, 1858-04-02
Report Of War Commission.

we recelVeu oy the last mail the report
Of the War Commissioners, addressed to
tho Secretary of War;, appointed at the
last Congress, to ascertain the expenses
incurred in the Indian wars in Oregon and
Washington Territories There is no mis-
tifcatipn in the report whatever. 1t is
clear 4 nd concise, and comparatively quite
brief-esvering but sixteen pages From
it We extract the following statement Of
war debt Of the two Territories
"A general abstract of the work Of the commission
has been made, and is herewith accompanying, show
ing the results of its abors in each Territory These
general abstracts refer to each district department
the service, and exhibit the total Of expenses neeessa
riy incurred in the suppression Of Indian hostilites
in the late Indian war in Oregon and Washington
by the territorial governments Of said Territories for
the maintenance Of the volunteer forces engaged in
said war, including pay Of volunteers, as follows:
The expenses of Oregon the sum Of four million
four hundred and torty-nine thousand nine hundred
9l9 33.)
Expenses Of Washington, one million four hun
dred and eightyone thousand four hundred and sew.
entyave dollars and forty-fve cents ($l 4sl AIS 451
Making grand total OF expenses incurred by the
Territories during the war of five millions nine hun
tyfour dollars and seventyeight cents $5 1881 424 7S
There are poubtless, to some limited extent irreg-
ular and unascertaned claims growing out Of the late
volunteer service which have not come to the notice
Of the commission but such will be found nconsder-
able.
Numerous claims for compensation for the spoa.
ton OF property by hostile Indians during the war
have been presented to the commission but such
claims, however mertorious have not been acted on
not being considered within the proper province Of
the board"
By the same mail we received from
Washington the report of ]. Ross BROWNE,
Esq, Especial agent of the Treasury De-
partment), on the subject Of the Indian
war in Oregon and Washington Terrific
ries. This report is an able vindication Of
the people of the two Territories from the
many calumuieS which have met the public
eye to their intended disparugemsnt, from
the late commandant Of the Pacific military
department, and those that espoused his
unfortunate quarrel, ns also, signal re-
buke to all those who have given currency
to tho miserable falsehood that the war
was inaugurated by the citizens of those
Territories for objects of speculation-for
the purpose of plundering the public treas
ury. Mr.. Browne says the origin of
the Indian war is not different from that Of
any other Indian war. 1t is the natural
result Of immigration and settlement" &c.
1t was a war Of >destiny-bound to take
place whenever the causes reached their
eliminating point" &c. Again, he says
d" The treaties were not the cause Of the
war. 4 have already shown that the war
had been determined upon long before If
Gov. STEVENS is to blame because he did
not so trQme The treaties as 10 stop The war,
or stop it by not making treaties at all,
then that charge should be specifically
brought against him My own opinion is,
that he had no more control over the course
of events than the Secretary Of War in
Washington
The following are closing paragraphs of
the report from which We think the people
on the Atlantic side can justly conclude,
that, in the language of Mr.. BROWNE, the
"war speculation " charged upon the set
tiers of Washington Territory, presents a
very Improbable appearance
Upon a careful perusal of all the despstches.
nd nothing to sustain the charge Of speculation. No
person can visit the Territories of Oregon and Wash
ington, converse with the people, see them on their
farms and at their daily labor and consider their true
interests without coming to the conclusion that such
charge il absurd aud monstrous
What could they hope to gainl Few of them
had anything TO spare upon which to base a spec
ulation. farmer IS well of who has his fields fenced
in, few head Of oxen and three four cows. II be
got treble price fo bis stock the sale upon an unm