reliance upon the patriotism of the people, and their hearty co-operation, I have endeavored to compensate for want of experience by an earnestness of purpose, and a zealous effort to discharge my whole duty.

It is a subject of regret that pressure of business and multiplicity of labors prevent as full and careful a review of matters as is desirable. Should, therefore, things seemingly important be omitted, or slightly alluded to, the neglect must be attributed not to intention, but rather to an attention to more pressing matters.

Since you were last assembled an important and, I regret to say, disastrous change has taken place in our social prospects. While peace and security seemed to reign about us, and every person was, as usual, pursuing his customary avocations, an Indian war breaks out in our midst, spreading alarm throughout the whole Territory. Familes are murdered, property is destroyed, claims are abandoned for the fort and the block house, and the whole country, instead of portraying the usual peaceful occupations of American citizens, has the appearance of desertion, and nothing but parties of armed men are to be seen in motion. How long this state of affairs is to continue it is impossible to say; but, from the energy which our citizens have shown, and the measures which have been adopted, it is earnestly to be hoped that the end is not far off.

The extinguishment of the Indian title to lands within the Territory, had been long and loudly called for by the people. This was a matter absolutely necessary for our welfare, in order that there might be no conflicting claims between the settler and the Indian, and that the Indians might be placed in such a position that, while they were taken care of and protected, they could at the same time, as far as possible, be prevented from doing harm.

In the month of December, 1854, in pursuance of instructions from the general government, Governor Stevens entered upon this delicate and arduous task. The first treaty was made in the county of Thurston, in the vicinity of the Nisqually river, on the 26th of December; was ratified by the United States Senate before its adjournment, March 3, 1855, has been proclaimed by the President, and is now a part of the supreme law of the land. The basis of that treaty is the basis of all that have been concluded since. Great care was taken to explain the provisions and the objects of negotiation to the various tribes. Careful interpreters were secured, and every individual was allowed to speak his views. Similar treaties have been concluded with all the Indians west of the Cascade mountains, with the exception of the Chehalis, those residing in the neighborhood of Shoalwater Bay and on the Columbia, as far east as the Dalles.

In pursuance of the instructions and line of policy marked out by the Indian Department at Washington City, Governor Stevens crossed the Cascade mountains, and in conjunction with the superintendent of Indian affairs of Oregon, treaties were effected with the various bands known as the Yakima tribe, the Cayuses, the Walla-Wallas and the Nez Percés. He then proceeded to Fort Benton, on the Missouri river, where a great council had been called, to conclude and settle a definite peace between the tribes divided by the Rocky

mountains, hostilities between which had continued ever since the whites have had any knowledge of the country.

This measure was of vital importance to the Territory of Washington, as, while these hostilities continued, there could be no safe travel or communication by the great northern route connecting the waters of the Columbia and Puget Sound with the headwaters of the Mississippi. It may be well here to state, that the latest information received will justify the belief that that treaty has been concluded, and the return of Gov. Stevens is daily looked for.

In the midst of this favorable appearance of things, while the ink was scarcely dry with which treaties had been written, Indians, who had entered into these stipulations, and solemnly pledged their faith to preserve amity and peace towards all American citizens, have risen in arms, treacherously surprised, and barbarously murdered our inoffending citizens, killed an Indian agent, while in the performance of his official duties, and in defiance of all plighted faith and written obligation waged a war, accompanied with all the horrid brutalities incident to savage life.

The sphere alloted to this message will not justify a recital of the preliminary aggressions. Satisfactory evidence, however, has been afforded, indicating that both in Oregon and this Territory, for a great length of time, preparations for war had been going on on the the part of the Indians. Simultaneously with the murders committed in the Yakima valley, southern Oregon became the scene of Indian warfare, and the moment troops move from Puget Sound across the mountains, an outbreak takes place on the White river prairies.

On the 23d of September, in addition to previous floating rumors, positive information was received that two of our citizens had been murdered in the Yakima valley, while travelling on the military road across the Nachess pass. A requisition was immediately made. upon the commanding officers of the military posts of Fort Steilacoom. and Fort Vancouver for sufficient forces to proceed, by different routes, into that country, to procure, if possible, the murderers, if not to punish the tribe, and to furnish protection to such persons as might be travelling to, or returning from the Colville mines. Both of these requisitions were promptly complied with. Previous to this, Major Haller, commanding Fort Dalles, being nearer the scene of action, and having earlier information, had moved into the field, and on the 6th of October was attacked by an immensely superior force, and, after a gallant and desperate conflict of about forty-eight hours, succeeded in driving off the enemy, losing five men killed and sixteen wounded, together with a large portion of his animals and all of his provisions. This last compelled him to return to the Dalles. Upon the receipt of this information, Major Raines, commanding the Columbia river and Puget Sound district of the United States army, made a requisition upon the governor of Oregon for four companies of volunteers, and upon the governor of Washington for two The proclamations by the respective executives, calling for these forces, were responded to with zeal and alacrity by the citizens of this and of our sister Territory. In consequence of the scarcity of arms existing in this section of country, in order to furnish the volunteer force being raised here, it Ex. Doc. 66-2

became necessary to make a requisition both upon the United States sloop-of-war "Decatur," and the revenue cutter Jefferson Davis," for such as could be spared. Much praise is due to the commanding officers of those two vessels for the willingness and promptness with which they responded to that request, thus enabling the first company of Washington Territory volunteers to be equipped and ready for the field the moment their organization was completed.

On the 30th of October, Major Rains, having received from me the appointment of bridgadier general of the volunteer forces serving in the Yakima war, moved into the field with all the disposable regular troops, and having the co-operation of nine companies of Oregon mounted volunteers, under command of Colonel Nesmith. After proceeding as far as the Yakima Mission, having several skirmishes with the enemy, capturing some of their cattle and horses, and destroying several large caches of provisions, the whole command returned to the Dalles, the unusual inclemency of the season preventing a winter campaign. In the meanwhile, the command moving from Fort Steilacoom, under command of Lieutenant Slaughter, proceeded across the mountains, through the Nachess pass, to within about twenty-five miles of the Atahman Mission, where, learning of the return of Major Haller to the Dalles, they fell back, first to the summit, and then to the upper prairies on White river. Being reinforced with seventy-six regulars and company B of the Washington Territory volunteers, under command of Captain Gilmore Hays, the whole detachment, under command of Captain M. Maloney, U. S. 4th infantry, again advanced; but, after crossing the summit, were overtaken by an express, informing them that delay had taken place in the movements of the troops from the Columbia river. Captain Maloney consequently fell back to the first grazing ground on this side of the mountains the White river prairies. During these movements, a band of rangers had been organized, under command of Captain Charles H. Eaton, whose duty it was made to guard the outskirts of the settlements, and watch the various mountain passes. Scarcely had the command commenced its operations when a detachment of eleven men, on regular scouting duty, were suddenly attacked by Indians, heretofore supposed to be friendly. Taking refuge in a log house, after gallantly sustaining a siege of some sixteen hours' duration, the Indians were repulsed. The murder of several highly esteemed citizens travelling from Captain Maloney's camp into the settlements, and the massacre on White river, followed.

The return of the command under Captain Maloney cannot but be looked upon as a most fortunate event for the settlers on Puget Sound, as it is impossible to say what might have been the result, with the settlements entirely unprotected, and many of the Indians at open war, and the rest, to say the least, wavering. The battle on White river, in which both regulars and volunteers so admirably distinguished themselves, cannot fail to impress the Indians with the superiority and power of the white man, and that, however protracted the contest may be, ruin and desolation must necessarily come upon them.

The calls upon the people of the Territory for their services in the

present war have been met by the organization of 12 companies, consisting of two companies of rangers, and ten companies of the 1st regiment of Washington Territory volunteers, amounting, in all, to upwards of seven hundred men. Of these about five hundred are mounted. In addition to these, there is a company of rangers at the Cowlitz Farms, under command of Captain Peers, not regularly mustered into service, but ready to perform such duty as may be required of them.

I deem it my duty, here, to make public acknowledgements of the services rendered by his excellency, JAMES DOUGLAS, governor of Vancouver's Island. Upon the alarm naturally attendant upon a serious Indian outbreak, almost within arm's-length of us, and owing to the scarcity of arms and ammunition, application was made to him for such an amount of these munitions of war as he could possibly furnish. That application was promptly and cordially responded to, to the extent of his power; he at the same time regretting that he had at the moment no vessel-of-war at his disposal, and that his steamers, the "Otter" and "Beaver," were both absent, but upon the arrival of either, she should be dispatched to the Sound, to render such service as might be required of her. Since then the "Otter" has visited this place.

This movement on the part of the executive of Vancouver's Island cannot fail to have its influence upon the Indians residing upon our waters, having a tendency to show to them that whatever differences may exist between the Americans and the Englishmen, in their social and political organization, as far as savages are concerned they are

but one.

The Indians west of the Cascades, with the exception of those before alluded to, still continue friendly. They have been collected at various points, disarmed, and placed under the surveillance of local agents, and arrangements have been made for their support. The only fear at present entertained is that, by some act of indiscretion, they may be frightened into the hostile ranks.

The disposition which has been subsequently made of the troops in the field in this portion of the Territory has been with the designwhile at the same time to keep the hostile Indians in check, adequate force should be moving on the outskirts of the settlements-in order that the farmers might be enabled to return to their claims to provide for the coming year's subsistence.

The general stagnation in trade and industrial pursuits, arising out of the present state of affairs, loudly calls for prompt and speedy action on the part of the general govenment. Should Congress adjourn without affording the relief so pressingly needed in this emergency, it will much retard our territorial growth and advancement. I therefore earnestly recommend a memorial calling for a sufficient appropriation to remunerate the citizen soldiery for their valuable and patriotic services, and the citizens generally for the supplies they so promptly furnished, and for the property destroyed.

Beyond the limits of our Territory to the north, the coast and innumerable islands are inhabited by numerous tribes of Indians of a fierce and warlike character, bands of which are constantly in the

habit of descending into our settlements for the ostensible purpose of procuring labor. Besides the alarm occasioned to the most exposed settlers by the presence of these unwelcome visitors, complaints frequently arise from the various thefts committed by them.

punishment is attempted to be inflicted, isolated settlers, as we already know from past experience, are liable, in revenge, to be cut off by them. In view of these facts, in order to discourage their coming within the limits of the Territory, I respectfully submit to your consideration, whether or not it would be advisable to enact a law making it penal for any person to employ for hire any of these northern bands. In connexion with this subject, considering the nature of the waters of Puget Sound, the numerous tribes residing on its borders, the liability to incursion from foreign tribes, and the utter inefficiency of sailing vessels for rapid communication, I will recommend that you memorialize the Navy Department to station within our waters an armed steam vessel.

I will here call your attention to the trade that has been too largely carried on with the Indians in guns and ammunition. Our very selfpreservation demands that it should entirely cease, and that very stringent laws should be passed upon the subject.

The present existing war has suggested many deficiencies in our militia law. It provides for the election of officers, but on the subject of enrollment of men, and the rendering the militia effective, it is extremely defective. I would respectfully recommend the election of the general staff, consisting of a brigadier, adjutant, quartermaster and commissary general, by the legislative assembly, and a system. of enrollment of all capable of bearing arms in the various counties, and that the formation of companies be entirely volunteer-to elect their own officers, and to be formed into battalions or regiments as circumstances may require. The scattered nature of our settlements, and the isolation of some of our counties, seems to dictate this as the most effective means for their protection, and at the same time the most expedient for combination or general action. I suggest it for your consideration.

During the past summer, rumors of discoveries of gold fields near Fort Colville induced many enterprising and energetic citizens of the Territory to visit that region. Many have returned on account of the war, and the impossibility obtaining provisions there, during the winter. Although the extent of the gold bearing district is not known, yet the fact is certain, that those who worked the bars and prospected the country near Fort Colville found gold in sufficient quantities to pay well for working. Wherever the more experienced miners dug, either upon the bars or upon the hill-sides, gold was found, and even with the rude mode of working with pans an average of $10 per day has been made, and those who are still at the mines report profitable employment. I have no doubt that, with improved machines and better preparations for working to advantage, these gold mines will prove amply remunerative to many citizens who may go there, whenever the state of the country will permit communication between the Columbia river and Puget Sound settlements and the gold bearing region.