The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-10
UsURPATION IN OREGON.

The Indian war in Oregon and Washington
Territories, if we accept the opinion of General
Wool, WAS provoked by few lawless settlers
has been wsged with unrelenting cruelty, involv-
ing the Federal Government in great expense
and dishonor, and has been protracted need
lessly. The actor on whom he charges heavi-
est responsibility is Isaac j. Stevens, Governor
of Washington Territory. This officer, it would
seem, has lately ventured upon a measure,
which, unless he can excuse it on better grounds
than are yet presented, should subject him to
impeachment BY the House of Representatives.
BY his order, Judge Lander and the Clerk of
the District Court of the United States, in SEES
sion at Steilacoom, were arrested, on the 9Th of
May last, by company of volunteers, acting
under orders of Governor Stevens, carried under
guard to Olympia, the seat of the Territorial
Government, and there held in custody. The
members of the bar Immediately held a meet
ing, and appointed committee to report the
facts of the case, and resolutions in disappro-
baton of the act. A report was made, all
the members of the bar present adopted it,
and signed their names. From this document
we extract the material portions.
Several citizens of Pierce county, who had
been ordered in from their claims to the town
of Steilscoom, on suspicion Of holding inter
course with hostile Indians, and had subse-
quently gone back to their homes, were arrest
ed without process of law last March by a force
of volunteers, under direction of Governor
Stevens, and sent TO the military post at Fort
Steilacoom, with a request to the commanding
They Immediately sent to the nearest Judge
(s hundred miles off for a writ of habeas COR
pus, and Colonel Casey informed the Governor
that he could not hold them, in defiance of the
civil authority. Governor Stevens then, April
Sd, issued the following Message, proclaiming
MARTIAL LAW in Pierce county, and suspend.
ing the functions of all civil officers therein:
Whereas, in the prosecution of the Indian
war, circumstances have existed affording such
grave cause of suspicion that certain evil
disposed persons of Pierce county have given
aid and comfort to the enemy, as that they
have been placed under arrest, and ordered to
be tried by q military commission: and whereas
efforts now being made to withdraw, by
OWL process. these persons from the purview
of the said commission:
Therefore, as the war is now being actively
prosecuted throughout nearly the whole of the
said county, and great injury to the public, and
the plans of the campaign be frustrated, if the
alleged designs of these persons be not arrested,
j, Isaac j. Stevens, Governor of the Territory
of Washington, do hereby proclaim MARITAL
LAW over the said county of Pierce, and do by
these presents suspend, for the time being, and
fnrfh or he g., r. III -.
officers in said county.
"Given under my hand, at Olympus, this third
day of April, eighteen hundred and fity-six,
and the year of Independence of the United
States the eightieth. Isaac j. STEVENS"
This document, it is alleged, was without
seal, and without stteststion, and was not pub
hshed, but written copies of it were transmit
ted to a few military officers. 1t is further
alleged, that at the very time, there were in
the county three companies of United States
troops, under command of a veteran officer, TO-
eether with one or more volunteer companies
that the Indians had been driven from the set
dement's to the woods, SO that intercourse be-
tween them and the arrested parties, if it ever
had existed, was no longer possible. Besides
the suspected persons had beer taken from the
county, aud placed at Olympia, under military
guard.
Monday, May 5th, Edward Lander, Chief
Justice OF the Territory, opened the District
Court at Steiacoom, Judge Chenowith, who
was i'll, having called upon him to supply his
place. The Chief Justice, with view to pre-
clude conflict between the civil and military
powers, stated that he would merely open the
court, and adjourn it till Wednesday, to give an