, 1859-01-21

!
first time.
On leave, Mr. MaXon from Judiciary
Committee, to whom had been referred the
bill comforting civil jurisdiction upon Pro
bate Courts, and the bill relative to the
slaughter of beef cattle within the limits Of
town sites, reported back both of said bills,
recommending their indefinite postpone
ment
The Council refused to adopt the recon.
mendation, and referred the former bill to
the Committee on Indian Affairs. The
latter was referred to Select Committee,
consisting of Messrs. Fales, Denny and
Wiley.
( A message from the House announced
the introduction of Sundry bills, and the
passage of the following; series of bills
relative to assessing and collecting county
taxes, the change OF time of holding County
Courts, and relative to county business;
also an act authorizing @. G. Vail to es-
tablish ferry on the Lummi river; an act
to define the boundary line between Sa-
vanish and Thurston counties; the Joint
Resolution extending thanks to the Ma
liOudl administration anu " wv DLC'SHoi
and the Joint Resolution relating to mails
on Puget Sound
The bills referring to county taxes, conn
ty business, &c, were severally read first
and second time, and referred to Commit
tee on Judiciary.
The President here announced the re-
ceipt of letter from Gen. Harney, in
command of the Military Department com
posed of Oregon and Washington Terrific
ries, in response to aJoint Resolution pass
ed by the Legislative Assembly. On mo-
tion OF Mr. Wiley one thousand copies were
ordered printed The following is the let
ter referred TO:
Head Quarters Department Of Oregon
Fort VANCOUVER, W. T.,
January 4th, 1859.
SIR:-I have the honor TO acknowledge
the receipt Of your communication of the
9th of December last, transmitting copy
Of the Resolutions of the Legislative Assem-
bly, of the Territory Of Washington, relative
to the establishment Of military posts along
the emigrant road from the Missouri river
to Fort Walla-walla, in compliance with the
request Of the Assembly.
For this act Of courtesy and consideration
on the part of the Assembly, and for the
extended to myself, expressed in
its Resolutions, l tender my warmest thanks.
This generous welcome which has greet
ed me on my arrival in this distant portion
of our great republic, arouses feelings and
that are well shadowed forth in
the object for which the Resolutions were
viz: the difficulties existing in COM
with the States of the East.
l concur with the Assembly as to the ur-
gent necessity of opening practicable and
easy route from the Missouri river to Fort
Walla-walla. Not only should this be done,
but a road from Fort Walla-walla or the
Dalles should be opened and established to
Great Salt Lake City, connecting at the
same time with the road to Fort Laramie
and Missouri. This suggestion has already
been submitted to the consideration Of the
Government, and l am satisfied its construc-
tion will be directed
1t has been my fortune, at different Pc
riods of my life, to pass over the greater
part of the country through which these
routes should be established, and do not
believe that in any other portions of our
country such good natural roads for the same
distance could be laid.
The establishment of every facility CT
between the different sec
tions of our country is essentially mill
tary question, apart from the vital social in
fpracfs 6pDandinar upon II I thoroForo 10
not hesitate to present my views at this
time on the subject Of connecting our Pacific
slope with that Of the Atlantic, by a net
work Of roads,
As the social and political interests of q
State increase, the necessity for the defense
and protection of those interests becomes
more imperative. may say with propriety
that no portion Of our citizens are more
deeply interested in safe, rapid and GER
tain communication with the East and West.
than those of the army; they will not only
be obliged to use it, but to protect and Sc
cure it, and they will always be found, as
the pioneers of civilization, grateful for every
suggestion tending to shorten and improve
the distance
The vast and multiplying interests Of com
merce, demanding direct and certain com
are becoming familiar to the
public mind, but none can realize them to
their fullest extent who have never visited
our Pacific coast.
Ten years ago when California sprang in
to existence among nations, like Phoenix
from the ashes Of decay, the world marveled
and wondered The mind of man, prone
to judge of consequences by their. imme-
diate action on himself, concluded the cause
to be the gold in the soil, forgetting for the
that countries in which only the
precious metals abound, have ever been no
ted by decay and degradation.
Let US suppose for a moment that the
same amount OF gold had been discovered at
the North Pole ten years ago, would the
oountr,y at tho Moth DoIa ..,,-.,.A =. -... IL.