, 1859-08-26

claims Of the people of Oregon and Wash
ington, growing out of the late Indian war
beg leave to submit the following report
In considering their duties, in order tc
address themselves to the work before them
your committee have been called to inquire
what are the difficulties in the way OF an
early adjustment of our war claims?
1t appears that at the present time, all
the claims of Oregon and Washington
above referred to are in the hands of the
Third Auditor of the Treasury. under in.
structions from the House of Representa-.
tives to change the results arrived at by
the Commission appointed by authority oil
Congress, in the following particulars:
First, To allow to volunteers engaged in
said war no higher pay than was given to
soldiers of the regular army.
Second, To allow for supplies, transpor-
tation, aud other services, "the prices cur
rent, for cash, in the country at that time" "
Third, To audit all claims for horses,
arms, and other property, lost or destroyed
in said service, according to the provisions
Of the act of Congress of March Sd, IS49,
which act limits the prices Of horses in all
cases to 5000 each.
AS to the first and third points of duty
devolVed on the Third Auditor by the rcso-
luton Of the House OF Representatives, the
rule for his action is laid down; and, how
ever unjust and ignominous such action
may be, this Convention can do nothing to
qualify or affect it in the least, but must re
ly upon our delegation in Congress to defeat
any final adjustment Of our claims upon
such basis, and to secure the basis adopted
by the Commission as Just and honorable.
But as to the second point of duty above
referred to, it appears that the Third Au-
ditor, for the purpose Of reducing the rates
allowed by the Commission, has issued nu-
merous letters to officers and individuals
residing in Oregon and Washington, max
ing inquiries relative to the cash rates of
property during the late Indian war: asking
whether scrip has not passed from baud to
hand for less rate than its face value;
whether on account Of the reliance of the
people on Congress to adjust these claims,
higher price or rate for property put into
the public service did not obtain than
would have been demanded had cash been
paid. The numerous questions of the above
character filling these letters exhibit the
fact thata great effort is being made to
throw doubt and suspicion upon the claims,
aud to set aside, if possible, the action Of
the Commission upon them. Iu this last
and very important matter, this Conven-
ton may do much to maintain the rights
aud character of the country. s.
Some of the letters Of the Third Audit
or have been addressed to persons not resi-
dent in Oregon and Washington at the
time Of the war, and who consequently can
make no proper answer. Many have been
addressed to persons who have not been
acquainted with the course of business in
the country, and we're not Engaged in the
war, and who, therefore, are not qualified
and disposed to make detailed answer
And those who are qualified, and disposed
to do full justice to the subject, are, in most
instances, so much involved in other press
ing affairs, that they may not give atten-
tion to these letters
Your committee would therefore recon-
mend that local committees be appointed
by this Convention, at or near all the prin-
cipal points Of supply in Oregon during the
late Indian war, who are informed and ca
pable; and that said local committee be re-
quested to cooperate at once with each
other, and TO correspond with some princi.
pal agent, to be appointed in the city of
Portland, who shall be authorized to re-
ceive and transmit to the Third Auditor
all the proofs and statements which may be
forwarded to him by such local committee,
in support of the war claims.
Your committee are Of opinion further,
that much may be done to strengthen the
hands Of our delegation in Congress, in
their efforts to secure the payment Of these
claims, by memorials from leading business
men Of established integrity, setting forth
the business relations Of the country at the
time OF the war, and the general good faith
of those who furnished supplies and servi-
ces to the late authorities Of the Territory;
and your committee recommend that such
memorials be solicited from all reliable
sources as above.
All VI WHICH ~ ItSpeCtlulll ouOluiJtSVJ
]. H. LINES, Chairman.
Which, after considerable discussion, was
adopted. =
On motion Of Joseph Teal, w. S. Ladd,
of Portland was appointed as principal
agent.
Gu motion, the following committees
were appointed in various localities Of the
State, viz .
POrtLand-Messrs. Thomas Pritchnrd,
Augustus Elfelt, aud - Savier.
SaleHl-J. L. Starkey, George H. Jones
and NJ Hrsch.
ALbaHy-J. H. Lines w. G. Haley and
Thos. Monteith.
CorrdLis-A. d. Barnard, A. j. Thayer
and James Kinney.
Eugene Cuy-A. W Patterson, B. j..
Pengra and Paul Brattain.
ROsebHrg-S F. Chadwick, Aron Rose,
and l.. f. Mosher.
Empire Ciiy-T D. Winchester.
JaoksOnuiLLe-B. T. Davis, j. Glenn, VIM.
III .,,,1