, 1859-04-08
NEWS FROM 0REeON.

The Portland municipal election took
place on Monday last.
The editor of the Statesman has been
permitted by Col NEsmTH, Superintendent
of Indian Affairs for Oregon and this Ter
ritory, to copy'the following extract from
a private letter of Col. Mort, late Special
Agent of the Interior Department, concern
ing the claims of our citizens against the
Indian Department. The letter is dated
Feb. 10th. Col. MoTT submitted a report
of his investigation on the 18th February
The Secretary of Interior has taken no nc
ton on the claims business, but am satisfied be
will adopt my docket 1t has to be examined by the
finance clerk first and have been unable to get him
to take it up as yet He says the claimants may ex
Pect their money by the steamer of 2Oth March"
Il By reference to his letter to the editor Of
the Statesman (Which will be found else
where in to-day's paper), it will be seen
that Hon. L. F. GROVER, of Oregon, gave
notice that on the l7th February he would
introduce bill to extend the laws and u-
dicial system Of the United States over
Oregon. Should the bill pass, District
Judge will have 10 be appointed. 1t is
surmised that Hon. W. H. HENDRICKS, of
Indiana, (acting Commissioner in the
General Land OfIice,) or Mr., HUGHs, late
member of Congress from the same Stnte,
will receive the appointment, should the
bill be got through. The appointment is a
life one, and the salary will probably be
$4,000 per annum. 1t should he n local
State appointment .......t
We find the following items in the
Statesman of the 29th ult:
Messrs SAITH GRovsR were paid SALARY for the
late service but for the time they in their seats
at the rate Of $1,000 per year. Their per diem
amounted to sl2O each. Each drew IS 500 mileage.
II. c. MosELY, formerly of Oregon ard afterwards
Register OF the Olympia land Office, Washington Ter
ritory, is practising law at san Antonio, Texas.
PorAToEs.-PotatOesa are very scarce in the country
At Salem and Portland they are worth 81 rs per
bushel; at Eugene City they command 50 co.
We learn from the Tines Of the 26th
ult., that fire occurred in Portland on the
gath. 1t seems that there are incendi-
aries and robbers prowling about Portland
On the night Of the fire, (which resulted in
the destruction Of two buildings, valued at
2,O00,) ON unsuccessful attempt was made
by some miscreant to set FIRE to n new
dwelling which is in process of erection by
Mr. JAS. FAILING. 1t was extinguished,
however, before much headwny had been
made
The Times Of the same date, contains the
names of fifty persons to whom donation
patents had been issued to settlers in dil-
fcrent counties in Oregon-brougbt out by
the last States mail.
The STANDARD of the 3oth ult says that
q rumor had reached Portland that Gov
WH1rEAKER was to assemble the Legislative
Assembly on the 18th inst. But little
credence to the report is given.
The same paper says that Frank Gurn-
sey, who was under commitment in the
county Jail for killing Dcaring short time
ago, managed to escape on Saturday last,
and has not since been heard Of
East Of The Cascades We find the
following in the Dales Journal of the 18th
and 2Sth ult.:
awe have dates from Fort Colville to the 9th inst
Qaite large number Of the Okinakane Indians arc
living around the Hudson Bay Co.'s Fort. Portions
Of tho Okinakanes and Covilles have committed dep.
relations upon the settlers by killing cattle and horses
entering their houses and compelling them to supply
them with provisions, and waylaying them on the
road to the grist mill, and taking their flour from
them by force. These things can only be remcdied
by the establishment Of strong military post, at or
in the vicinity Of Fort Coville and the this is
done the better will be for the settlers there. The
commanding officer could then hang few OF the most
unruly of both tribes; and lasting peace would be
established between the two races. Major John
Owens writes from Bitter Root valley that they have
had mild winter and that his friends Kamiakn and
Skloom are peaceabe-the latter not being expected
to live. Private Thomas Smith Of Co. A. 9th Infantry
was murdered on the night Of the l6th, by per-
son unknowl.n
Decisions We find the following cxe
tract of the decision Of the United States
Supreme Court on the Portland Levee
claim in the OregoHian Of the Goth ult
Congress passed no law in anywise affecting titles
to lands in Oregon Territory, till September 2O 1850
that when the litigation commenced, neither party Ia
the suit had any title 10 interest in the land what
ever; and, therefore, the respondents and appeees
could not sustain injury by being enoned not to erect
buildings on lands belonging to the government, in
which they had no interest 1t is proper to remark
here, that we have nothing 70 do with. nor eau we
notice. rights acquired to this property by acts Of
Congress passed subsequently to the origin Of this
controversy
\ Another.-DEED FROM PRE-EMPToR BEFORE ISSUE
OF PATENT-The Supreme Court of Minnesota have,
we see by the St. Paul Times, decided case, Robert
Smith, VS.. Camp, involving the question, whether
deed Of sale executed prior to the issuance of pat
ent by pre-emptor Of Government lands, conveying
to third party the land pre-empted by him. was
valid instrument, whether it was void under the
act Of Congress Of lS4l, which declares in so many
words, that any assignment transfer Of the pre-
empted land before the actual issuance Of the patent
shall be absolutely void" The decision was that a
deed made by preemptor, at any time alter the en-
try and receipt Of his duplicate certificate from the
District Land Office Is a valid deed and conveys the
fee simple to the purchaser.
i ----------a-SDS-S---