, 1857-12-18
Governors Message.
Fellop Citi.cps cf The
Legislative assembly:

Legislature -iSSeMbty:
In responding to your call, it affords me
much satisfaction to communicate such iufor.
nation as | am in possession of, relative to
the general condition Of the country, and
to make such suggestions as it is believed
will be most conducive to the peace, happi.
ness and welfare of this interesting Terrific.
ry and its citizens
There is no one duty incumbent upon me
to perform, that | approachwth greater
di0idence in my own capacity, than that of
laying before the Legislative Assembly such
subjects as require legislative action.
Since first coming to your Territory,
have endeavorcd by every means within my
reach to gain a knowledge of the condition
Of our citizens and their various wants.
My recent arrival in the Territory, and
my limited knowledge consequent thereto,
Of its true condition, will, fear, render it
difficult for me to discharge this duty in a
manner crcditablc to myself, or profitable to
you. trust, however, that your superior
knowledge of the requirements of this peo-
pie, will fully compensate for my own def
ciency, and can only say that will bring
into requisition all my energies for the pro-
motion of the common good.
Having been chosen by your several con-
sttuencies to legiSlatG for them and their
welfare, it is reasonable to expect that each
member will watch over the local interests
Of his own constituents but at the same
time, it is to be hoped that you will not lose
sight of the general good Of the whole.
In community like ours, it can seldom
happen that the interests of any one locality
will be found in antagonism with the common
welfare Of ALL
The prospects for the general prosperity
Of the country may not at present be en-
cOuraging Business may languish amongst
you, and it may be that some discomfort pre-
walls, and that feeling Of insecurity and
uncertainty about the future is felt but it is
believed these discOuragements will be tenn
pOrary and removable by proper exertions
1t is said that the darkest hour is just be-
fore day." and although this Territory may
now be at its lowest point Of depression, yet,
II Congress will but pay the war debt as
allowed by the commissioners, feel assured
that Providence has brilliant future in
store for her, il she be faithful to her own in
terests.
Ny attention has been called to our In-
dian relations, both foreign and domestic,
and particularly to the frequent incursions
Of the Northern Indians upon the defense
less settlements in the northern portion of
the Territory lying west of the Cascade
mountains. l have urged upon the Presi-
dent of the United States and the Depart
ments, the Importance and necessity Of send
ing two small but feet war steamers to
these northern waters one to cruise upon
Puget Sound and Admiralty Inlet, and the
other in the waters adjacent to the 49th
parallel to the end that the lives aud pro-
perty of our people in that quarter, may
receive that protection against the hordeS of
savages inhabiting the British and Russian
possessions, to which they are justly enti-
tied.
feel satisfied from my own personal OBJ
servation, as well as from Information re-
eeived from the most reliable sources, that
two war steamers, with force of one hun
dred men each, would afford more ample
protection to the settlements upon Puget
Sound, than a thousand United States
troops, stationed as they now are, remote
irom each other, without the means of giving
pursuit to the enemy upon the water, and
who can in fact, do but little more than pro-
tect themselves.
haze likewise communicated to the au-
thOrities at Washington the circumstances
connected with the murder Of Col Isaac n.
Ebey, late Collector of Customs for the
District of Puget Sound, by the Northern
Indians, and would suggest, that you ask by
memorial of the proper authorities, that such
Instructions be given to officers commanding
United States steamers cruising on these
waters, as will lead to the arrest of these
MurdererS, even If it should be necessary to
pursue them into their own country.
The grounds of complaint urged by our
own Indians against the government, rela-
i've to the non-confrmation of treaties and
sae failure to pay them for their lands, has
tons
have also recommended that one or two
" The principal chiefs of each of the tribes
~ ms Territory, be invited to visit the City
u Washington, in charge Of trusty and
yompetent agent, and to be returned to their
homes by the overland route. am of opn-