, 1860-04-27

HOSlNllleS were cOUll0eUceu Dy Tue oeillclS
for purposes Of speculation From previous
acquaintance with the people of Oregon, |
had formed the opinion that they were
pcaceahle, honest aud industrious, and it
seemed 10 the scarcely possible that they
could he guilty of so great crime as that
charged against them.
Upon a careful pernsal Of all the dis.
patches, find nothing to sustain the
charge Of speculation. No person can vis-
It the Territories of Oregon and Washing
ton, converse with the people, see them on
their farms and at their daily labors and
consider their true interests, without CON-
ing to the conclusion that such charge is
absurd and monSirous What could they
hope to gain? Few Of them had anything
to spare upon which to base a speculation.
A farmer is well of who has his fields
fenced in, few head Of oxen, and three or
four COWS. If he got treble price for his
stock, the sale, upon an unlimited credit.
would have been q sacrifice to him. His
farm must go to ruin. The interests Of the
settlers of nearly every pursuit are nearly
identical. Their future prospects depend
chiefly upon the prosperity Of the country,
the increase Of emigration, enhacement in
the value Of property, security Of life, open
ing Of new facilities for the transportation
of their products. All this was diametr-
caly opposed 10 war. No compensation
that government could make would atone
for the murder Of families, the stoppage
Of labor everywhere, the loss Of time, the
suspension of emigation, and the numerous
evils resulting from this disastrous conflict"
In regard to the suIjeetmatter Of the
third resolution il may be observed that
double payments being made to any indi-
yldual iu the volunteer service, because he
was employed in two capacities, have never
been insisted on, although il Is probable
they were either allowed by the eommis-
sion as matter OF equity after an inVesti-
CATION OF the case, or escaped the attention
Of the territorial authorities aud the con-
missioners in the making up and revision
Of the accounts, or that they were not
double payments at all as charges by the
same individual for ferriage aud personal
service. Il is well known that a large
number Of such claims we're presented and
rejected by the territorial authorities The
amount Of such double payments compared
With the whole Indebtedness is less than
one per cent, and therefore comparatively,
ridiculously small. showing that they were,
at most, exceptional cases. and that there
was no attempt 70 defraud the government
BY claiming compensation for pretended
services. Ast regards civil officers, report
ed for pay as officers Of the volunteers. noi-
ther the executive nor the commission did
more than recommend snch payment; and
in the report Of the commission the facts
Are'elearly set forth, both Of such civil en-
ployment and the salary attached thereto.
For such allowances there are many prece-
dents in the legislation Of Congress-
All that the last Congress was asked.
and all that the present Congress will be
asked to do, Is 10 ALLOW civil officers 70
have the difference between their military
and civil salaries and individuals reported
for double pag to have the higher pay Of
the capacities for which they arc reported.
In regard 70 the fourth resolution. many
Of the observations and conclusions Of the
Auditor cannot but excite proiouod aslon-
shmeut. The resolution directs the Audi
tor "to-hars a dHe rlgard b iks Humbsr Of
aid troops, :, iheis period Of ssrries, and 70
NE pricss cRrrent IN ne eonniry AZ ne lime,
and not 10 report said serria beyond he ims
aeinaiiy engaged iisrein, noi 70 recognize
supplies beyond o reasonable approximation
10 he proportions and dsse,lPiions authorized
bv erisliag laos and regulations for said
sfoops, taking into considefdiion ne nafnrs
and pscniaraies Of ne serpiose 0nsp page
Is, be quotes from bis former report 10
show that there was nothing Ia the papers
which would enable him (the Auditory 70
determine whether the claims were frandn-
lent and TIE papers simulated, although Il
appears they we're ptested BY the quarter
master and eommissary generals, and np-
proved by the commission on the ground.
It may also be observed that they were ap-
proved by the executives Of the two Terri
tories. IL would seem there was every
necessary guard, for Il must be remember
ed that The commission did not act simply
from an examination Of the papers, but ni-
ter a thorough sitting Of the whole matter
in the very country where the volunteer
operations were carried on, with the cid Of
the great PERSONAL experience and knovl-
edge Of Affairs TO which allusion has al
ready been made. Captain Rufus Ingalls,,
whose capacity, experience, and integrity
is universally recognized in his department
and in the service, writes to the Auditor as
follows: Il was a spectator Of the opera
tons Of the volunteer service during the
period in question, aud had charge Of pnr-
chasing and transporting many il not most
Of the supplies for the regular foces engaged
in suppressing these same Indian hostilltles-
| considered that my position enabled me
to decide, so far as | was concerned, and
so far as my influence could be felt. what
should be allowed for property bought aud
services rendered, without particular refer
ence to other parties; and | would very re-
specially place on record here that, aside
from the question Of the necessity for CALI
ing out the volunteers on that occasion, a
question with which the commission had
nothing to do, neither were the amount Of
..oonI;as nnrchaead aveoeaiva nor the rates