, 1856-10-24

part of our people, had they been the
authors of the war, with design to plum
der the treasury, were they thus to won
tonly sacrifice their scrip in the purchase
of articles at so high a figure? On the
contrary, under the circumstances, is not
the fact that our citizens have manifested
willingness to pay mare for The Quarter
master and CommsSary property and Stores
Than The same lcas purchased for, an evidence
that the strictest practicable economy had
been observed in making purchases, by the
head of those departments ? As day for
the redemption of the scrip issued appears
not far in the future, what madman have
we amongst us who would be guilty of the
folly of paying for an article in an amount
eight and ten times above its real value -!
And yet it has been charged by General
Wool, and his toadies, that such prices
have been paid by the Qnartermastcr'S
department for articles, late in the use oi
the volunt er service 1t is false and we
hazard nothing in saying that a final adj
iustment of the accounts of that department
will bear evidence, that whilst the war has
been carried on vigorously and efficiently,
and as we verify believe, more SUCCESSFULLY
than it could have been under the manage
ment Of any other authorities that could
have been selected in the two Territories,
or on the Pacific coast, at The same time Il
has been conducted t0ith an eye TO The strictcst
possible economy. But it would seem that
natural or official death, alone will he capu-
ble of silencing the tongues and pens of the
wholesale slanderers of our people and
authorities.
Whatever motive or necessity may have
existed that the authorities of Oregon con-
sidered it their duty to dispose of a large
proportion Of the public property for cash,
it is not our province to question or discuss.
But Of one thing we are certain, and it is
quite apparent to all-the public property
belonging to this Territory could not haze
been sold for cash. Even had the people
been willing that it should be so disposed
Of, we do not believe there is sufficient cur.
rent money in the Territory to have pur-
chased it at any thing like u fair valuation.
Growing out of near a years continued
active Indian warfare-the almost com
plete pnralisisNof our numbering and every
other business pursuit calculated to bring
money into the Territory-the many re.
movals of former citizens from amongst us,
there is probably less currency aAoat now
than there was four years ago. The idea
of selling the property here FOR cash, how
ever, was never seriously advanced or dis
cussed, and as matters now stand, when
the sales are completed. it is understood
that q reduction of near quarter million
dollars will have been made on our war
Indebtedness.
In the meantime, Quartermaster and
Commissary General W. w. MILLER is Wig
orously driving matters in his department,
preparatory to a close and 6nal settlement
Of his accounts, and we doubt not but that
the commission will find him ready with
clean records and papers for their inspec-
ton.
Thus the volunteer service Of both Ter,
ritories is at an end for the present, and all
the property lately in its use has, or is
about to pass back into the possession q
the citizens and whilst Indian hos'ilities
have been suspended, aud an apparent
quiet prevails on this side of the mountains,
on the other side the war appears but TO
have fairly commenced. In an effort to
negotiate peace with the hostile tribes in
that direction, Gov. STEVENS has been
driven from the country, and he and his
party narrowly escaping common masSa-
ere, whilst the command of Col. SrEProE, of
the regulars, was attacked-all the grass
burned off around his encampment, and he
forced to quit bis position in the Wala-
walla valley, leaving the savages in undis-
puted possession Of that region of country.
And yet, whilst these evidences Of Indian
hostility are being enacted, Washington
correspondent of the New York Tribune,
in a letter dated Sept. 4th, writes as fol,
lows .... .., ...
"0lieial accounts received at the Indian Depart
ment, frlm Major General Wool, represent that the
war in Washington Territory is nearly brought to a
close, several Indian tribes only remaining 10 be pa-
ded AID ths Indian Agent for Oregon communicates
similar favorable report relative to the last named
Territory ..,.
Thoroughly disgusted as Gov STEVENS
and the authorizes of Oregon must be at
the part performed by the regulars in the
present war, we do not believe that volun-
| tanra will aOain no cnllad into sarvica from,