, 1856-06-20

hODan1iZe II, and require Its being aban-
doned, in despite Of a regular programme
for it's prosecution. The persons before al
Iuded to have been regularly charged with
holding correspondence with the enemy, Of
aHording him shelter, and of furnishing him
with provisions aud ammunition; in eonse.
ouence Of which, governor Stevens ordered
them to rendezvous, until said order was re-
voked, at Olympia, Steilacoom or Ft. Ms
oually. You yourselves can Judge OF the
surprise It afforded the volunteer service,
when q short time afterwards these men
were found at their respective places Of
sbode, in utter contempt of the public SER
vice, aud in violation Of tho expressed will
and order Of the people of Thurston coun-
ty, and executive. They were again quiet
" arrested, and remanded to Ft' Stella
COON. At this time the most essential evil
dence against them was in the field, on
general scouting duty, and otherwise. But
few days elapsed after their arrest and
confinement when, as the undersigned be-
EeVe, with an object of pecuniary reward,
writ Of ha6eas corpus was sued out TO the
end that they might be brought before
iudge Chenoweth for trial. Be it remem-
bered that the material evidence against
them was in the field, and their immediate
whereabouts unknown. Besides, it was
greatly feared, that systematic course
would he pursued by their attorneys, and
sther eril disposed persons, to procure their
unconditional release at all hazards. In
consequence Of which, the executive and
commander-in-chief remanded the then pris-
oners, from Pierce to Thurston county; and
to the end that justice might be done in the
, PREMISES, " Martial Lato" was proclaimed
over Pierce county, and military commits
sion summoned for the trial Of the offend
srs. In brief, chief justice Lander, at the
time holding a commission from the gov
ernor. as lieutenant colonel in the voluu-
teer service, volunteered, 10 consequence of
4 notice to that effect, Of the indisposition
ofjudge Chenoweth, to hold term of the
United States district court at Steilacoom,
the county seat Of Pierce county, that coun-
y being within judge Chenoweth's district.
The proclamation Of Martial Law was
enforced in the arrest of chief justice Lam
der By Lieutenant colonel Shaw. Immedi-
aiely subsequent to this, chief justice Lam
der sought to hold O term Of the United
States district court in Thurston county,
sought to arrest the governor, and place
him in close confinement, for on alledged
contempt Of conrt in Thurston county; and
this occurred, too, whilst lie, the govern
or was laboriously engaged in discharg-
inc his duties as commander-in-chief Of the
volunteer forces. The result was that
Martial Law was also declared over the
county Of Thurston, and through the In
Itrumentality Of the military volunteer
forces chief justice Lander was again put
under arrest, and the trial Of these suppos-
Cd offenders, before alluded to, regularly
proceeded with, in conformity as before
stated, aud with the almost unanimous APP
probation Of the citizens Of Thurston coun-
y.
In closing this representation, we, the
citizens Of Washington territory have only
to remark, that we originally approved Of
he arrest Of tho persons heretofore emu
meFated, and that we now consider the
PROCLAMATION Of Martial Law, as a matter
og public necessity over the counties Of
Pierce and TlIurs'on, although the same
has now been revoked. That as far as the
prosecution OF the present Indian war is
concerned by the executive and command
erin-chief Of the volunteer forces, that he
has lsbored day and night, to bring the
same to Q successful and honorable Close
that be commands the respect and conf
dence Of tile forces under his command and
thatin all his efforts to bring the blessings
Of peace 10 our borders, he has been actu-
ated but by one motive, and that is the
preservation Of the lives Of our people, and
the safety and security of their property
; ffom the torch Of the savage. That we
have heard with profound sorrow aud in
dignation, that accns ltions have been made
tothe home government against Gov. Ste
vens, to the effect amongst other things
las We believe, false and EIfOnndel.) thai
he Is habitually iutemperate, and that II:
governor and superintendent Of Indian al
fairs, his disbursements Of public moneys
&C., placed In his hands, show evidence o.
fraud. These charges we believe to- bt
false, and as we believe, are only made Il
procure his removal.
We, therefore, would most respectfully
enn earnestly represent, IN conclhslOn, u
the delegation in congress from Oregon
and Washington territories, that we fully
Frankly and frerty, approve, in the mos
unqualified terms, as citizens Of said Terri
tory, Of the course pursued by goyerno
ISAAC /. STEVENS, as commauder.in
chief Of the volunteer forces in the presen
Indian war, and we most earnestly reques
you that you use your influence with tn
authorities at Washington, to the end tina
be be not removed, at least until peacI
with the Indians has been established. anC
security of life aud property again restored
10 our suffering people.
"a TRUE CoPY-SIGNED)
Ellis Barnes, Quincy A. Brooks, Jane
". Wiley, s. D. Ruddell, G.. G. Blanken
ship, George Gallagher, Edward Furste
(Ioorrrn n Gondv Chae Il Wnad I. u