New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-06-08
TsaE OREGON WAR DEBT.

TsaE OREGON WAR DERT.
We are somewhat sSrprissd 70 see that the bill
ia nav what i commonly known "a the Oregon
war DEBIT has passed the Senate of the United
States. The smonnt claimed, it is true, has been
cut down about one-half. Over six millions Of
dollars were demanded at first; bat the bill that
passed Tie Senate appropriated only three millions
four hundred thousand. But this makes no diner
ence-as the claimants viii come back again at
the next session of Congress, and get all the bal
ance aud probably more besides,
great many people know nothing OF this gigan-
tic claim--and tho less they know about It, we
think, the better for their peace of mind. 1t is
claim preferred BY thu people Of Oregon for voun-
teer services in fighting the Indians some four or
i've years ago. Oregon, at the present day, con
tains only fifty or sixty thousand inhabitants, big
and little, male and female. The number was less
AZ the time these alleged fights with the Indians
occurred. How 1t happens that mere handful OF
people could, within few months, do six millions
dollars worth of fighting, in addition to what was
done BY the regular army, is one Of those myster-
les which, as we are incapable Of explaining it
ourselves, we magnanimously leave to the lively
imaginations of our readers.
When this claim first came before Congress, IT
was 40 enormous that q Commissioner was sent to
Oregon to examine into it. He came back, and
reported, virtually, that it was huge swindle.
Horses, mules, provisions and everything else,
were charged for at I'VE times their real value !;
and services were put down in the bill that were
never performed. III addition to the evidence Of
this Commissioner, we hare the indirect testimony
Of Gen. Wool, who was at the head of the army on
the Pacific coast when these troubles with the In
dians occurred, to the effect that the claim was in
many respects, d bogus one. So satisfied was
Congress 81 the fact that it has steadily refused to
allow the claim heretofore, although it has been
presented session after session, backed by pow
!vrful force of the lobby, with heavy contingent
fees depending upon its success.
II is q convenient arrangement for getting
money, when the people Of Territory are hard
up' for that usefnl, and, some people say, indis-
pensable article. All that is necessary to be done
is for some white man to steal an Indians horse,
or rob his wigwam. The Indian, not being educated
in the light of the Christian civilization of the nine
teenth century, steals his horse back again from the
white man. Forthwith the white population is in
arms, the country is secured for miles around for
any stray Indian who may be lurking about the
premises dozen or two Of them are killed; q
= great Indian battle" Is reported in the papers,
and then comes big claim before Congress for
volunteer services. We do not say that this was
the case in the matter Of this Oregon war debt,
but we merely speak in general terms
One would naturally suppose that an army, cost
ing twenty millions of dollars year, ought to be
competent to repress hostiities and keep peace
upon the border. And SO 1t could if the Govern
ment would only LET them do it, But it rarely
happens that fight takes place between the
Indians and the regulars. because there are
very few regulars placed upon the frontier, and
those that are there are not often attacked. Many
Of the crimes and cruelties practised by the
Indians towards the whites are in retaliation, as
they think, for the crimes perpetrated upon them.
Our policy as Government towards the Indians
is in every respect bad one-costing us annually
= very large amount Of money, and yet inefficient,
in many places, for the protection and preserYa-
tion Of life and property.
When we see such heavy claims as this passing
Congress, people will be at no loss to understand
why it ia that the expenses of Government, which
were less than fifty millions in Mr.. FiIlmore's time,
have now run up to seventy-ive or eighty millions
per annum. In old times-when Kentucky and
Tennessee and other Western States were first set
ted--the pioneers, when the Indians became
troublesome sboniaarad tbe;r ,aag - s.a,,s
trsr, ~ a,,s ,,a.sa, - iies snu u1oye
.neln oA' ana never once thonght Of gong before
Congress for compensation. They accepted Indian
troubles Id one Of the contingencies tbev vclun.
tar;lv r;s,raa il oo;na ;n.e ,,arr NJ
= 49,. soAAs A1sg oouniy' Now
a-days, the rule IS changed. People light Indians
with one eye twisted in the direction Of the Con.
gressional strong-box at Washington Nohodu
oh;acts II fa;r
~ ia recommendations ior losses sustained
py our cilizens - consequence Of Indian depreda
tions--but six millions of dollars for scrimmage
ar two in Oregon ID wa th;r,r ~, .sstaa,,7,,
49, !, - - l1inA, fasher steep'9
80 y ~ ~, pass ~ house q hepresentatiyes-
as very likely it Will--we shall look to the s.old
public funetonarv d, as ha calls h;n,sa,s ,,ho
aides n the White HOUSE "a ,rha + -, .;sS
80 i l.oa., anu "no ~ ea1iy me,
when ne heard the British were in Baltimore,
shouldered his musket and marched down to the
defense Of that city -thonrh he did,nt get fbara
un,,l wool, ~, +ra oeta. a. ~ go sne,e
., : ~ '. ~ a'ess sie enemy haa ieft-to
put ms veto upon i and keep it there, until the
4 I.rtAs = Al E =. rs q i F5