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To the Senate of the United States :
In accordances with the resolution of tlio
.Senalo, of tho 12th inst., that "tho President
of tho United States Im mid is hereby nd.
vised to accept tlio proposal of tho British
Government, lux-ompsnying his message to
tho Senato, dated lOlh June, 184(1, (or a
Convention to settle boundaries, ice., between
tlio United States and Great Britain, west of
the Rocky or Stony Mountains," a Convcn.
tion uas concluded nod signed on the 15th
iiwt., by tho Secretary of Suite, on tho purt
of the United States, and tho Envoy Extra-
ordinary and Minister Pleniptentiary of hor
Britannic Majesty, on the part of Great
Bu'tnin.
This Convention F now Inv before tlie Sen.
ate for their consideration, with a view to its
ratification.
JAMES K. POLK.
Washington, June 10th, IBM.
OREGONTREATY.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Convention hrttoccn the United States of Amer
ica and her Majesty the. Qurrn of the Uni
ted Kingdom of Great JJrilain and Ireland,
concluded at Washington, the 1 fi of June,
1610.
June 10, 1640 read a first time.
Juno 17, 1R10 Read a second time and
ordered to lie printed in confidence lor the
use of the Senate
The United SlatcH of Amerlea nnd Mer
Majesty the Queen of the United King.
dom ot Great Brituiu and Ireland, deeming
it to he desirable, for the future uelfare of
Itoth countries, that the state of doubt and
uncertainty which has hitheilo prevailed re
specting the sovereignty anil government of
the territory on the northwest ciuist of Amer
ica, lying wes'ward of the Rocky or Stony
Mountains should be finally terminated by
an amicable compromise of the lights mutu
ally averted by the two parties over said
territory, have respectfully naun d a plcnipo
tetitiary to treat und agree concerning the
terms of such settlements ; that is to say,
the President of the United States of Amer
ica has, on hi" part, furnished with full pow.
ers, J anil's Buchanan, Secretary of State
of the United States, and her Majesty, the
""Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, has, on his part, appoint
ed the Right Honorable Richard Pacl,cn
ham, a member of her Majesty's most honor
able Privy Council, and her Majesty's En
voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten
tiary to the United States, who, after having
communicated to each other their respective
full powers, formed in good and duo form,
have agreed upon and concluded the follow
ing articles:
article I.
" From the point on tho 40th parallel of
north latitude, where the boundary laid
down in existing treaties and conventions be
tween Great Britain the United States termi
nates, the line of boundary between the Ter
ritories of Her Britannic Majesty and those
of tho United States shull bo continued west
ward along tho 40th parallel of north lati
tude to the middle of the channel which sep.
aratcs the continent from Vancouver's Isl
and, and thence southerly through the mid
dle of the said channel, and of Fuca's Straits,
to tho Pacific ocean : provided, however,
that tho navigation of the said channel and
straits, south of tho 40l h parallel of north
latitude, remain free and open to both par
ties." article II.
" From the point at which tho 40th para).
Icl of noAfi latitude shall bo found to inter
sect tho great northern branch of tho Colum
bia river, the navigation of said branch shall
bo free and open to the Hudson's Bay Com
pany, and to all British subjects trading with
tho same, to tho point where tho said branch
meets tho main stroam of tho Columbia, and
.thonco down the main stream to tho ocean,
with freo access into and through tho said
river or rivors, it being understood that all
tho usual portages along the linoMhus do.
scribed, shall in like manner bo freo and
opon. In navigating the said river or rivors,
British subjects, with their goods and prod,
uco, shall bo treated on the same footing as
.citii&ctiaof tho United Slates ; it being, how.
ovor, always understood that nothing in this
nrticlo shall bo construed as preventing tho
government of tho United States train mak
ing any regulations respecting tho naviga
tion of the said rivoror rjivors, not inconsisi.
ont with tho present treaty."
Oregon Spectator.
' Wcrtwnrd the Stnr'ff Empire take lu way."
j,n lokZ,
Vol. II. Oregon Oity, (Oregon TerT) Thursday, April 1, 1847. No. 6.
article III.
In tho future appropriations of the territo
ry south of tho 40th parallel of north lati
tude, as provided in the first article of this
treaty, the possessory rights of the Hudson's
Bay Company and of all British subjects
who may be already in tho occupation of
land or other property lawfully acquired
withjn said territory, shall be respected.
ARTICLE IV.
Tho farms, lands, and other property of
every description, belonging to the Pugot's
Sound Agricultural Company, on the north
side of the Columbia river, shall be confirm.
ed to the said company. In case, however,
the situation of those farms and lands should
K. inituirlnml ir ttin 17nitr.rt SfrttnQ tn hn nf
public and political importance, and the Uni-lWaM. nd ""cring wich from loss of oxen,
ted States Government should signify a do. Pfe50"1 " omen, (Messrs. Stanton and
signify
sire to obtain possession of the whole or any
part thereof, the property so required shall b;
transferred to tlio said Government at a
proper valuation to be agreed upon between
the parties.
article V.
The present treaty shall be ratified by the
President of the United States by and with
tins advice of the Senate thereof, and by her
Britannic Majesty ; and the ratification shall
be exchanged at London at the expiration of
six months from the date hereof, or sooner
if possible.
In witness whereof, tho respective Pleni
potentiaries have signed the same, and have
a Hived thereto the seals of their arms.
Dated at Washington, the 15th day of June,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eighjj
hundred and lorty-six.
JAMRS BUCHANAN,
RICHARD PAKENHAM
quarter of their time. Hod they gono on
the road that we had made' for them, they
would have easily overtaken us before wo
reached tho old road on Mary's river. They
were then but somo 4 or 5 days' travel be
hind the first wagons, which wero traveling
slowly, on account of being obliged to mako
un entirely new route for several hundred
miles through heavy sage and over moun
tains, and delayed four days by the guides
hunting out passes in tho mountains ; and
these wagons arrived at tho settlements
about tho first of October. Had they gone
around the old road, tho north end of the
Great Salt Lake, they would have been
in the first of September. After crossing
tho long drive of 75 miles without water or
nnany is composed of twenty-three
id is a part of Col. Russell a com
From the California Star of Feb. 13th, 1847.
Distressing News.
By Capt. J. A. Sutter's Launch which
arrived here a few days since from Fort Sac
ramonto, wo received a letter from a friend
at that place, containing a most distressing
account of tho situation of the immigrants in
the mountains, who were prevented from
crossing them by the snow and of a party
of eleven who attempted to come into the
valley on foot. The writer who is well qual
ificd to judge, is of the opinion that the whole
party might have reached the California val
ley beforo the first fall of snow, if the men
had exerted themselves as they should have
done.
Tho following particulars wo extract from
tho letter:
The com
wagons, and is a part
pany. that loft tho rendezvous on Indian
Creek near the Missouri lino on tho 13th day
of May last. They arrived at Fort Bridger
in good time, somo two weeks carlior than
the last company on tho road. From that
point they took tho new road by tho south
end of the Great Salt Lake, which was then
being marked out by somo seventy-five wag.
ons with Messrs. Hastings and Hcadspeth as
pilots. Thoy followed on in tho traijtuntil
they woro near tho Weber Rivor effton,"
and within somo 4 or 0 days travel of the
leading wagons, when they stopped and sent
on three men, (Mossrs. Reed, Stanton and
Pike) to tho company, (with which I wu
then traveling in company,) to request Mr.
Hastings to go back and show them the pack
trail from tho Red Fork of the Wober River
to tho Laku. Mr. H. went back and show,
cd them tho trail, and then returnod to our
company, all of which time we remained in
oamp, waiting for Mr. Hastings to show us
the route. Thoy then commenced making
tho new mad over to tho Lako on tho pack
trail, so as to avoid tho Wobor rivor can ion ;
and Mr. Roed and others who left tho com.
pany, and who camo in for assistance, in
formed me that thoy wero sixteen days mak
ing the road, as tho men would not work one
IMcUiitchcr.) Ihey lett the company re-
cruiting on the second long driveof 35 miles,
and came in to Capt. J. A. Sutter's Fort,
and asked for assistance. Capt. Sutter in
his usual prompt and generous manner, fur.
nished them with 7 of his bjat mules nnd
two of his favorite Indianbaqvosnd all
of the flour and beef tharthcy waftl Mr.
C. S. Stanton, a young gentleman frorai Syr
acuse, New Yo.k, althoughJio had do inter.
est in tho country, took chargjfjiuc baque-
rosand provisions, and returdvRbe com
pony. Afterwards Mr. Reed oaVsTla almost
exhausted from starvation ; ho waaatipgUcd
with a still larger number of hbrscswd
mules and all the mules he could take. He
returned as far as tho Bear river valley, and
found the snow so deep, that he could not
gvt to tho company. He cached the provis-
ions at that place and returned, binco that
time (the middle of November,) wo heard
nothing of tho company, until last week,
when a messengprwas sent down from Capt
Wm. Johnson's settlement, with tho astound
ing information, that five women and two
men had arrived at that point entirely naked,
their feet frost bitten and informed them
that the company arrived within three miles
of the small log cabin near Trucky's Lake
on tho cast side of the mountains, and found
the snow so deep that they could not travel,
and fearing starvation, sixteen of the strong,
est, ( 1 1 males and 5 females,) agreed to start
for the settlement on foot. Scantily clothed
and provided with provisions, they commen
ced that horrid journey over the mountains,
Napolcan's fete on the Alps was child's
play compared with it. After wandering
ing about a number of days, bewildered in
tho snow, their provisions gaveout, and long
hunger mado it necessary to resort to that
horrid rccourso, casting lots to see who
should eive up life, that their bodies might
bo used for food for tho remainder. But at
this time the weaker began to die, which
rendered it unnecessary to take life, and as
they died, tho company went into camp and
made meat of tho dead bodies of their com
panions. After traveling thirty days, 7 out
of the 10 arrived within 15 miles of Capt.
Johnson's, the first house of the California
settlements; and most singular to relate,
all the females that started, 5 women came
in safe, and but two of tho men, and one
of them was brought in on the back of an
Indian. Nine of the men died and seven of
them were eaten by their companions. Tho
first person that died was Mr. C. S. Stanton,
the young man who so generously returned
to the company with Capt. Sutter a Baqueros
and provisions ; his body was left on the
now. Tho last two that died was Capt.
flutter's two Indian baqueros1, and their bod.
ies ware used for food by the seven that earn
in. The company left behind, numbers six
tjr odd souls ; ten men, the balance women
and children. Thoy arc in oamp about 100
mijes from Johnson's, thn first houso after
leaving tho mountains, or 150 from Fort
Sacramento. Those who have como in say
that Capt. Sutter's soven mules were stolon
by tho Indians a few days after they reached
the company, and that when they 'lenVsne ,
company bad provisions sumcient"f
them until the middle1 of Februaft. ?!
party that camo in, were at 'ww'lfcatVM
hours in a snow storm without' ft J -wey
had but three quilts In tho cotijWJn' I
could state several most horrid cirewttilt.
ces connected With this' affair: such '
of tho women being obliged to eat'JteriiW''
tho liody of her father and brothor-inetaw.
saw ho husband's heart cooked, T$ "wMeh
would bo mora stiitablo for" 8, nttagfaasTa
journal, than tlio column's of a fiitiiily news
paper. I have not 'had tho 'satisfiwtjori bC
seeing any one of tho party that' Hw'arrhWl;
but when 1 do, I will get fnoro of the ptltic
ulars and send them to you. As sccto'iuif iWe t
received tho information, we- drewup k '
appeal, of which I inclose yon copy : all- ,v
cd a meeting in the armory'of the Fort it
plained the object of tho meeting and: soiled
ited the names of all that would JJ Wfe
wero only able to raise' scvon ;herfe-tlly
started this morning for Johnson' to joiri ike
Earty raised there Capt. J. 'A' Batter" in
is usual generous manner, ordered hkoter
seer to givo this little brave-band ofl men,
all the provisions thoy dould Carry . ' 'They
took as much beef, bread, and-'wgafi'aa
they thought thoy could carry and started in
in good spirits ontheir long and perilotiilrlp'.
Capt. Kern, the commander of tho Sacra,
mento District, will go up a far as Johnson V r
to-morrow, to assist in starting the party, and
may go as far an the Bear river valley.
For the Oregon Spectator.
Ma. Bmtor As there appears -to be a
good dead said in your paper about the men.
chant, and tho price of what and goods-ln
this country, and much discussion whether
the merchants are not talcing great advan
tages of the farmers, let us try and srlew
the matter in Its proper light. It is a' note
rious fact, that the agriculturists in every
new country, think that they are imposed
upon by the merchants. They do not, and
cannot take into consideration tho cost and
risk of the merchant's business ; this the men
has to calculate, as the farmer has how
produce he must retain for see? and
his family and stock dunngrthu win-
country cannot '
nsK oi ii
akantht
nWip
toffia
ter. Oregon being a new
escape the fate of its predecessors, and con
sequently much fault must bo found ; but
wo aro so differently situated from other new
countries, so entirely isolated, so dependent
upon each other, that wo ought not to give
way to discontent and faultfinding without
good and sufficient cause. Tlio merchant
in Oregon has many difficulties to contend
with, he knows not but that the first shipment
he makes from the Columbia may bo lost, and
tho toil of years swallowed in a moment; ;
he knows that if he attempts to insure with.
out ho has a standing insurance, (and that
cannot be unless he has his own vessels) that
the news of tho vessels loss (if sho is lost)
would arrive at tho insurance office as soon
as his instructions. If he deals only for
specie, the risk is the same, as he cannot
procure bills to any amount in Oregon ; but5
if he deals' for wheat, tho uncertainty is
very great, as he not only has tho cost 'and
risk of the article, whilo on hand, but ho
does not know a savins prico to purchase at.
or where to find a market. True, owing to
unlookcd for circumstances, by tho last ad
vices, both a good market1 and prico carl be
found, but ho cannot depend upon that for
any length of time as bytho samo advices
flour was selling in the United States at $5,
25 per barrel, and the demand small at that.'
Two dollars per barrel will pay very good
freight from New York to'thesskndwich Isli
ends, and tho whalers wouldHtisficd with
saving oxchange alono. I spST knowingly
when 1 say, that a contract was offered to
one of the American merchants at tho Sand.
wiob Islands, to supply him Columbia flour
at $7,50 per barrel, and not aken. But
fit ill wa tiofit that ttpViiiat iu Aa mv 1a .
person ride over the settlernants and callkt
the houses of the known mdustjfious'Ta'rmen
upon his road-rrho will find mnpt 0f them
with plenty, and.em(brfcasvuad.tlMfti3ct
him ask themr.mt'.whaiiadca.inav.wiUiMll.
their stock and farrna--fra! 93,000 ioi
uuu is generauy me aniwerrwod moat of
them have only been from two to fouYyfifra
hi mo cuuniry, una camo in wttn very Ultra
means ; but, by industry and persevcranco,
havo accumulated this wealth in a space of
time that would astonish tho farmer on tho
Atlantic board, where, for tho first iwnni
three years, they are obliged to work hora
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