, 1855-10-19

treaty justice to our people, and sound
policy requires"
The foregoing is the communication and
instructions received by our Surveyor Cen
eral from Commissioner Wilson. Not be-
ing thoroughly satisfied of the full meaning
Of certain terms and expressions contained
in the above instructions, on the goth of
May last, Maj. Tilton addressed the Land
Office at Washington, asking for more Spe-
cifc Instructions as to the surveys in refer
cnce to the Hudson's Bay aud Puget Sound
Agricultural companies claims calling
for information in regard to the work that
had been placed under contract at Fort
Vancouver and Fort Nisqually, two of the
largest claims of either company; and
asking for instructions, whether or not to
run township lines only over said claims
Further, informing the Land Commissioner
that he had no hesitation in issuing further
instructions to the deputy surveyor on lie
Hudson's Bay COmp0nys land, to subdi-
vide to the actual enclosures as they exist
ed at the date Of the treaty in 1916, but
submits tho question whether the construc-
tion of the term actual settlement" is ap-
plicable, also, to the Puget Sound Agricul-
tural company's claims.
Maj Tilton further informs the Commits
sioner of the General Land Office that he
will continue the surveys outside of the
Puget Sound Agricultural company's claim
until fully instructed as to what is meant
by the term "actual settlement" as ap-
piled to said claims or is he empowered
to send for "persons and papers " and dis
crimnato as q commissioner between our
public lands and such foreign rights" as
may be recognized by the treaty?
In the same communicationthe Surveyor
General further inquiries what general prin-
ciple should govern such discrimination
whether he is to allow pasturage for the
cattle and sheep said Puget Sound Agri-
cultural company was said to bc in possess
ion of in l84G, and If so, how much &c.
Our Surveyor General further suggests
that material difference exists between
the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Agri-
cultural companies claims one being
"possessory rights" and the other being
" farms, lands and other property of every
description shall be confirmed to them"
He further asks hoio he is to set-Olf from
the public lands those indefinitely descri-
bed tracts of land" referred to, during the
course Of the correspondence, and in dispute
between American settlers since 1876, and
the Hudson's Bay Company-infOrming the
Commissioner that in the meantime, await
ing reply to the foregoing inquiries, that
the public service will not, in consequence,
be retarded, as the deputy surveyor has
suficency Of labor to occupy him outside the
alleged limits, until reply can be obtained
The reply to Maj. Tilton of acting gencr-
al land Office commissioner WnrIxo, dated
July 10Th, is one of the most ambiguous
communications which we have ever had Oc-
casion to refer to. He commences by refer
ring to certain tract of the Hudson's Bay
Company claim at Fort Vancouver, of which
Maj. Tlton took occasion to make mention
in the course Of his correspondence, accom-
panied by letter written by Mr.. Mc'ravish,
originally addressed to our Surveyor Gener-
al, through which the commissioner of the
general land Office is informed that he INC
lavish, acting without instructions from au.
thority at London, is not ut liberty to fur
nish the Surveyor General, or General Land
Office, with chart or map Of the Hudson's
Bay Company's claim; in the meantime, Mr.,
McTavsh directs the attention OF the Sur
veyor General to letter written to the Sur
veyor General of Oregon, (Mr. Preston,
by chief factor BALLENDAN, in 1852, which
letter contains so many jaekass-tieics, that all
tne surveyor Generals this side Of paradise
would fail to discover the intent or meaning
Of the same, or predicate upon it map or
chart, and be able to decide what should be
understood by "iMdsfniteiy described lands"
inasmuch as he makes no corners-starts
from point northward, and includes, Gin
definitely" small island in the Columbia
river, involving in a renewed mystery what
should be understood by indefinitely de-
scribed lands" on which our Surveyor Gen
eral states, from authentic information, some
eighty American settlers have been residents,
subsequent to the late treaty with Great
Britain.
He then proceeds to "pettifog" the ques-
a. :. L 81