, 1859-04-08
From the Oregon Times, March 26th.
The War Debt.

1he following IS copy OF Ietter au'
dressed 10 Gen Lane by Hon. Chas j.
Faulkner, of Va, chairman of the Military
Committee, to whom WINS referred the bill
for the payment Of the Oregon and Wash
ington war debt. Its admissions as to the
justice of these claims are important, whilst
its testimony as TO Gen Lanes efforts to
secure the passage of the bill must be over
whelmugly conclusive
House OF REPREsENTAITyEs,
February 4, 1858.
Hon. Jos. LANE-Dear Sir You re-
quest me to communicate to you in writing
the substance of a conversation which /
had with you towards the close Of the last
session of Congress upon the subject Of the
Washington and Oregon war debt
Upon the day upon which the annexed
resolution was adopted by the Committee
on Military Affairs, to-wit: the 4th Of
June, 1858, | communicated to)you the
action of the committee, and Informed you
that would give to that claim my prompt
and earnest consideration, and would have
q report ready for the action Of the conI-
mitee at the meeting VI Congress in De
ccmhcr.
The duty which the Military Committee
deyolvcd upon me embraced, according to
my construction of it, two heads of enquirys
lst, The origin Of the war. Did the facts
connected with its origin show proper
case for calling out the militia forces OF the
Territories Was it u necessary war, so
far as the protection of the lives and prop
erty Of your people was concerned? In
the pursuit of this branch Of the enquiry,
procured promptly after the adjournment
Of Congress, all the printed documents and
other information within my reach, bearing
upon that aspect Of the subject, and after
a careful examination, | reached the con-
clusiou that The condition Of affairs in he
Territories of Oregon and Washington, az
The fill # 1855, fully JUSTIFIED Mc call for
The militia IF lie IerriiOyses, and so l re-
ported to the committee at its first meet
ing in December.
The I'd head of enquiry presented by
the committee, related to the amount OF
force called out-the pay allowed the Off
GERS and soldiers-qnantities Of Quarter
masters, subsistence and hospital supplies
contingent expenses, &c, &c. These could
only be ascertaiued by an inspection OF
vouchers and papers in the Office and under
the control of the Sd Auditor Of tue Treas
ury 1t was matter Of mere detail, over
which could only exercise general su-
peryision. l gave programme Of writ
ten Instructions to the Auditor Of the
points upon which l desired information,
and requested him to furnish me an analy-
sis and classification of the claims in such
form as to enable me 10 present to the
committee aud Congress the principles
adopted by the Commissioners in the al
owance Of the claims At my earnest re-
quest he promised TO have his work ready
for me by the LIST Of November. In con
sequence Of the sickness Of the clerks en-
ployed 10 the examination, the time was
then extended to the 10th of November,
then TO the lst Of December, and so from
time TO time, until it was delivered to me
in committee on the 14th day OF January.
The Auditors report has been printed
by order Of the House, The claim has
been carefully examined by the committee.
Mr., Stevens, Mr.. Grover, Mr. Smith, and
yourself have been heard before the com,
mittee. No one loili question the zeal 1ohioh
yoH and The other gentlemen named hare man
iJested for yOur constituents; and the Com
mittee on Military Affairs have instructed
me 10 report bill which will dispose Of
the subject for the present session. bod.
] am very resp'y, your ob't serv't,
b.. CHAS. j. FAULKNER.