The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-12

"a busHAuEsOu 4eTEhtOEy SOETc1EOuueHCes
SEATTLE, Washington Teritory,) Dec. Q, 1854.
Business-Legisatue in Session-Tne Courts
Necessity IF Huving a Rtpsnue CUTIE and Troops
-Arrivai of The JDsrson Decentralization Depre
dations en- the Decrease--Eapedition up Hoods
Canai--Captwe Of Indians, &c.
trust you will excuse my seeming neglect in
corresponding with you from thus Terrtory-absence
is my excuse, which will doubtless prove accept
able.
Business is very dull on the Sound, and several
saw mills are doing nothing: . stagnation in trade
at San Francisco is sensibly felt here. Vessels con-
tinue to arrive for cargoes of sawed lumber for Aus
tralia. This foreign market Is what keeps several
mills, that would otherwise stop, in operation. The
San Francisco market has been supplied by rs with
piles only, the lumber coming from ports between
us and that port. As soon as we re-annex the
Sandwich Islands, q fine market for the productions
Of cur territory, must, 10 the natural course Of
things, open there. We look forward to that day
with feelings Of pleasure and qualification. Our
Legislature Ia now in session-Gov. Mason having
arrived. At the time of writing this, / have not
seen his address, accordingly cannot give you any
information concerning IL. Our regular Territorial
Courts have recently been held, and prisoners, In
some instances, punished. Chine, however, seems
to be on the wape.
People residing in the Atlantic States can have
but an imperfect idea how much we are pleased 1t
the arrival Of q revenue cutter in the waters OF this
Territory. Independent OF our bordering upon tae
British possessions, which require Q watchful eye
on the part Of the government, and many other CON-
siders4ions, we require the services Of o cutter to
protect Us from the ruthless hand Of the mercilese
savage.
The government has furnished rs with q few
troops; few indeed, yet they cannot accomplis,
wopders-they cannot keep the numerous tribes Of
Ipdisns under suhjection. And even II they could,
the means Of transportation are Of 90 limited q
character that an Indian canoe could beat any
other means Of transportation except the revenue
cutter.
There aIe many other matters that require the
presence Of q cutter that | am familiar With, but
win not repeat them here. Tho Jefferson Davis,
Captain VIM, q. Posse, carrying ak IL pounsers
ana two brass SKIES, manned with q crev Of thirty
young and active men, arrived in the waters OF the
Sound In September last. She has visited all the
ports In the tt1its and on the SJund; at many Of
tbese places o welcome mas been given by the firing
OF guns, sad q general rtjcidpg Of the people.
Previous to the arrival Of this vessel, we suffered
seriously from the oonductof the Indians, frequently
inselent and always treacherous 10 their character,
visiting our houses, and pointing gun, as our win
doxs and demanding some computation Tor leaving
the prem ises.
rts times are now changed. That gun from the
cutter every night, and that rocket sent mp into the
air, setms TO have en- effect perfectly irresistible.
Their whole nature, almost, seems TO have undergone
. RADICAL change for the better.
King Georges men, a the Engliah are called, In
oontradistiIction from cur own people. the Bostons,
were treated far different than our population, and
nothing but the indomitable courage OF the Amerf
cans bts kept them ut bay; We could do no more.
Probably no Circumstance has transpired in this
Territory 20 we'll calculated to impress upoa the dG.
feyent tribes the power of the Bottons. ~ the recent
tiip Of the revenue cutter up Hoods Canal.
At the request Of the Governor, Captain PeAse
started In company with the steamer Major fomp-
kiIs, Capt. Hunt. There were thirteen United
States troops, urder command Of Lieuts. Nugsn and
Webb, Col. Simmons, the Indian agent, DR.. Potts,
inc Of Chief Justice Lauder, M. Poe. M. Hiilsr and
ttbefa The object of the expedition waa 10 retaks
scme four. CT ave indians VINO had hsea c~ouvio1ai