, 1858-12-17

question of Pacific Railroad is not simply one
Of domestic intercommunication, and Of strength
ening the fraternal bonds which unite us as
people, il is 4 question Of struggle for the COM
merce Of the world. Over the rail must not
only pass from Asia to Europe, and back again,
costly and perishable articles, but on this route
the great bulk Of Asiatic supplies for the tecm-
ing region of the northwest, where the Terri
tory of to-day is the populous state Of to-mor-
row, where the wave Of population has nearly
reached the Red River Of the North, and is
rapidly moving westward. The Indian war over,
| In this Territory, the reflux tide Of emigration
setting eastward from the Pacific, will, in sin
gle year, pass over our interior plains from the
Walla-walla to the Spokane, occupying the Yak
| lima, and our miners will be found thence to the
49th parallel" Every day tends more strongly
/ to confirm the necessity Of this communication.
The whole American people now feel deeply the
want Of some sure and safe, some speedy and
effective means Of bringing the extreme sea-
board frontier Of our country into that close con-
| nection. between themselves and the interior,
which can only be afforded in its desired COM
pleteness by Railroad connecting the two
oceans. Washington Territory, with its rivers
and its harbors, holds, as It were, the key to the
commerce Of the Pacific; and when once di-
rect communication is opened from the eastern
side Of the continent, it will receive that aid,
4
| It at once into importance, and cause its infu-
cnce to be felt throughout the western ocean.
This is matter Of great moment, and one which
it behooves the people Of the United States close
| ly to look to. The formation Of tho Colony Of
British Columbia, the emigration thither, the
establishment Of naval depots, and the location
Of troops, the surveys Of the country Of the Red
River and the Saskatchewan, arc all significant
facts-and by delay We may, in this amicable
contest find that we are Left in the rear, and
the golden prize has fallen into the hands Of our
neighbors Of the North.
As, in a measure, precursor TO a Railroad,
bog leave. especially, to call your attention to the
Military Road from Fort Walla-walla to Fort
Benton. Passing, as it docs, for five hundred
miles, through the Territory Of Washington, il
crosses many fertile valleys, and locations, offer
/ ing inducements to scttlCment-and is the near
est, most direct, and practicable route on the
northern line to the Mississippi Looking, as
we do, for heavy emigration by this line to the
gold mines during the next year, good road
| from Fort Benton to Walla-walla will materially
facilitate its progress, and also tend to deveope
the interior Of the Territory. The Engineer in
charge, 1t. Mullan, entered upon the construc-
ton Of this road last spring, but was compelled
to suspend his operations, on account Of the
Indian war. lis work will be resumed again as
soon as the season will permit. In his opinion
an additional appropriation Of $4,000 would
complete the road, and recommend the passage
Of memorial to Congress asking for that amount.
OF equal importance is It, that there should
be roads from Fort Colyille to Walla-walla or the
Dalles--and also across the Cascade Mountains
to some point on Puget Sound. Fort Colville,
situated as It is, in tho centre Of rich and fer
tile valley, already the nucleus Of considerable
settlement, is the general rendezvous Of the
Indians residing north Of the 40th parallel, and
| is in the direct route Of miners, moving from
the cast, the south, and by land from Puget
i Sound on the west-and its proximity to the
boundary line, and to the mining regions Of the
Pen dOreillc, the Wenatchapam, and tho Yak
lima, all call for its being the site Of military
post, and being thus more closely connected
with the settled portions Of the Territory.
In addition TO these, will call your attention
to the necessity Of military roads from Olympia
via Grey's Harbor and Shoalwater Bay to Asto-
ria-from Olympia to Fort Townsend-and from
Fort Townsend to New Dunginess.
| The subject Of the Indian treaties, so long con-
| tracted and still unconirmcd, is worthy Of your
most serious attention. Since the influx Of pop
ulation, occasioncd by the newly discovered gold
mines, several murders have been committed
on Puget Sound ,-and though in some instances
| the officers Of the Indian Department have sue
ceeded in arresting the criminals, several still
/ remain at lafBC 1ne eNeCutNc power VI inc
Agents is weakened, as they cannot compel the
Indians to remain upon reservations which have
not been guaranteed to them, and the Indians
themselves arc dissatisfied from not having re-
ceiyed the remuneration promised them. Sheer
Justice to the Indian, and the better security Of
the lives and property Of the citizens, demand
the speedy confirmation Of these treaties
In connection with these treaties, win call
your attention to the absolute necessity of sep
arate Indian superintendent for the Territory Of
Washington. Tho extent Of territory, the num-
Der Of Indians, (somc twenty-five thousandD and
the amount Of business to be transacted, render
Il imperative that this office should be created.
II must be borne in mind that the faster settle
ments progress, and the more rapidly citizens
advance upon lands over which the Indian has
been accustomed 10 rove, the more intricate and
aborious become the duties Of the officers Of
that department. The present state Of affairs
demands that there should be chief to this de-
partment Of the public service in this Territory.
The present Superintendent has recommended
it, and suggest il to your consideration as a
subject Of memorial.
In reference to the Hudson Bay Company and
the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, | beg
leave to refer to tho messages delivered to the
previous Legislative Assemblies. Already have
/ the British government taken from their control
large portions Of their territories such as afford
inducements to the settler and the miner; man.
festing by this act that they were an obstacle to
social progrcss-and every reason demands the
removal Of this incubus from our midst, casting,
as ii does, shadow over the title 10 some of the
finest portions Of our Territory. From the re-
cent developments in their own House Of Com
mons, their exaggerated claims have become still
more vague and uncertain. The strong desire
manifested by the citizens Of Canada to have