, 1859-01-07
WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE-SIXTH SESSION


The Council, on the last night of the
session, passed the House memorial pray
ing an appropriation by Congress for a
military road from Bakers Bay by ShoaI-
water Bay and Gray's Harbor to Port
Townsend. This memorial received the
signature Of the presiding officers, and was
forwarded among the joint resolutions and
memorials passed before the holidays
The Joint Resolution, introduced by
Gen. Maxon of Clarke county, which has
passed both Houses, signed by the presid.
ing officers, and forwarded to Hon. Isaac
l. Stevens, Delegate in Congress, instructs
said Delegate to urge tho necessity Of es-
tablshing a line of military posts along the
Emigrant Wagon Road, east from Fort
Wala-walla by way of the South Pass, to
the Missouri river In the report Of Thurs
day, Dee. 23d, 1858, this joint resolution
describes said line of posts as on the pro-
posed Emigrant Road from Fort Walla.
walla to Fort Benton, on the Missouri
river. The resolution of Gen. Maxon is
FOne Of the most important of the session,
and it is source Of regret that the intea-
tion of it should have been misappreheud-
ed 1t passed both Houses unanimously
under q suspension, without being ordered
printed, and is iu the following language:
Whereas, The great and growing inter
eSts Of the northwest coast demand and
should receive at the hands of the Federal
authorities that attention which has been
accorded heretofore to other sections of our
common country.
Aad Whereas, In consequence of tho In
dian wars, and the hostile attitude of the
Indian tribes occupying the country east of
the Cascade and west Of the Rocky Moun'
tans, emigration to the Territories of
Washington and Oregon has been entirely
cut off thus preventing the many thou
sands who are desirous Of seeking hemes
for themselves in our beautiful valleys from
carrying into effect their desires, unless by
a perilOus ocean passage, and at an expense
too onereus to bear
Therefore, BE IL resolrsd By the Legisla.
lire Assembly Of The Territory of Washing.
ton, That the Hon. |. /. Stevens, our Del
egate in Congress, be requested to call upon
the President of the United States and re.
present to him the great and urgent neces.
sity for prompt and vigorous action OIL the
part Of the Federal Government, in OPEN
ing up and protecting the route of emigra.
tion, so that the same may be Travelled in
safety at all times. And that he be re-
quested to urge upon the President the
great Importance and necessity of estab-
fishing a line OF permanent military posts
on the route of emigrant travel between the
Walla-walla, in Washington Territory, and
the waters Of the Missouri, that ample pro-
lection and aid may be afforded emigrants,
the coming season, from the bands of hos
tile savages who inlest the line of the road ;
and who have heretofore committed SO
many brutal outrages upon our brethren.
ResOtred, That the thanks of our people
are due to the President of the United
States; for the establishment of a separate
Military Department for the Territories of
Washington and Oregon; and that in the
assignment of the command of this depart
ment to the gallant and efficient chieftain,
Brig. Gen. w. S. Harney, he has but an
ticipated the wishes Of our people.
ResOtred, That the Governor OF this
Territory be and he is hereby requested to
forward copy of these resolutions to the
Hon. l. /. Stevens, our Delegate to Con-
gress, to be presented by him to the Presi-
dent Of the United States; and that he also
forward copy to Brevet Brigadier Gen.
W. S. Harney.