The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-08-17
INDIAN WAR VETERANS.
Memorial to Congress Adopted
Eight Years Ago.

the North Pacific coast addressed a
memorial to congress on the subject of
the Indian war claims The committee
which prepared it was composed of
Col. John Kelsay, Grand Commander
T. C.. Shaw and Lieutenant W. G.
Hill. This memorial, a copy of which
Was recently handed the Review by
Mr.. H. H. Woodward, contained much
interesting and accurate information
concerning the subject discussed. Be-
low we give some of the principal
points in it.
We, the undersigned committee ap-
pointed by the Indian War Veterans OF
the North Pacific coast to prepare an
address In reference to the payment Of
claims and expenses Of the Indian
wars in Oregon and Washington Ter
ritories in 1856, would report that a
review of the origin and cause of the
Indian war in Oregon and Washington
Territories is necessary to show the
equity of the claims and is substantially
as follows:
As far back as in 1885 the Indians
west of the Rocky mountains pro-
tested against the taking away Of their
lands by the white race; that this was
one of the causes of the murder of
DIR. Whitman and family. The same
primary cause in every case-encroach
ment of superior upon an inferior
race. In 1910 and lS41 the settle
ment of Oregon was agitated i'll the
senate of the United States by Sena-
tors Linn and Benton.
Information as to the extent of the
territory of Oregon then was published
in their speeches; settlers were encour-
aged to go there and secure homesteads
for their families; congress was urged
to grant liberal donations of lands.
In 1S49 Mr.. Thurston went to Wash
ingtou ID. G. as :. delegate from the
territory of Oregon. He represented
the unsettled condition in the terri
tory arising from the proximity of the
Indians to the white settlements and
the difficulties which were frequently
occurring between them. He urged
that the people of Oregon were isolated
and in an unprotected condition; that
inducements had been held out to them
by the government to settle there, but
they had not as yet acquired legal
title to their lands, and that the In
dams were constantly threatening to
dispossess them. They were liable at
any moment to be massacrcd. In
consequence of these representations
and the pressing petitions of the peo-
pie, through their. delegate in congress,
in June, 1850, passed law authoriz-
ing the appointment of commission
to treat with the Indians west of the
Cascade mountains. On the 9th day
of September, 1850, the donation law
was passed. No reservation was con-
tanned in this act The land was to
be granted in fee simple upon actual
residence for four years. In the pre-
emption act Of Sept. 4, l84l, Sec. 10,
extended to Oregon, July 7, 1854,
provision is made excepting from pre-
emption lands held in reserve by the
government or to which the Indian
title has not been extinguished. In
the donation act the government de-
parted from it's usual policy, and made
no such exception. That this has been
a fruitful source of difficulty there IS
no doubt. 1t is well understood from
with the Indians of other
states that they always claimed the
land on which they resided. Ever
since the ordinance Of 1887 1t has
been the practice of the government
to recognize in them ii possessory right
which could only be extinguished by
purchase or mutual agreement. In
pursuance of the authority vested
in the president, he appointed COM
mission consisting of the governor and
superintendent Of Indian affairs of the
territory of Oregon: The commission
met at Champoeg in the Willamette
valley in March, 1851, and proceeded
to negotiate with the various tribes of
the Willamette. In April they con-
cluded several treaties; most of the
lands had been taken away from the
Indians under the donation act.
These treaties were not ratified. In
the meantime the commissioners were
nreDarinp to on South and treat with