, 1856-07-11

I
don their claims Thus, it will he readily
perceived, that blow was aimed at the
volunteer service, in the midst Of war. to
jeopardze it, and require its being abap.
doned. in despite Of regular programme
for its prosecution. The persons before al.
luded to have been regularly charged with
holding correspondence with. the enemy. Of
affording him shelter, and of furnishing him
with provisions and ammunition; in oonse-
quence Of which, governor Stevens ordered
them to rendezvous, until said order was re-
VOked, at Olympia, Steilacoom or It. Ms.
qually. You yourselves can Judge of the
surprise it afforded the volunteer service.
when short time afterwards these men
were found at their respective places Of
abode, in utter contempt Of the public SER
vice, and in violation Of the expressed will
and order Of the people of Thurston couns
ty, and executive. They were again quiet
ly arrested, and remanded to Ft. Steila-
COON. At this time the most essential evis
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-
lieve, with an object Of pecuniary reward, q
writ Of habeds corpus was sued ont to the
end that they might be brought before
Judge Chenoweth for trial. Be Il remem-
bered that the material evidence against
them was in the field, and their immediate
whereabouts unknown. Besides, il was
greatly feared, that systematic course
would be pursued by their attorneys, and
other eca disposed persons, to procure their
unconditional release at all hazards In
consequence Of which, the executive and
commpnder-in-chief remahded the then pris-
oner$ from Pierce to Thurston county; and
to the end that justice might be done in tho
premises, Martial Lao" was proclaimed
over Pierce comfy, and military commits
sion summoned for the trial Of the Offend
ers. In brief, chief justice Lander, at the
time holding q commission from the goyL
ernop, as lieutenant colonel In the Voluns
teer service, volunteered, in consequence of
q notice to that effect, Of the indispositiOn
of judge Chenoweth, to hold a term Of the
United States district court at Steilacoom,
the county seat Of Pierce county, that coul-
ty 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. Immedl-
atcly subsequent TO this, chief justice Ian
der sought to hold term Of the Uuited
States district court in Thurston county,
sought to arrest the governor, and place
him in close confinement, for an alledgud
contempt Of court in Thurston county, end
this occurred, too, whilst he, { the govern.
or) was laboriously engaged 10 diseharg-
ing his duties Us commander-in-chiefo OF he
volunteer forces. The result was that
Martial Law was also declared over the
county Of Thurston, and through the II,
strumontality Of the military volunteer
forces chief justice Lander was again put
under arrest, and the trial Of these snppos-
cd offenders, before alluded TO, regularly
proceeded with, in conformity as before
stated, aud with the almost unanimous ap.
probation Of the citizens Of Thurston cOan.
y llU .. is 4ss-i is 30 ~ i,si
In closing this representation, We, Tie
citizens Of Washington territory have only
to remark, that we originally approved 0f
the arrest Of the persons heretofore emu
merated, and that we now consider The
proclamation Of Martial Law, as q matter
of public necessity over the counties. Of
Pierce and Thursion, although the same
has now been revoked. That as far as tie
prosecution OF the present Indian war =
concerned by the executive and command,
cr-in-chief Of the volunteer forces, that 10
has labored day and night, to bring tho
same to o successful and honorable eloser--
that he commands the respect and conf
dence Of the forces under his command and
thatin all his efforts to bring the blessings
Of peace TO our borders, he has been qctp.
ated but by one motive, and that Is the
preservation Of the lives Of our people, and
the safety aud security Of their propegy
from the torch Of the savage. That We
have heard with profound sorrow and IN
dignation, that accusations have been made
tothe home government against Gov. Ste
vens, to tho effect amongst other thi1gs
(as we believe, false and SnfouRded, thpt
he is habitually iutemperate, and that g
governor and superintendent Of Indian d.
fairs, his disbursements Of public moheys,
&c, placed in his hands, show evidencc q
fraud. These charges we believe 70 Be
false, and as we believe, are only made %
procure his removal. l w
1 We, therefore, would most respectfully
and earnestly represent, IN eopclnsiou, y
the delegation in congress from OregoN
and Washington territories, that We f,ILgs
/ frankly and freely, approve, in toe mosi
1. unqualified terms, as citizens Of said Terri
tory, Of the course pursued by goyer7Qf
h ISAAC /. STEVENS, as commander.iIf
chief Of the volunteer forces in the presept
Indian war, and VIC most earnestly Request
you that you use your influence with re
authorities at Washington, to the end that
he be not removed, at least until peacs
with the Indians has been established, and
security of life and property again restored
to our suffering people. ~ h gns
"A TRJTE COPY NED. lgcf