Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28

VIII DC awe " the justice OF this important measure We
ask nothing but what know TO be just and
ceive that any argument win be adduced to deprive
State OF any rights conceded TO the older States of this
union and in particular TO impose upon citizens
unjust taxation without corresponding benefit
One Of the most important subjects to which your me-
moriass would call your attention is that Of the military
claims Of the early settlers Of California who we're fore
most in the conquest of the country
IL is wel-estabshed fact that when the cry Of war
raised in California the who had oiled over the
long barren road to that country who had assembled by
an almost unknown path, and had lowered their wagons
down sleeps where there impress of human foot
save upon the Indian TRAIL these men forward heart
and SOUL and rallied around the flag OF country al
though very small in numbers, and commanded by only
two officers Of the United States service The settlers
came forward to man. and not only volunteered their
services but brought with them their horses ammunition
and supplies Of every kind necessary for the support and
subsistence of the force intended meet the Mexican
arms upon the field and to make California terri
tory Of the United States In many instances they left
their wives and families to the mercy the Indians their
wheat crops hen almost ready for the scke prey to
the frebrand.
To show the scarcity of supplies and the enthusiasm
among the settlers it is worthy of remark that the first
cartridges for the first feldpece amounted by the Anne
ricans, were made from thin Mexican blanket which
tore from her bed at Suffers Forher homey but
important offering to the Government
United with the naval force the settlers in July 1896
carried the to the southern country where having
stood siege at Los Angeles, and surrounded by
whelmng numbers they had the proud satisfaction to
the country of their adoption become part Of their
tive land The settlers did this service without pay and
without commissariat such furnished the troops
employed in Mexico.
They often without food and throughout the two
campaigns almost destitute of clothing and that
during of the most Indictment winters known to
the southern part of California Yet there not
muir; each man, whilst he had charge of powder and
ball to load his rifle felt proud of his service with full
reliance in the justice of his cause and upon the honor Of
the United States Government But what has been their
reward? To this day they have not been recognised
of the United States force They have om person
al feelings the part of politicians and disposition to
undeae their servce been denied that which the seve
acts OF Congress have granted to the volunteers and
this too when California has cost Congress sin
gle cent and her citizens have not had dollar from the
ten millions appropriated to carry the with Mex
CO. Commodore Stockton who assumed the command
after operations commenced supplied the volunteers with
every thing in his power his force very much in
want of supplies but the small amount disbursed
not expended from the naval appropriation. The
contribution fund obtained from mpostsn the Mexican
ports betrayed part Of the expenses Of the United States
in California; the balance of the expenditure from
the settlers. The of $1,000 was disbursed by
Puser Speden of the navy, who had supplied the youn
teers by order of Commodore Stockton. This gentle
transferred to the Navy Department after the
1928 0OO $685. 900 Of which prize money taken upon
the western coast thus showing that California is not in
debed to Congress- and that the conquest obtained
by its early settlers and the mposts upon the Mexcans
In view Of these facts memorialiss hope that Con-
gress will not permit this session adjourn without
the bill before the Senate for the payment of the
claims Of California, and thereby do act Of JUS
ce to some OF the most patriotic citizens of the United
States
No subject upon which Congress is called upon legis
Late in matters appertaning the west coast of the Un
ted States more important to the and permanent
prosperity of Oregon and California than the mode and
manner of treating with and sposng of the various In
dian tribes This subject is of great embarrassment,
and should not be acted by Congress until the people
OF Oregon and California shall, in their wisdom, and from
knowledge and experience Of the Indians determine
upon some plan for colonizng them satisfactorily to the
people of the west coast and beneficial to the Indians
themselves Such plan, have doubt, will at
early day be submitted Congress- by the Legislatures of
both Oregon and California The plan suggested by the
President and the Secretary of the Interior exceed
ngly humane proposition, but question whether it is
at this time practicable.
Should they be colonzed the side Of the Ser
IA Nevada, they would come in contact with tribes who
already claim hold and possess the country There is
danger too, of their confederatng with the Mormons
These strange people already understood have
troll Of all the Indians for several hundred miles around
their settlement at Salt Lake Should such union take
place there have suggested it is almost morally
tain that the emgrans to the west coast the plains
would not only be plundered but their lives put in eo
pardy From the of feeling which already prevails
Salt Lake. considerable apprehension viii be felt for
those who will cross the plains this
The Indians within the limits Of Oregon and California
number il is believed, two hundred thousand,
coring to the best information obtained by Indian
agents from their chiefs and old citizens who have been
much among them They may be placed in three differ
emit classes First the coast Indians who subsis mostly
if not altogether on fish, They are the most INDECENT Of
all the tribes that occupy the country As the fur
nshes them with every thing they want they
rally either to work
The next class those who reside in the plains and
valleys They more nofensve and domestic in their
habits and than those who occupy the mountain
regions They may in time be induced to turn their at
enon to agriculture Many of them often employed
by the American farmers to attend their stock TO work
their farms They long become civilized and
adopt the habits and customs Of the whites.
Those who live in the mountains savages, warkei in
their habits and formidable in their numbers. In TRUTH
they the only ndianst be dreaded They divided
into nnumerable small bands and acknowledge the
thority Of chief Save the head Of their tribes
There viii be great difficulty in making them adhere
to and respect treaty obligations The naccessiby OF
the country they nhabt would of itself render them for
midabe No Indians Of the American continent possess
more natural courage than these tribes They have al
ready many excellent rifles which they with little
skill and they will in short time be the best armed and
most powerful Indians the United States will have to deal
with. They have but TO dig few days in their
tive hills obtain the TO purchase the best and
most costly weapons the miners themselves often selling
them their guns when the of departure for the
lantc States
Much may be done towards controlling these Indians
by wel-informed and experienced agents. yet in our
Judgment military post is ndispensableto the safety Of
the miner and the emigrant No advice hazard will pre-
the miners from going out and exposing themselves
in small parties while prospecting In doing they Of
ten become easy prey to those Indians
few words on this subject, and done Mounted
rAemen the only troops that be effective
against these tribes The fact Of their being divided into
small bands will give rise to many outbreaks,
both among themselves and with the whites and occurring
these difficulties must sometimes happen, at great
distance from where troops stationed other than
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