or Territory in which they reside and shall be
ceVed In companies battaons squadrons regiments and
en 50 received and mustered into the service Of the United
States shall bn armed at the expense the United States
and shall be subject to the rules and articles of war.
Sec. 3 enacted That said militia
during the time they be in service shall receive the usual
raton of the army Of the United States and pay equal
three times the amount provided by pay Of
the officers soldiers respectively the United States
army the Pacific coast
Sec.A Aad belt further enacted That the volunteers or militia
who be received into The United States
virtue OF the provisions Of this and who shall
ed or otherwise disabled In the service, shall be entitled
all the benefits which may be conferred wounded persons
n ILL., Al