, 1857-12-18

lne power anu lOTce OF our government,
than any other policy which could be adop-
ted with the same amount of money.
The joint commission for making the sur.
vey Of, and marking the northern boundary
line between the government of Great Brit
ain and the United States, have been organ.
lied, and are making the necessary prepar,
atoms for prosecuting the work early the
coming spring
1t becomes my duty to call the particular
attention of the Legislative Assembly, to the
fact, that our neighbors of Oregon, did, in
framing a State Constitution, incorporate
within their boundaries a large and fertile
tract of country belonging to the Territory
of Washington, embraced in the Walla
Walla valley A section of country, which,
if l am correctly Informed, is of excellent
quality-admirably adapted to agriculture,
and capable of sustaining population Of
seventy-fve or one hundred thousand souls.
1t would perhaps be unkind in me to say
that | look upon this attempt thus to rob US
Of so valuable portion of our Territory, as
a political, moral, and social outrage l
cannot, therefore, urge too strongly upon
you, the Importance of sending to Congress
a legislative protest against this attempt
made to take from Washington portion of
her domaiA, and thus change the boundary
between the two Territories, without even
asking our consent.
If our neghbors had waited until we had
grown up to political manhood as they have
and then had proposed to us by legislative
negotiation, or otherwise to have obtained
our assent, it would have looked differently {;
but now, that they arc about to ask admis
sion into the Union as State, whilst we arc
yeti our infancy, with white population of
only obOut seven thousand, it is believed that
seeking to drag portion of our Territory in
with them, would only jeopardize their own
success.
| am of opinion therefore, that when all
the facts are presented to Congress, they
will not hesitate to conGne Oregon to her
original boundary line.
| regard an accession to our population
as Of the first importance to the proper de-
yelopment Of the various resources of the
country. am Of opinion that as many ad-
vantages are offered here, to the farmer,
mechanic, lumberman and fisherman, as in
any section of the Union. The high price
Of labor it seems would be an inducement
to this class Of citizens, worthy their atten-
ton.
With view therefore to the encourage
ment of emigration, would suggest for
your consideration, the propriety of urging
upon Congress the passage Of an act donat-
ing to American citizens who now are, or
who may hereafter become actual settlers
in the Territory, one hundred and sixty
acres Of land, without the onerous restric-
tions attached to the donation act of 1850
requiring immediate settlement and con-
tinued cultivation.
The prosecution Of the public surveys have
steadily during the past year
The amount surveyed and under contract
for the year 1857, has been of township and
sub-divisional lines, 1905 miles meridian
and standard parallel lines, 60 miles num-
Der of claims surveyed under the donation
act, I65; estimated number of miles to be
in 1858, 206O miles.
l would remind you of the fact, that the
last Congress appropriated thirty thousand
dollars for the erection Of the capitol of the
Territory. 1t is a matter Of Importance
that you give this subject your early atten-
ton, in order that the funds may be made
available, and the capitol erected as soon as
practicable. .t..
Your attention is called to the fact that
there exists no legislative enactment in this
Territory by which appropriation is made
for the purpose of paying rewards for the
of fugitives from justice A
case in point occurred in September last
A prisoner, convicted Of murder in Island
county, escaped from confinement at Fort
Steilacoom. On being notified Of the fact
by the commanding officer at that post,
offered a reward of three hundred dollars
for bis apprehension. He was arrested on
his way to the Columbia river, by two citi-
zens of COwlitz county-James Mcdonald
and Lorenzo p. Smith, and delivered again
into the custody Of the officer at Fort Steil-
accom-, and for which delivery, these men
now claim the reward. have respectfully
to recommend that the proper action be ta-
ken by the Legislature for their relief.
The militia law needs amendment, and
would call your attention to the various de-
fects therein, and suggest that it be so
amended as to allow the formation of volun-
tcer companies.
l have turned over to the Quartermaster
General, W. w. Miller, all public arms be-
longing to the Territory, and that officer
is now having them cleaned and repaired,
and would recommend that an appropria-
ton be made by the Legislature to meet
this necessary expenditure.
lam much gratilicd to find the school
system of the Territory as well perfected as
it seems to be. look upon the subject of
education as one of paramount interest to
every community, for, unless the public mind
be enlightend, no people can ever attain a
very high degree of prosperity and happi-
ness.
Our proud pre-eminence amongst the ma
tions of the earth does not result solely from
IL r r