, 1858-12-10

.
well as in summer, the power of the military
ARMAND not to trust to the inclemency o
the season to battle its efforts, but be render
ed subject to the authorities placed oyel
him, and maintained in a condition in whicl
he can do no harm.
The organization Of the Department o
Oregon, conceive to be one of the most
important measures that has been adopted
for our welfare The force and the Com
mander, being in our midst, furnish from
their very presence, additional protection
and, in case Of difficulty, the blow can bC
struck at once, without the former delay o.
transporting troops and munitions of wal
from San Francisco Moreover, it will fur
nish an incentive to the settlement of the
interior-the various posts furnishing mar
ket for the forage and subsistence that may
be raised Aud it is hardly necessary tc
state that, by the gallant and distinguished
officer who has been assigned to the com.
mand of this Department, we may feel a..
sured every step will be taken, with his
usual prOmptness, zeal, and energy, to REL
der the country safe, and to effect an ac'
tually permanent peace.
The project Of connecting the waters Of
the Atlantic and Pacific by the rail is every
day assuming new and additional impor-
tance. Governor Stevens, in his Message
to the, fourth session of the Legislative As
sembly, says: "The question of Pacific
Railroad is not simply ono of domestic in
tcrcommunication and of Strengthening the
fraternal bonds, which unite us as a people,
it is question of a struggle for the COM
merce of the world. Over the rail must not
only pass from Asia to Europe, and back
again, costly aAd perishable articles, but on
this route the great bulk of Asatic supplies
for the teeming region of the northwest,
where the Territory of to-day is the popu-
lous state Of tomorrow, where the wave
of population has nearly reaehed the Red
River of the North, and is rapidly moving
westward. The Indian War over in this
Territory, the reflex tide Of emigration set
ting eastward from the Pacific, will, in a
single year, pass over our interior plainsfrom
the Walla-walla to the Spokane, occupying
the Yakima, aud our miners will be found
thence to the 49th parallel" Every day
tends more strongly to confirm the necessity
of this communication. The whole Amert
can people now feel deeply the want of some
sure and safe, some speedy and effective
means of bringing the extreme sca-board
frontier of our country into that close
connection, between themselves and the in
terror, which can only be afforded in It's
desired completeness by a Railroad connect
- Al. ",
tory, with its rivers and its harbors, holds,
as it were, the key to the commerce of the
Pacific; and when once direct commune
cation is opened from the eastern side of the
continent, it will receive that aid both in
capital and emigration, which will bring
it at once into Importance, and cause its
influence to be felt throughout the western
ocean, This is q matter of great moment
and one which it behooves the people of the
United States closely to look TO. The for
nation of the Colony Of British Columbia
the emigration thither, the establishment o.
naval depots, and the location Of troops
the surveys Of the country Of the Red River
and the Saskatchewan, are all significant
facts-and by delay we may, in this AMIGA.
BILE 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 aNmeasure, precursor to Rail
road, l beg leave, especially, to call your
attention to the Military Road from Fort
Walla-walla to Fort Benton, Passing as il
does, for five hundred miles, through the
Territory of Washington, it crosses many
fertile valleys, and locations, offering induce
ments to settlement-and is the nearest
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, q
good road from Fort Benton to Walla
walla will materially facilitate its progress
and also tend to develop the interior of thu
Territory, The Engineer in charge, 1t
Mullan, entered upon the construction o
this road last spring, but was compelled t
suspend his operations on account Of tn
Indian War. His work will be resumed
again as soon as the season will permit
In bis opinion an additional appropriation
of $4,000 would complete the road, ant
l recommend the passage Of memorial t
Congress asking for that amount.
OF equal Importance is it, that ther
should be roads from Fort Colville to Walla
walla or the Dalles-and also across tn
Cascade Mountains to some point on Pugc
Sound. Fort Colyille, situated as it is, j
the centre of a rich and fertile valley
already the nucleus of q considerable scttlt
ment, is the general rendezvous of the Ii
dians residing north of the 49th parable
and is in the direct route of miners movn
from the east, the south, and by land fror
Puget Sound on the west-and its proximit
to the boundary lire, and to the minin
regions Of the Pen d'Orelle, the Wenatchl
pam, and the Yakima, all call for its bein
the site of military post, and being thu
more closely connected with the settled POI
tions of the Territory
In addition to these, will call your a
tention to the necessity Of military road
, from Olympia via Grey's Harbor and Shoa
D,,, 90 ofor;o from, Olvp,pio .