Speech #500010958

Aswelilve seen. peaceful occupation by American citizens was provided for in the treaty with Great Britain. G overnment expeditions were sent to explore the counutry. Government protection was afforded to immigrants crossing the plains. the patriotis)m of the people was appealed to. and to induce immigration to aid the * settlement of the country Congress passed an act. approved September 27.1850. comm only known as the donation law. granting to every settler upon the publie lands who was such prior to September 1.1850. a donation of the quantity of a halfsection. or 320 acres of land. if a single man. and. if married. the quantity of an entire section. or 640 acres. onehalf to the husband and the other half to the wife in her own right. and to such as should become settlers between September 1.1850. and December 1.1855. the quantity of a quartersection to a single manand if married. a halfsection. onehalf to the husband and the other half to the wile in her own right. Prior to 1830 several unsuccessful attempts were made by American fur companics to establish and maintain posts in the territory. but they failed on account of the opposition and rivalry of established British companies. Immigration began in 1832. and after 1838 each year there were large additions to the permanent settlements of the country by companies of enterprising persons. who had braved the perils and endured the hardships of the long and tedious journey across the continent to establish homes for themselves and hold the country for the United States. The increasing American immigration added to the perils of joint occupation. and it is firmly believed by many that some of the Indian massacres and depredations were incited by those unfriendly to American occupation of the Territory. While it was the policy of Congress to induce the settlement of Oregon by thewhites and tocontinuc thnjointoccupation until the United States should be able. with the aid of the American population of the Territory. to assert and maintain an exclusive right to it. the settlers were from the first left without adequate protection by the Government. The pioneer population of the region suffered greatly at first from the inability of tile Government to afford them plrotection. anti afterward from its indifference and inaction. From the cominenemnt of American immigration for the purpose of permanent occupation. and from the time it became apparent that Great Britain could not compete with the United States in thle settlement of the country. Indian massacres of emigrants commenced. In 1834. on tile Umpqna River. a party of thirty white persons were treacherously and brutally uiurd~ed. This was followed by the lmssacre of Dr. Whitman and his twentyseven companions. near Walla Walla. biy theo Cayuse and Walla Wallas iiu 1847." These outbreaks were followved by inurdjers of inmmigrants by bands of Modocs in 1852. by the Southern Oregon Indian war in 1853. the Rogue River and Jacksonville wars in 1855 anid 1856. raids of ma~rauding bands of Snakes in Eastern Oregon in 185859. the marauding massacres. nmurders. and thefts by the Snakes in Eastern Oregon and Washinigton in 186570. the Iodoc outbreak in 187273. and the Nez Pecrc6 war of In 1858 a conmittee was appointed by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Oregon and directed to examine and r. eport in regard to depredations upon immigrants in 1854. the number and dates. places. and names of persons killed by Oregon 1Indians in time of peace and those killed in tinse of war by Indliaes supposed to be friendly. The committee made a report February 3. 1558. giving tbe nanms and dates of persons killed and names of the tribes doing the killin~g. The following is taken from thle concluding portion of the report : "I t will be seen by the foregoing list that prior to 1851 upwvard of fifty citizens were murdered by Oregon Indians.