- -
(ffl rp
rfvA rfY
) .
VOL. 9. NO. 6.
SALEM, ORfiGON, TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1 859.
WHOLE NO; 422.
rTYrY
I I I I II I I I II
THE OFFICIAL PAPER OF tnE STATE-
One Tear, in advance,. . . . -- - f 3 0
If paid within six month,.. .in... .ft 00
If paid after tb expiration of six months,...-.. $5 DO
Bix months, in advance,- .....$ 00
On dollar additional wHI be charged for each year
payment i delaved.
Ko paper will be discontinued nntil all arrearages
npaid-
Legnl advertisements will be charged at the follow
tag rates : Twelve lines or less, one insertion, 00;
aach anhseqaent insertion, $1 00. Less and all tran
sient advertisements mat be prepaid to insure inser
tion. Administrators' notices, and all advertisements
relating to the estates of riereaard persons, mm be
prepaid, union ordered published by the cottnty jndjre,
ana guaranteed to be paid br him. Uiottntajl.no
tices, resolations of societies, orders, Ic, ,yvv ) be
charged at half advertising rates, and pavmcnt ant
ps made before publication. Commneications o'Only
- individual interest mnst be prepaid, at the m f-nite.
Adveniarcg bills not paid within ono year i, t nc
ftime when contracted, will be increased twcTitv-Sve
per eant. each year payment is neglected thereafter.
Every eifbrt will be made b the proprietor and ed:
itors t. make Tas Okxsos States the best news
paper in Oregon.
Ketnittarires mar be made by mail at the rislt of the
pnbhsher, if mailed in the presence of a postmmter.
AS All EL UL'SH.
CLACitAjlAS COOTT COXTBXTIO.T.
v Pnrsnant to a call of the connty committee,
the delegates from the several precinct mot at
the eoart-nonse in Oregon City, on Satpnl.tr,
the 9th in st, at 1 o'clock p. M. James Officer
was called to the chair, and T. J. McCarrer
chosen seeretarr.
On motion, the chair appointed A.F. Hedges,
X. P. Mack, and YVrn. Otfield a committee on
credential, who reported the following- named
centleraen n titled to seats in this convention
from the several precincts:
Oregon City P. G. Stewart, Jas. Guthrie,
Jr., J. Thomas, F. S. Holland, C. Walker,
Francis, Fancett, A. F. Hedges.
Milwoukie J. Settle, B. Jennings.
Rock Creek -S. P. Gilliland, J. Cason.
Matloon' M. Hattan, Win. Tucker, N. P.
Mack.
Bearer Creek T. W. May. F. C. Mack.
Carry Jesse V. Boon.
Upper Mololla Jas. Officer, Wm. Vaughn,
Howell.
Lower MolalUWm. OSeld. A. H. Fish.
Linn City Sam'l Miller, E. W. Aldrich.
. Tualatin Wm. Evans.
Marquam's
On motion of Jas. Guthrie, Jr., die conven
tion proceeded to nominate delegates to fill the
Vacancies existing in the precincts not repre
sented. On motion, Geo. W. Jackson was
chosen to fill the vacancy existing in Marquam's
. On motion of P. G. Stewart, a committee of
Cro were appointed to draft resolutions to pre
sent to this convention. The following named
.gentlemen were Appointed as a committee on
resolutions : P. G Stewart, A. F. Hedges, X.
P. Mack, Wm. Yaughn, and B. Jennings.
The committee, after a short absence, re
ported the following, which were, on motion of
Mr. Francis, read and adopted by sections:
Resolved, That we claim equality of right
for all citizens of this Republic to the undis
turbed pursuit of happiness and qniet possession
of property.
Resolved, That the democratic party has
ever stood by the ancient landmarks as estab
lished by the founders of the American Union,
and that the progress of events has only worked
but the fulfillment and development of the true
principles of free government.
Resolved, That as the democracy in the day?
Oi JeHerson advocated the acquisition of Or
leans and St. Louis Territories, and the same
party advocated the acquisition of the Florida
m the time of Monroe, and the annexation of
Texas, and the Territories of California and
New Mexico during the administration of Polk,
and the purchase of the Mesilla valley under
Pierce, so we, in continuation of a national de
velopment as a people, heartily endorse the
policy that would annex Cuba to us, and there
of secure to onrsclves the gem of the Antilles.
. Resolved. That we advocate a strict adher
ence to a rigidly economical administration of
State and National expenditures.
Resolved, That we advocate the construc
tion of a railroad across the Continent, as we
believe it wonld be a benefit to the nation.
Retolved, That while we fully recognize the
right of the federal government to administer
the general government, as State right demo
crats we will ever view with jealousy any at
tempt to extend the power of the general "gov
ernment so as to interfere with the reserved
rights of the respective States.
Resolved. That we tender to the Hons. Jo
seph Lane, Delazon Smith, and L. F. G rover
orjr thanks for their efforts to secure oar admis
sion and the payment of our war debt ; aud
that we wonld express our high appreciation of
the Hon. Alex. H. Stephens and others for their
zeal and unwearied efforts to bring us into the
Union.
Resolved. That we view with pride and re
newed confidence the continuous and untiring
zeal of our fellow-citizen, the Hon. Joseph
Lane, in his efforts to secure the highest good
of Oregon, and we believe that but tor bis per
sonal efforts in oar behalf, Oregon would now
be in Territorial vassalage.
tteseived. That we present the name of our
fellow -citizen, the Hon. Geo. L. Carry, as a
suitable candidate of the democracy of this
teounty to fill the vacancy in our delegation to
the United States Senate.
Resolved, That we disapprove the course
pursued by the Oregon Statesman in its assaults
upon distinguished members of the democratic
party.
Oa motion of A. F. Hedges, the convention
. proceeded to elect five delegates to the State
convention to be held at Salem on the 20th of
April, 1359. The following named gentlemen
Were elected : F. S. Holland, James Officer,
A. F. Hedges and James Guthrie, Jr. On
motion, D. B. Hannah was unanimously declar
ed as the fifth delegate to the State convention.
On motion of Charles Walker, the conven
tion proceeded to nominate a representative to
the State legislature to fill the vacancy caused
fey the resignation of B. Jennings. X. P. Mack
having received a majority of all the votes cast,
ferns, on motion of P. G. Stewart. unanimously
xeClared the nominee, and that this convention
,se their whole influence for his election.
The following named gentleman were elected
as a county committee for the ensuing year:
Robert Caufield, James Guthrie, Jr., and Jas.
Officer.
On motion of Wm. Vaughn, the convention
Voted that the proceedings of this convention be
published in all the democratic newspapers in
. this State.
On motion of P. G. Stewart, the convention
tender their thinks to the officers of the con
vention for the faithful discharge of their duties.
On motion, adjourned.
JAMES OFFICER, Ch'n.
T. J. McCakver, Sec'y.
Twice (in 1855 and 1357) Clackamas connty
land the only one in the Territory which did)
instructed against Gen. Lane for delegate to
Congress in 1855 forjudge Pratt, and in 1857
for Col. Kelly. This year it was Lane's turn.
We are informed that in some of the primary
meetings in that county this year, were men
who last Jane advocated and voted the opposi
tion ticket, including the notorious Amory
Holbrook. They "disapprove of the course
purened by the Statesman," of course There
never was a tone w hen they did not. We read
this expresmoB with a "serene indifference,'
which would quite as lief it would be that way
4 any other. With what unanimity it passed
does not appear, but we presume not entire, as
we notice among the delegates some who have
expressed a warm approval of the course pur
sued by the Statesman. ' The resolutions were
drawn by a gentleman for whose office we once
recommended another, but we presume that was
not temenilred.
In an abolition precinct in Jackson Co., (Gas
burg, or Eden) where three-fourths of the voters
arc rank abolitionists, they have seen something
in the Statesman (which they must have bor
rowed, as none of them ever subscribed for it,)
that did not please them. At Jacksonville, too,
a little meeting probably engineered by a man
who never Voted the democratic ticket (and who
last year oflVrcd to betray and sell out one man
upon it tot three hundred dollars), was not en
tirely pleased. In the proceedings of the meet
ing out of six names appear two who only last
June voted the opposition ticket. We hope
never to see the day when such men approve of
the course of the Statesman.
POLK COCTfT V COXVEXTIO. .
Pursuant to a call, the delegates of the sev
eral precincts of Polk County met in conven
tion at Dallas, April 9th, 1659. Isaac Smith
was called to the chair, and Lucicn Heath was
chosen secretary. On motion, F. Waymire,
A. D. Babeoek and II. X. V. Holmes were ap
pointed by the chair a committee on creden
tials. The committee reported the following
delegates, to-wit:
Salt Lake I'recinct H. X. V. Holmes, A.
II. Frier, I. S. Townsend, G. Smith.
Douglas A. Iiolcjack, I. Uinskaw, G. Mas
eiker, B. Simpson.
Jackson E. duff, B. Syren, I. Bull, G. B.
Savery, J. Orchard. L. Bozclv.
Spring Valley J. K. WaIt,W. B. Earnest,
W. M. Walker. T. B. Wait.
Eola M. Miner. W. Kuble, It. A. R-v, C.
C. Cram, T. O. Waller, M. Goff, W. D. Cole,
B. Harden.
Monmouth I. F. M. Butler, J. E. David
son, C. P. Cook, J. McConnoll, S. Buich, S.
Goff. .
Lane I. Hedsres, I. Johnson, S. Staats, J.
B. Bounds, E. Grounds, B. F. Burch, E. A.
Shirley.
Luckiamute W. Sebring, I. Staats, I. Zum
walt, J. G. Montgomery, A. J. Wekh, J. Lig
gett. Bridgeport J. Cbamlierlain, P. 11. Bow
man, F. Waymire, I. Smith.
Dallas 1 . A. Hutchinson, L. nenth, Dr.
Sites, B. F. Xkhols, A. D. Babeoek, K. Glaze,
M. Shenton, J. O. Shelton.
On mm ion, the chairman appointed the fol
lowing committee on resolutions, viz: T. II.
Hutchinson, II. X. V. Holmes, B. Simpson, I.
Ball, J. K. Wak, B. Hayden, I. F. M. Cutler,
B. F. Burch, A. J. Welch and J. Chamber
lain. On motion of F. Warniire, the delegates
from each precinct were authorized to east the
vofc-s of absent delegates - of their respective
precincts.
On motion, A. D. Babeoek, F. Waymire,
Iraac Staats. J. S. Townsend, B. Simpson, E.
Cluff, J. K. Wait. B. Hayden, I. F. M. But
ler and B. F. Burch w ere appointed by the
chair a denvx-ratic committee for Polk Oounty
for the ensuing year.
The committee on resolutions reported the
following, to-wit :
I?enZet, Th-t the democracy of Polk connty bare sn
ntRMn? with m the principles of the democratic rty of the
Uai.m; and that "rorasorts, and not men, i thtir initio.
.Wffrf, r.iat ie ire u favor of aa economical a.tmlms
tratinn of onr State povermnent, that we will rrpniiiate any
aDd aU debts cmtracted by oar legislature in excta of the
fifty thousand dollars provided as the maximum in the con
stitution, and that we have lull confidence in the honesty and
in Wnty of onr mimbers of tne Li-p,!itive Assembly, and br
lirve tf.cy wiH exercise diligence and resist all attempts at
Hhrrrteizinff the governmerit.
Remtrrd, T.'iat we as democrats will not aid In traildinc np
a personal party for any man. no matter what may be tus
present position or furore prv;cts.
j;eolcJ. ThM the recommendation to set theS'ates-overn-m-nt
tn operation before we had the function of Congrcssmn
si authority, meets with oar dtsajproval.
.sffrc. TnM we are in favor of rotation In cfS-e. artd a
str-.ct adherence to that doctrine should be required by the
Kr-diretf, Thnt we rcpwHste the doctrine that the federal
r .'lkct in Orerrm bi-loti; to the persons who uapp-.-n for the
i .n- rFrinz- ia e ner Trr.nstiiT.iiiTi in t-ncrss, ana we in
srs4 that tn mitkina appointments the democratic mny have
thf; rizht to be h-ard by titeir r-coinmen'ialion, and thai the
rec pients of otuce are not recessarily boonri to.an ctenutl
personal f-alty to the repr.-ser-tative in Conirress who ospiM-tiS
to present la- jr names to the President, for appofnri&i r.t, bat
to the parte of h:ch they are meibeis.
.'ssfifreo. That a e have fell enrfit"nce th onr mnrh esteem
ed and worthy cllhren. Gen. J. W. Nesml-h, and b irhly eo
Corse h:s coarse as P'lperintrtider.t of Indian ATiir . for the
zeal, enerry and ability displayed in said oflice. for which he
ha? been fclly sustained by the d'-partrn-nt at WasVtijon.
Ectolrtd, That we extend the hand of fVUoweh p to those
nation democrats who acted arair.st ns st the last election
who wiH unite with us in she support of onr princif'U-s and
nominators.
Jrfl, Thnt we as members of fhs conventf. n t tede
onrseives to support the nomination made u day at. die
nominations to be made at the d-tnocralic State convention
to be held at Salem Aprs h, 1.
On motion, John T. Outhouse was nominated
for a?cs.or by acclamation; whereupon the
following named persons were duly electi d del
egates to the State convention to lie held at Sa
lem on the 20th, viz: J. W. Xesinith. B. Hav
den, I. F. M. Butler, L. Heath aud II. X. V.
Holmes.
J. O. Shelton offered the following resolu
tion, to-wit :
Resolved, That the delegates from this coun
ty be and are hereby instructed to ue their in
nnence to secure the nomination of Hon. L. F.
Gtovct for Representative to COnjrrc-ss.
On mot ion, -resolved that the proceedings of
mis convention be published in the Oregon
Statesman, with a request that the other demo
cratic papers copv.
ISAAC SMITH, Ch'n.
Lcctex Heath, Sec'y.
CLATflOP ( O. I'O.WKXTIO.
At a Democratic Convention of Clatsop Co.,
April 2d, lSo.'), on motion the meeting was call
ed to order and P. Calender elected chairman,
and C. J. Trenchard, secretary.
The following peratns appeared as dcl. gatcs
for Atitoiia precinct, viz: Cyrus Olney, A. Van
Dnsen, John Brown, C. J." Trenchard, J. W.
Moflitt, Luke Taylor, James Welch, Conrad
Boelling, Ii. Shortess. 9.
From Clatsop precinct P. Callender, John
nobson, and R. W. Morrison. 3.
On motion of C. Olney, a committee or three
was appointed to prepare and report resolu
tions, (to-w it :) Cyrus Olney, J. W. Moffitt, and
A. Van Duscn.
After a short absence the committee report
ed the follow ing resolutions, which weie adopt
ed seriatim.
Resolved, That all dissensions among demo
crats in this county have ceased, and if our
past follies have lost to us any who would not
otherwise have joined the republicans, we can
assure our friends in other counties that we are
still a mnjority, and will henceforth act together
as one man to sastain the principles, and sup
port the rirtminees of our party.
RrtolvtJ, That each State'having surrender
ed to the Federal Government the regulations
of its commerce, and the revennes arising there
from, and also the power to make war with for
eign nations, the Federal Government has un
dertaken, in return, to furnish the people of
each State nil necessary facilities and protec
tion to their commerce, and all necessary means
of defence in war. And, as the commerce of
Oregon is, and will le conducted mainly by the
Columbia Itiver, and its tributaries, ami as that
river furnishes the only inroad for foreign ene
mies, it is the imperative duty of Congress forth
with to provide such permanent structure as
May be necessary to facilitate and protect that
commerce, and secure the lives and property of
our pefiple against the consequences tif any var
in which the United States may become in
volved. Resolved, That marine hospitals for skk and
disabled seamen, havine become a Positive ob
ject of the oe and bounty of Congress, We con-
ntieniiy oxct that so important a maratime lo
cality as Vie Columbia River will lie favored
with such an institution, and we present Asto
ria as aVite quite as eligible, in all respects, as
any other, and in salubrity of climate having
no rival.
Resolved, That the Hon. Lafavetto Grover
Sossesses in a high degree the confidence of the
cmocrats of this county, and onr delegate to
the State Convention is instructed to support
him for it-nomination to Congress.
. On motion the Convention proceeded to the
election of a delegate to the State Convention
by ballot, and J. W. Moflitt was chosen as the
delegate.
On motion Cyrus Olney was elected one of
the Democratic "Co. Committee, place of J. G.
Hustler, absent. .
On motion the delegates of this Convention
are requested to meet at this place on the 2d
Monday of May, to nominate County officers for
the June election.
On motion a copy of the proceedings of this
Convention be furnished to each of the demo
cratic papers of tl:e State.
. On motion- adinnrncd.
PI1ILO CALLEXDER, Ch'm.
C. J. Teescuard, Sec'y.
. JOEFUI.tl! (OlSTV COTsTEXTIOX.
The democratic county convention met in
Kerbyville, March 2G, 13.51). Geo. T. Yiuing
was called to the chair, and C. A. Brunncr ap
pointed secretarv.
Riley Hayden, Jefferson Howell, D. S. Hol
ton, S. R. Scott, and J. W Matthews were
elected delegates to the State convention to be
held in Salem, April 20, lSo!).
On motion, M. C. Barkwcll, C. A. Brunner,
G. Wilson and M. Gerhard were appointed a
committee on resolutions, and reported the fol
lowing, which were adopted :
Resolved, That the Denncratic party is the
only truly patriotic party of the present day in
the new State of Oregon, and the United States,
and that all factious organizations and combi
nations are treasonable, rebellious and unfriend
ly to even- worthy interest cf our common
country.
lieso'ved. That we endorse the principles laid
down by the Cincinnati aud Salem platforms,
and will endorse the same at all times.
Resolved, That principles, and not men, is
the whole spirit of true democracy.
Resolved. 1 'hat union and viirilitnee, if strict-
lv observed, will promote the general success of
tne great democratic partv ol our beloved virgin
State.
Resolved, That this convention of the de
mocracy of Josephine county, cordially tender
their thanks to our late delegate and State rep
resentatives in Congress, for faithfully laltoring
in securing; the admission of Oregon into the
Union at the late session of Congress.
Resolved, That having full faith in the polit
ical honesty aud fidelity of our delegates elect
ed to tht; State convention, that we will not in
struct them for whom to cast their votes iu said
convention, but leave that matter to the exer
cise of their sound political discretion.
Jiesolred, That the demteracy of Josephine
county recommend the holding of a Pacific
Railroad Convention ou thu Pacific coast.
On motion, ordered that the proceediiiirs of
ims convention oc pumisucu in tae Oregon ;f n
tinel and Statesman.
G. T. VIXIXG, Ch'n.
C. A. Bucxser, Sec'y.
Dividing the State. Propositions for divid
ing the State come from both ends thereof. We
observe by the last Yreka I'nicn a bill, to be in-t-ndnced
into the Assembly, for rnttiti(f (iff the
Northern portion aod unitinp i( with a portion of
Orejron. From the South comes the proposition
of Senator Pico, providing fir the orgnnizttton of
an 1tns Obispo. Snnta Hrtrbsra, Los Anpeles,
fsn Dtpo-o and San Ikrimriliiio into a Territory.
The S. F. lirratd opposes the latter proposition
for the reason that many ol the native Califor
ni.tns are very black now, and if they are brought
in soci.tl connection with neprocs thiy will unite,
and all of them become neproes Horrible! We
are opposed to the Northern division for the rea
son that, if Northern Californians are brought in
social connection with Orrponians, they will
probably amalgamate and all become Orepouians!
A consummation awful to contemplate '. Shasta
Courier.
The Cotme-r need not be alarmed about the
Northern division. Xo one advocates it except
Brown, of the Yreka In ton, who left Oregon
for California last year, and has since edited a
newspaper until he is too poor to return ; and
although it would afford Brown immense satis
faction to be reunited to his old constituents, we
are certain that the Oregoiiinns, however will
ing to receive him back again, provided he was
returned in as good condition physically and
morally as he went, would not consent, w ith
the knowledge they have of the Californians,
to enter into any closer relations with them.
The opposition of the Shasta Courier to the
measure arises from the com-identtion, that if its
patrons should, by intermingling with the vir
tuous Oregonians, become honest, many of them
would be unable to pay their printing bills.
Ciat l i.ar Lettkr. A letter is published in
the last number of thu Portland Times, by Gen.
Lane, vindicating his conduct in regard to the
admission of Oregon, w hich the Statesman asserts
he pertinaciously opposed. We desire to take no
part in this ati'air whatever; in fact, we have
never taken the trouble to ascertain whether the
charge of the Statesman is well founded or not;
but as the l:tter contains some very good Demo
cratic .doctrines, we shall endeavor to find room
for it in our next issue. Olpmpia ( W. T.) Pioneer.
Is that your only excuse for boring your read
ers with four and a-half columns of twaddle,
void of argument or substance ? We should
like to know what kind of spectacles the Pio
neer used to discover the "good Democratic
doctrines" in Lane's letter.
" He must have optics sharp, I ween,
Who sees what is not to be seen."
Cayxse and Rooce River Wars. Treas
ury drafts for services in said wars arc in the
possession of Gov. Curry, as subjoined, and may
be obtained by application to C. X. Terry :
Edward Hess, $j 50, W. F. Thompson,
$300 00, Henry Greenwood, $i2 75, Hazel
tine & Co., $lri, Cooper & Iligbec, $100
00, C. Johnson, $9 00, Samuel Williams, $:4
00, Friedman & ells, 8 18.1 00, P. T. Wood,
$6 00, James Fudge, $ 10 00, A. Enqoit, $3-1
., Charles Wright, fill 50, John llord, $12
OS, John Sexton, $27 00, Matthew Hunter,
$113 50, Nathan B. Jones, $3 50, Wm. Beck
man, $87 00, Richard Evans, $12 00, Thos.
Hoggs, $10( 24, James Altrv, $38 00, W. K.
Killmurn, $77 50, James W. Peat, $118 50,
Lvndlv Able, $110 00, James C. Boiic, $109
00, James Killinsworth, $139 00, John Word,
$7 00, Joseph Watts, $304 00, Vincent
Payne, $34 00, Edward Phillips, 00, Cal
vin Pell, $92 00, Charles McCall,
El The members of Congress didn't seem
to be of the opinion that Oregon had 93,423 in
habitants. During the debate in the House,
Mr. Millson, of Virginia said :
He stood now where Ite stood for rears hi re
lation to the admission of Oregon, lie opposed
by vote and argument the bill authorizing the
people to form a constitution preparatory to ad
mission. He did so simply and exclusively
upon the ground of the absence of a sufficient
population. That objection remained now, and
ft was the only objection which he had.
From the following- speech we omit only extracts
from documents, &c, which have been published in the
Statesman i- . j
IPBEC1I '
OF HON. L. F. GROVER, OF OREGON,
On the Indian War Expenses of Oregon and
; Washington. Delivered in Vie House of
Representatives, February 21, 1359.
The House being in Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union M r. G ROVER said :
Mr. Chairman : Not having been admitted
to a Beat in this House in time to participate in
the debates, which occurred a few days since,
on die subject of the Indian war expenses of
Oregon aud Washington, I desire to place on
record my views touching the matter. And, in
doing this, I do not intend to go much bovoud
a statement, of such facts and of such explana
tions bearing upon this subject, as may be re
lied on, hereafter, to support the position which
the State of Oregon and the Territory of Wash
ington will occupy on this question.
It is the mandate of the Constitution that the
United States shall protect each State against
invasion and against domestic violence. This
is the obligation of the Federal Government to
the several States, in pecosition cf which we
find, through our whole history, that in times of
foreign wars and Indian hostilities, the national
troops have put in requisition to defend the
States ; and, in case that resort has been had
to the militia forces of any State, prompt as
sumption has been had by the General Gov
ernment of the expenses incurred by each State
in her own defeucc.
The obligation of the General Government
to protect and defend the territories and the
District of Columbia, which are governed by
federal legislation, is more direct and of a high
er quality.
The very preamble of the Constitution de
clares, that one of the principal ends to be at
t:tined by its adoption was, " to secure domes
tic trauquilitv, and to provide for the common
defence."
It is the first element of every civil govern
ment that it shall defend the iiitecrritv of its
territory, and protect the lives and jtroperty of
us citizens. i ue question oi assuming tue ex
penses of the States and territories incurred in
repelling foreign invasions, or suppressing In
dian hostilities, has, therefore, never been one
of policy merely, but one of vital obligation on
the part of the General Government a duty
the performance of which is necessary- to our
national conservation.
It is not necessary for me, after the eloquent
and forcible remarks of my friend from the Ter
ritorr of Washington. (Mr. Stevens. 1 to sav
anything relative to the origin and conduct of
the Indian war ol lss and 18o, embracing
in its field of operations seven degrees of lati
tude, and more degrees of longitude, and in
volving the combined hostilities of many power
ful tribes. I need not dwell upon the" marked
incidents of this Indian campaign, longer con
tinued, more severe in fatigue duty, aud more
dangerous iu its execution, than any which has
ever occurred on our frontiers.
The existence and necessity of this war have
been recognized by sovereign acts of this Gov
ernment, and we are not called upon, and nev
er can be called upon, to review and refute the
false charges of those who have chosen to place
themselves in contravention to this conclusion.
This special finding of the Committee on Mil
itary Attains of this Congress is only a re-aflirm-anee
of the premises on which the actiou of hist
Congress was predicted, when the act of Au
gust 18, 18.V5, was passed.
Does not this law recognize " the late Indian
war in Oregon and Washington," as a fact
within the notice of the Government ? And
does it not proceed to require " the amount of
expense necessarily incurred oy the territorial
governments of said Territories, for the mainte
nance of the volunteer forces engaged in said
war, including pay of volunteers' to be examin
ed into and reported for adjustment, on the sole
ground that could exist for such an act, that the
war was necessary to defend the lives and prop
erty of the citizens?
If the war was a sham, gotten up by the peo
nle of those distant territories for the lturoose
of eiptvsing their own lives and the lives of
their tleteiiceless wives and children to the d lead
cruelties of savaee bnrharitr, ami their proper
ty to certain de astatiou if their military or
irunizatiou was onlr the musterintr of the rabble
mtent on brutality and plunder, regardless of
the interests of their country and the policy of
the liovernment, men the expenses ol tneir ser
vices might well have been ignored.
But such was not the case. This war was a
just war. It was an inevitable war, and it was
conducted, so far as circumstances would admit
of, with humanity. Such was the determina
tion of last Congress upon a full hearing of this
subject when this matter was passed upon.
This embraced the warrant aud the instruc
tion of the Commission to proceed to duty,
which they did ou the 20th day of October,
1850, and after speudiug more than a year iu a
careful investigation of these claims, traveling
over the whole field of operations occupied by
the volunteers during the late hostilities, aud
after marshaling the best evidence ou all doubt
ful points which the country could afford, they
made their report to the war office.
During the transaction of their duties the
Commissioners were visited at their principal
office in Vancouver by a special agent of the
Government, J. Ross Brown, sent to the Pa
cific coast to examine into the condition of our
Indian relations in that quarter, the transac
tions of public officers, and particularly the do
ings of this Board. This agent sntus up his
elalKtrate aud interesting report on this subject
in the following words
The Commissioners at Vancouver have
faithfully and impartially performed thcr duty.
Whatever sum they may have decided upon in
estimating this war debt, I hold that amount to
be justly due, and trust that Congress will at
once provide for its extinguishment."
Under this state of facts a bill was introduced
into this House nt the last session, by the Del
egate from Oregon, to pay these claims on the
awards of the Commission. This bill, I con
tend, should in justice have passed. The war
had been recognized; its necessity was not
questioned ; its expenses had been assumed by
act of Congress, and they had been ascertained
and reported in manner as directed by that act.
Was not this an adjustment, made under the
authority and with the full sanction of the Gov
ernment, and was it not binding upon it ? If
the action ot tho uovernmcnt in this case does
not amount to what I have churned for it, it
docs not amount to anything. And the march
ing and counter-marching with the "pomp and
circumstance" of legislation and of administra
tive nction, have only been so much trifling
with' a distant and important portion of our
people, who deserve and have a right to expect
better things. ;
This bill providing payment of these claims
was referred to the Committee on Military Af
fairs in the House at the last session. Tho
Committee, through a resolution of the House,
called on the Secretary of War for the report
of the Commission and accompanying papers.
They were promptly placed ut their disposal.
But instead of a persoual examination, which,
under the circumstances, . might have been im
practicable, but which was due to a subject of
this magnitude, all these papers and rolls, con
sisting of some half a cord in bulk, were turned
over to the Third Auditor for an analysis to as
sist the Committee in coming to a proper con
clusion in reference to the lubors of tho Com
mission and the details of their work.
Although this reference was made to the
Third Auditor during the last session, with di
rections to report at tue commencement of this
session, nothing had been done in the premises
when the present session convened. - At the
most urgent solicitations on the part of the del
egations of Oregon and AVashington, the mat
ter was finally taken up. The examination
had, was, as the Auditor himself says, "cursor
ry" in its character. In the words of a mem
ber of tho Military Committee, Mr. Marshall,
of Kentucky, used in the late debate ou this
floor, "it was a criticism," and what I call an
ill-advised criticism.
I wfll review, in a brief manner, some of the
points of this remarkable letter of the Third
Auditor, and exhibit some of its inconsistencies
not noticed br my friend from Washington Ter
ritory, (Mr. Stevens.) -
The letter of the Third Auditor say :
" The evidence of indebtedness went before
the Commissioners, generally, on report of the
quartermaster and commissary generals.
Whether or not the expenses "were incurred
necessarily, or the property expended iu a prop
er manner by the subordinates ; whether they
were in fact wholly incurred, or were partly
constructive or siuulatcd, couldonly be deter
mined by the Commission.
"It may not be doubted that the quarter
master and commissary generals reported to
them the true state of sulmrdinate accounts as
received by them. Yet there is nothing among
the papers to test their representations, and
certainly nothing by which to ascertain wheth
er the subordinates "did or did not make faithful
returns. It is to be presumed that the Com
mission were satisfied on these points, for they
approved every thing only reducing rates;
aud no reasons were given among the papers
for even that. The only exceptions are few
and generally trivial. One or two cases of la
bor, where tlie persons were enlisted men ; two
cases where enlisted men were known to have
been employed and paid for the time in the reg
ular army, although regularly mustered and dis
charged ; and a few cases "where the time of
service has ln-cn reduced."
The italics in the quotation from the Auditor
are his own.
Why does the auditor say that there is noth
ing by which to ascertain w liether the eulxirdi
natcsdid or did not make faithful return?, when
he can find among the papers if he will examine,
as perfect returns, and complete accounting, as
far as Oregon is concerned, as can be found iu
the accounts of the regular army, except in a
few unimjMirtmit instances !
Why does he say that 4it is to be presumed
that the Commission were satisfied on these
points, for they approved everything, only re
ducing rates, aud no reasons were given among
the papers for even that," when the report of
the Commission distinctly states that the regu
larity and integrity of the claims were strictly
inquired into, and that such claims as were based
upon the furnishing of property or labor not
necessary or proper for the maintenance of the
volunteer forces, have been rejected ? The ab
stracts generally have been completed under
tne directum ot the Commission, alter a lull
marshaling of the accounts, and rejected claims
of course would not be entertained upon them.
And as to there being no reasons giveu for the
reductions recommended, such a statement
could only come from one who had not read the
report of the Commission, nor examined the ac
companying papers.
Complaint is made that some of the vouchers
for miscellaneous expenditures are indefinite
and uncertain. That is true, but the Commis
sion could not reorganize the very basis of all
these claims, aud require a compliance with tlu?
technical accuracy of regular accounts. They
devoted themselves to the only remaining alter
native of calliug on the claimants to establish
the items of the account by proofs, and to justi
fy their general integrity". Xor could the re
sults of this labor become a matter of record
without expending rears in the work, and accu
mulating quantities of papers which w ould never
oe examined.
The Auditor cites in his letter many instan
ces of vouchers selected from the accounts,
showing great variation of prices and high rates
of purchase, and in extreme cases he reports
exhorbitant charges, without stating what the
action ot the L ommission was in the premises
For instance, friving the purchases of Quarter
master L. 1. Brown, he states his purchases to
nave lieen tilty horses and twenty-eight mules,
"the horses from $150 to $500," without com
municating the fact that the Commission deduct
ed all over $100 from the price of all horses ex
ceeding that figure.
Ou giving the purchases of Quartermaster
-Millard, he says: "His prices appear to be
enormous horses as high as $550, mules $500.
He purchased sixteen mules for $15,180, the
lowest at $275, and the highest at $5O0-." with
the same gross omission. :u not stating the fact
patent on the very roll from which he copied
these figures, -that thenuirimwm price allowed
in any of these cases was $400 ; thereby, leav
ing it to be inferred that all these rates passed
the approval of the Commission, and that the
whole thing was an attempted swindle on the
Govemnieut. This feature of suzgeslio falsi
runs through the entire letter of the Auditor, as
far as it relates to prices of property.
The Auditor notices as a case of triple allow
ance or pay, that William Johnson, (of Keith 5c
Johnson,) one of the owners of the ferry across
the Columbia river, at the Dalles, has a claim
of $044 50 against the Territory of Oregon,
while during the time in which this claim was
engendered, the firm had contracted for $300
per month to ferry all the troops and public an
imals and stores, for Washington Territory,
while Johnson himself was a private in Captain
Goff's company of volunteers. Two other
cases of triple pay, so termed ; those of Pack
wood, and Packard, at the Nesqually ferry in
Washington Territory, are mentioned by the
Auditor as presenting this condition of things ;
these men were voluutecrs in the service of the
Territory, aud nt the same time have claims for
ferriage of troops and public animals, aud he
adds: "The fact of their being in tho service,
under pav, seems not to have made any differ
ence in their charges for ferriage, and they, or
one of them, besides, charged for a great many
separate meals to various passing travelers."
The simple fact is, that the ow tiers of ferries
in Oregon and Washington, hardly ever run
their lerries themselves personally, nor do I
know that tho people of those regions differ in
this respect from the people of tho States gen
erally, and when they contract by the month to
convey a person, or a family, or the troops of a
State or Territory across a river, they do not
thereby preclude themselves from conveying
other persons, or the troops of other States or
Territories, for hire, nor do tliey preclude them
selves from joining in defense ot their country.
And further, I do not know of any law or rule
of our Government, which would forbid a keeper
of a public house, as Puckwood was, from en
tering the public service iu time of war. And
if ho should do so, I cannot see how his family
could lie debarred from conducting tho public
house, as his did, in the name of tho proprietor,
and claiming ' and receiving pay "lor a great
many separate meals to various passing trav
elers." Can the fact that a man is a soldier
deny to him the earnings of his ferry, or of his
public house, or of his servants and family ?
And does it compel him to feed the public for
nothing? ' ' - .
According to the Auditor, Quartermaster
Pctei-s' accounts show thnt in the hire of ani
mals for public transportation, "the persons
from whom the animals were hired were near
Iv all in the service, as teamsters and packers."
This . is furnished as a class of instances of
double pay. ' .
In the mountainous rccions of southern Ore
gon and northern Colifomia, transportation of
goods oy mule-trams is a very important oranca
of business. The proprietors usually accom
pany their own : trains, and when they are re
quired for public service, they enlist with their
animals ; and I never before heard the intima
tion of any rule which would deny the employee
his pay, if he happened to own the animal
which he might ride or drive. - .
The following statement is calculated to mis
lead :
"The Adjutant General, (TQton, the Sur
veyor tJeneral of the Government, at a salary
of "S3.000 a voar.l with the rank of brigadier
general, reported for pay to the amount of $4,
815,81." This would indicate that an attempted fraud
had been disclosed. The Commission made no
such report. The staff-rolls were regularly
made out, and the pay accruing to each officer
according to his rank, was carried out ou the
roll. When any officer held a public place un
der the United States, his official character and
salary Were stated also. The Commission made
no special recommendation, but gave all the
facts, so that the proper accounting officer
could adjust the matter according to the itws
and rules governing his department. Under
general law, two salaries cannot be paid during
the same current period of service; but the of
ficer has his right to elect which he will take.
It is stated that the roll of Capt. Williams'
company, W. T. voluutecrs, "is full of errors
and confusion." As the sole specification under
this general charge, it is declared that "seven
teen of the men are set down and reported for
Jay by the Commission for themselves aud
lorses, at nearly $S per day, each." This sen
tence seems intended to iuduce the belief that
the Commission allowed seventeen men of Capt.
Williams' company '-$3 per day, each," while
the roll referred to does not show this. The
roll will show, that on volunteering, seventeen
men of tliis company put several horses each
iuto the public service, which were used to
mount the balance of the company ; aud, per
haps, some men of other companies, who far-ni-lied
none for themselves. The roll farther
shows, that each of those seventeen men were
allowed by the Commission $2 per day for his
own sen ices, and $2 perdayfer the use and
risk of each horse which he put into the Fcrviect
and the amount i carried in gross, to each man,
according to the territorial law.
Referring to the same subject, in another
part of the letter, the Auditor says : " In some
of the companies, the members had more hor
ses ia the service than they were entitled to
keep all of which are reported for pay." In
letter, this statement is true, but iu fact, it is
not true. The members of any company who
had more than they were entitled to keep, tUJ
not keep them. They were entered to the use
of the Territory, and were used to mount men
who had no horses, and such were reported on
the same roll as mouuted on horses furnished
bv the Territory, because the Territory was
charged on that roll with the hire of the horses
so furnished.
The same will apply to the reference made
to Capt. Yantis company, '-iu which one pri
vate is reported for pay for three horses in ser
vice, which was two more than he was cntitk-d
to keep." Xo private in either of the Territo
ries, did keep, or receive pay, for more than
one horse for his own use. This mode of en
tering horses famished liy the volunteer or by
others, on the company muster-roll, is not a new
tlnug iu the frontier service ot the country. Jt
was practiced in the volunteer service of 1S53,
iu the IJogne River country, and iu other volun
teer service. The Commission had no power to
reconstruct these rolls in this particular, aud it
remaiucd only for them to report the services
and t!ie rights of claimants, which they did.
Referring to the transactions of Quartermas
ter Millar, the Auditor says: "He, as well as
the rest of Quartermasters of the Territory, ap
pear to have considered tobacco au article of
military supply, which it is scarcely necessary
to say, is unknown to any service ever recog
nized" bv the United States." The artk-le is
treated by Quartermaster Millard, as "clothing,
of which he received and issued two thousand
three hundred and twelve pounds." Xow let
me ask, Mr. Chairman, how was the article of
" clothing" treated in these accounts? The
law required that the volunteer should furnish
his own clotlung ; and iu case he was nnableto
do so, he was furnished by the Territory, and
the amount so furnished was charged to him
aud estopped against his pay. So with tobac
co ; it was not a part of the military ration, as
whisky used to le iu the time of ottr grandfath
ers, but it was furnished as clothing was, and
estopped against the pay of the volunteer. I
think, with the Auditor," that it was "scarcely
necessary to say," that the suply of tobacco to
our military service is nnknown, for such a
statement is not founded on fact. The Ameri
can soldier, now here, is ever found without his
tobacco, any more than Xapoleon was found m
battle without his snuff. At established mili
tary posts of our army, sutlers, dealing with the
soldiers under authority of the commanding offi
cer, furnish them with tobacco, keeping an ac
count which is adjusted at the monthly pay ta
ble, if not liefore, by the soldier himself. And
durinsr campaigns beyond the line of settlements,
Commissaries when there are no traveling sut
lers, are ordered to take a supply of tobacco,
and to furnish it to troops at cost, estopping the
amount from their monthly pay account. Our
army in Mexico, m many cases, were snpplied
in tiiis manner. The volunteers of Oregon and
Washington received no monthly payments;
aud, consequently, the supplies of this charac
ter, were furnished by the Territories, and es
topped against the pay that might be allowed
them thereafter. In principle, the practice in
the rosrnlar army aud that of the volunteer ser
vice of Oregon and Washington, are the same
in this particular. The only difference is, that
the consumption of tobacco does not appear in
the accounts of the regular service, and does
appear in those of the volunteers. Xor would
these items have appeared in the volnutccr ac
counts if there had been monthly, or any other
payments, whereby they could have been ad
justed otherwise. -
In the examination ol the accounts ot ash
ington Territory, constant complaints, like the
following, occur :
" None of the property purchased by Gov.
Mason appears to bo -accounted for." .
And again : ' ' - - -
" There are twenty-nine vouchers represent
ing these claims, not one article of which ap
pears to be accounted for."
Instead of mixing in these constant com
plaints throughout his letter, why did he not do
the people aud officers of that Territory the jus
tice to give the plain statement of the Commis
sion relating to this very subject, as follows :
" Tho authorities of the Territory of Wash
ington have not been able to present, in any
regular or tabular form, satisfactory accounts of
the disbursement or uso of such public proper
ty as was actually expended in the public ser
vice ; in the absence of which, the Commission,
iu addition to the persoual examination of the
Board in tho premises, has required sworn
statements of snch officers, (chief and subordin
ate,) as wore charged during the service with
the same, touching the disposition of such prop
erty." .... . ...
And why did he not examine these sworn
statements and state their effect in a fair and
just manner? ?
lo one acquainted w ith the condition ot our
frontiers, and the history of our couutry, this
failure to furnish regular accounts is no marvel.
Xo attempt was made at any accounting in this
particular in the Cayuse war; in the war with
the California Indians, in 1850 ; in the Rogue
river war of 1853 ; or in any irregular service
that I know of, except in that of Oregon in
18o5-'56. And the. General Government in
adjusting the expenses of those wars, has nevei
demanded any regular accounting. The inex
perience of those issuing such public property
lias generally precluded the practicability of
full accounting. -
But when there is a regular and accurate ac-t
counting, the Third Auditor points at it with
the finger of ridicule. Presenting the property
account of Captain Wm. Kelly, he says : " The
public property received by this officer and his
company is very regularly accounted for, though
the abstracts and vouchers were made out in
triplicate, which was an unnecessary waste of
stationery." I will only remark that all dis
bursing officers of this service who did their
business safely, made out their abstracts and
vouchers m triplicate ; one for the United States,
one for their own protection.
In presenting the accounts of L. P. Brown,
Quartermaster at Deer Creek, for the purpose
suppose, of indicating that there were too
many quartermasters, he says that, "Deer
Creek is near Fort Lr-land, where Huelat (a
quartermaster) was." This information would
be hnjiortaut, if true. Deer Creek ia eighty
miles from Fort Lcland; the one in the Ump
qna valley, the other in the valley of the Rogue
river, separated from each other by the Ump
qua mountains, six thousand feet high. Through
a deep pass, a canon in the mountains twelve
miles lonr, the Government has been construct
ing a military road at an expense of $20,000 to
connect the two regions for military purposes.
Some of Quartermaster Brown's accounts
show that wheat, oats and barley, were pur--chased
during the war for scrip, at rates ex
ceeding $4 per bushel; and that in September,
after the close cf the war, oats were purchased
as low as seventy-five cents per bushel, and
hay at $30 per ton. The Auditor adds, " this
shows the difference between scrip credit pri
ces during- the war, acd cash prices immediate
ly thereafter."
Xow, Mr. Chairman, allow me to make a
statement, which will not confuse the minds of
gentlemen, nor mislead the judgment of the
committee. In the accounts of Lieutenant
Sweirzer, cf the regular army, serving in south
ern Oregon, in the fourth quarter of 155, which
was at the commencement of the volunteer ser
vice in that region, and whpn prices were lower
than at any rime affc-rwards until its close, he
paid for oats 12j cents per ponnd, which, aceord
iing to the weic-Lt of oats in that c-otrutry, is $5
per bushel. lie paid eight cents per pound for
barley, which is $4 60 per bushel. He paid
five cents per pound for hay, which is $100 per"
ton. These were cash payments. After tho
war he could have purchased as low as Quarter
master Erown did. because a new crop had been
harvested, and extraordicary demand had ceas
ed. This shows the difference between cash
prices during the war and cash prices immedi
ately thereafter. .
The Third Auditor had aU these facta before
him, .when h? made the ingenious statement
which miscarried the military committee on this
point. Slight inaccuracies of figures, as where
a seren has been reckoned as a nine, by its
being mistaken for that figure by a computing
clerk, &e-, IiaTe been placed in lmld relief in
this letter, as though more mistakes of the kind
in half the amount involved did not frequently
occur in the accounts cf every department of
the government. "What relevancy has snch
kind of criticism to an inquiry into the merits cf
these ehams on the pnitcip'es on which they
were adjusted? But 1 have no time to go fur-'
thcr with these corrections and exposures, al
though they might with case be carried to the
end of the chapter. . .
Mr. Chairman, my friend from Washington1
Territory (Mr. Stevens) thinks that the Third
Auditor, "through ignorance did these things."
I will not characterize this letter to the military
committee in the terms which 1 now think it
deserves. I hope it may prove to have been
written undcra misapprehension of the realfaets.-;
The Committee on Military Affairs (I am
sorry that I see uoue of them present) took ac
tion based upon the statements of this letter
Could action on such a basis be otherwise than
unjust ? They reported to this House, through
their chairman, (Mr. Faulkner) the following'
resolutions, trthich, after some debate wero
adopted.
The first resolution is unimportant, as no ac-.
tion wiH ever take place under it, after the facts
are known ; and these facts have been patent
on the rolls at all times.
The second resolution is intended trr cut
down the pay of volunteers from $2 per day to
the grade of regular troops. The crying injus
tice of this rule would defeat its object the ad
justment of the claims cf the citizens for servi--cps
rendered the Government in time of war.
The volunteers would not accept anything under
it. In fact, many cf them could not accept
anything, for in cases w here volunteers were
furnished an outfit of clothing for the service,
as they were in many instances by the Terri--tories,
at rates of purchase, and the prices es
topped against their pay on the rolls, they wo'd
be in debt to the Government after having
served four or five months in the war. The
service in Oregon and Washington was mostly
rendered during the winter months of 1855-'5t,
and the volunteers going into the field without
tents or shelter of any kind, campaigning most
ly beyond the line of settlements, sleeping on
the frozen ground or in the mud and snow, they
needed about the following outfit :
2 pairs heavy blankets, at $3
1 overcoat..".
1 pair of pant
1 huntinst shirt .
,..$16
i -29-
......... JO
6
1 pair boots
Other clothing.. .
10
Araotrnt ... . $2
If in service five months, he might be allow
ed sixty dollars. The account wonld then
stand :
VotrsTEER Ta the Uxited States, . Pa.
To one suit of clothes .... $3
Ca.
By military services a a private, fcc, from Oc
tober lo18a5, to March 15, 135, five mouths, 60
Balance doe the United States $13
But this is not half the account. The volun
teer, at the close of the war, wonld return to
the settlements, his clothing, and perhaps his
constitution worn out in the service. Jf he was
poor and had no credit, he could not supply
himself with clothing, and before his discharge,
would demand of the Quartermaster a suit of
clothes to enable him to return to his friends
decently clad. There are instances where such
advancements have been made at the close of
the service. This would add still more to his
indebtedness. In all those cases where these
liabilities do not appear on the rolls, they have
been discharged in cash by the volunteer during
tho service. It will be thus seen how insignifi
cant the amount of pay under this resolution
will be, as compared with -the necessary per
sonal contingencies. 6f the volunteers m this
war. ;
But, Mr. Chairman, it is said the volunteers
receive the same pdy as regulars serving in the
same field. Xot so at all, . under any applica
tion of this rule. The regular soldier is reliev
ed of every possible expense ; he is clothed and
fully rationed, and quartered, at the cost of the
Government ; he then receives his monthly pay
clear of charges. If he ia transported to that
country, it coats the United States $vilO per
man trom A ew X orK to tne place I renuezvoua
of the volunteers. U he enlisted in Oregon or
Washington, he received $130 in cash, as a
bounty tor enlistment. The effect of this en
listment under bounty does not keep- the soldier
in that country, for he may not serve there six
months." ; . ' - - -
There are upon the rolls of this service six
thousand four hundred and fifty-two men.
1 o have recruited them on the .Pacific coast.
it wonld have- cost the United: States 9333,760,.
To have transported them there, from New