, 1858-12-10


influx Of population, occasiOned by the
newly discovered gold mines, several mur
dera have been committed on Puget Sound,-
and though in some instances the officers Of
the Indian Department have succeeded il
Iarrcsting the criminals, several still remain
at large. The executive power of the
Agents is weakened as they cannot compel
the Indians to remain upon reservations
which have not been guaranteed to them
and the Indians themselves are dissatisfied
from not having received the remuneration
promised them Sheer justice to the In.
dian, and the better security of the lives
and property Of the citizens, demand the
speedy confirmation Of these Treaties.
In connection with these Treaties, will
call your attention to the absolute necessity
Of a seperate Indian superintendent for the
Territory of Washington. The extent Of
Territory the number Of Indians, (some
twenty-five thousand and the amount Of
business to be transacted, render it impera.
tive that this office should be created. 1t
must be borne in mind that the faster scttl
ements progress, and the more rapidly citi.
zens advance upon lands over which the Iu-
dian has been accustomed to rove, the more
intricate and laborious become the duties Of
the officers of that department. The present
State of affairs demands that there should be
a chief to this department Of the public SER
vice in this Territory. The present Super
intendent has recommended it, and sug-
gest it to your consideration, as q subject Of
memorial
In reference to the Hudson Bay Company
and the Puget Sound Agricultural Company,
l beg leave to refer to the messages delivered
to the previous Legislative Assemblies. AL
ready have the British government taken
from their control large portions of their
territories such as afford inducements to the
settler and the miner; manifestng by this
act, that they were an obstacle to social
progress-and every reason demands the
removal of this incubus from our midst cast
ing, as it does, shadow over the title to
some of the finest portions of our Territory.
From the recent developments in their own
House of Commons, their exaggerated
claims have become still more vague aud un-
certain. The strong desire manifested by
the citizens Of Canada to have their pre-
tended rights and boundaries defined, and
to throw open portion Of their territories
to the advancing settlements, render itnoth.
ing more than reasonable that we, having
no affinities with such monopolists, but in all
our business relations diametricaly opposed
to them, should earnestly demand theiI
speedy extinction within our Territory.
Our war debt, in which every citizen is
interested, either in his own behalf, or as O
matter of justice to his neighbor still re-
mains unadjusted. The money expended
the material furnished-the services render
ed-all remain unliquidated. Many obsta
cles have been placed in its way,-malict
has vented its spleen-selfsuficiency an6
egotism have given their deliberate opinion,
and detraction has done its utmost. Yet
there stands the record, confirmed by the
blood of our murdered citizens by ruined
houses and devastated farms, and by solitary
block-houses dotting the country west of tn,
Cascades BY that record, we can proudly
stand. A commission was appointed to in
vestigate these claims, ca sisting of two
army officers and a civilian, and by then
the accounts were audited, with scarcely Oh
alteration. The whole matter was referred
to Congress, and by it to one Of the most
prominent members of the Military Com.
mittee, to be investigated during the recess,
and we may expect a report early during the
present session.
beg leave to call your attention to the
condition Of the Territorial Library. From
the remoteness of the Capitol building from
the centre Of the town, and the smallness o.
the salary allowed by the general govern
ment, t$300,) it is impossible for any on,
to hold the Office and give to it that proper
attention which it requires As a remedy
l will suggest, for your consideration, thai
the law uniting the Offices of Territoria
Auditor and Librarian be repealed, and tn,
County Auditor, Of the county in which tn,
capitol may be located, be er-o5icio Libri
rian, giving bonds for his faithful perform
ance of this duty, in addition to his bond
as County Auditor. His duties as Audi
tor, could be performed at the Library, a
well as at any other place, e,-and he could
at the same time, keep charge of the books
lOT WHICH, uiueI JHeSe CIRCUMSTANCES ID
present salary would be an adequate remu
neration.
You are aware that there is no Legislative
enactment authorizing the executive to offe
rewards for prisoners escaping from confinC
ment Cases have occurred and may here
after occur, in which to meet the strict end
of justice, it would be of advantage that
reward should be offered for the reclamatio
Of the fugitive. In order, therefore, to rel
der the DEGREES Of our Courts more certai
and decisive, and to prevent the ends Of jul
tice from being defeated, l would recon-
mend the passage Of law investing tn
Governor of the Territory with some dil
eretiOnary power in this matter.
a Of the amounts appropriated by Cor
gress for the erection Of a Capitol, and
Penitentiary, none has as yet been expended
The act Of the Legislative Assembly loci
ting the Capitol, required that the title t
the site for the same should be approved b
Il tho A Attornpv General of tho ITnited Stato