The prosecution of the public surveys during the past year, has developed large bodies of fertile lands, and made great addition to the topographical knowledge of the Territory, which will be useful to emigrants in search of the best lands. As to the amount of work thus far accomplished, the office of the surveyor general shows the following results: Total amount surveyed while this Territory was under the Oregon office, 1,876 miles; amount surveyed and under contract since the organization of the Washington office, 3,063 miles; proposed to be surveyed in 1856 and 1857, as per annual report of the surveyor general, 5,688 miles-all lying west of the Cascade mountains.

The general government has made liberal appropriations for public surveys in the Territory, but the surveyor general has found it impossible to obtain surveyors willing to contract for the whole amount, as the exceedingly difficult nature of the country, and the high prices of labor and provisions, have subjected to loss those who undertook the work, even at the maximum prices allowed by law. The present Indian war has stopped all field work in this important part of the development of our Territory; but it is hoped that it can be resumed in the spring, and that you, by your action, will second the urgent request of the surveyor general to the General Land Office that an increased sum per mile be allowed by the general government for further surveys.

At the last session of Congress, appropriations were made for the military roads in this Territory: One from Fort Benton, in Nebraska, to Walla-Walla; one from the Dalles to Columbia barracks; and one from Columbia barracks to Fort Steilacoom. A reconnoissance has been made of the two latter during the present fall, and it is expected work will be commenced thereon during the coming spring. In addition to these roads, communication should be opened by land to Bellingham Bay, on the north, and through the valleys of the Chehalis and Willapah to Grey's Harbor, Shoal water Bay, and some point near the mouth of the Columbia, on the south. These roads. will be of great importance, in a domestic point of view, as opening a large section of country to settlement, and communication with other settlements; and, in military affairs, as affording means of communication with exposed points, and of rapidly marching troops into the fastnesses, and lairs of those savages who may hover upon the outskirts of the settlements. I call your attention to this as a subject of memorial.

In the "act making appropriations for the support of the army for the year ending the 30th of June, 1856, and for other purposes," it was provided, that the Secretary of War shall equalize, as far as practicable, the number of arms heretofore distributed, and now in possession of the several States, so that each State which had received less than its pro rata share shall receive a number sufficient to make an equal pro rata proportion for all the States, according to the number of their representatives and senators in Congress, respectively.

Under this provision, the amount falling due to this Territory is 2,000 muskets. An effort was made to draw them in rifles, but failed from some regulation to the contrary. In addition to this, our annual quota of arms is 137 muskets, which amount, consisting of 2,137

muskets, have been drawn in 1,980 muskets, 100 rifles and accoutrements, and 30 cavalry sabres. The whole amount-to which 208,000 caps were added-have arrived at Vancouver, in this Territory, some mistake having occured in their shipment. Owing to the difficulty of transportation at the present season of the year between the Columbia river and Puget Sound, efforts have been made to procure the proper portion suitable for the Puget Sound section of country, transported direct, by sea, from Vancouver to this place.

Your attention is urgently requested to the subject of the postal arrangements for the Territory. Mail routes have been established throughout the Sound, and a large appropriation has been made for carrying the mail from Olympia by sea to San Francisco.

The contracts of the former have not as yet been let, and the latter has proved inadequate for the service required, and thus far been of no avail.

In the present critical state of affairs our exposed position demands from the general government a more rapid communication with San Francisco and New York.

By an act of the last legislative assembly, the public buildings of the Territory were located, and by subsequent resolution the governor was requested to draw the amount appropriated by Congress to be used in the erection of the capitol.

During the vacation of the legislature, and as soon as a site for the capitol could be cleared, the plan of construction was adopted, and a contract entered into for its erection. The building was fast reaching its completion when the Indian war broke out, taking from said building the artisans engaged, and preventing the possibility of securing others. Under these circumstances, a suspension of the work was ordered, and I have been compelled to employ, temporarily, the hall used by the legislative assembly at its last session. The architect and contractor of the capitol assures me, however, that the work will be finished shortly.

In reference to our boundary question, and the extinguishment of the rights of the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound Agricultural Companies, I refer you to the last message of the executive.

In conclusion I will state, that as far as my limited judgment extends every effort has been made on my part for the protection of the Territory. An Indian war, existing all around us, demands from every citizen a unanimity of opinion and a concert of action.

From the uniform courtesy which has ever been extended to me by the citizens of this Territory, as long as the duties of acting executive devolve upon me, I shall rely upon your patriotism and earnest cooperation, and, having in view but one object-that of duty-shall leave it to you how far that object has been accomplished.

C. H. MASON.

Special Message of the Governor, delivered in joint session of the council and House of Representatives of Washington Territory, Monday, January 21, 1856.

Fellow-citizens of the legislative assembly of the Territory of Washington: I have taked the liberty of departing from the usual custom of delivering a written message. This arises from the exigencies of the case. It did not seem necessary to follow the etiquette usual in such cases, if by doing so time should be lost or public business deferred.

We are, fellow citizens, and have been for the past three months, engaged in an Indian war. Our settlers, from the Cowlitz river to the Sound, have been obliged to abandon their claims, to live in forts. It is true that almost all the Indians are friendly; that the number of Indians hostile does not exceed the number of one hundred and fifty or two hundred; but from the peculiarity of the country, if this force is not soon crushed, it will prove a source of serious annoyance upon this side of the Cascade mountains and the other. Several tribes have violated their plighted faith and broken out in open hostilities. We are now in the midst of a war. What has brought it about, and what is the remedy? Gentlemen of the legislative assembly, it is due to you that I should enter dispassionately and fully into the policy which has marked the government in the making of treaties with the Indians of this Territory. It is important that the honor and dignity of that government should be sustained. That its course should be characterized by humanity and justice. Those who have done their duty and maintained the dignity and honor of the country should not be struck down. Let the blow be struck in the right quarter. If dignity and honor have been maintained, then has no citizen anything to blush for, and it is a bright page in the history of the country and dear to every citizen.

When this Territory was organized there was a population of about four thousand souls, widely scattered. No treaties had been made with the Indians occupying the lands of this Territory, nor was there, practically, an intercourse law. Congress had by law extended the provisions of the Indian intercourse act, so far as applicable, over this Territory and Oregon. Congress had also passed a donation law, inviting settlers to locate claims, first west, and then east of the Cascade mountains, and public surveys had been ordered to be made over this domain. But the Indian title had not been extinguished. This was a bitter cause of complaint on the part of the Indians. The Yakimas, Cayuses, and Walla-Wallas were anxious to make treaties, selling their lands to the government, and securing to themselves reservations for their permanent homes, and they asserted that until such treaties were made no settlers should come among them. These were the reasons of public policy which induced the government to enter into these treaties, and no time was lost in consummating them. The people of this Territory urged upon Congress the necessity of such a policy, and Congress made appropriation to carry out their wishes. It fell to my lot to be appointed the commissioner to negotiate these treaties. I entered upon those labors in December, a year ago, and

during that and the following month successfully treated with all the Indians upon the Sound, the Straits, and the Indians at Cape Flattery. In January a year ago, I dispatched Jas. Doty, esq., east of the Cascade mountains, to ascertain the feelings and views of the Indians. He visited the Yakimas, the Cayuses, the Walla-Wallas, and the Nez Percés in their own country, and they were desirous to treat and sell their lands. Kamiakin advised the tribes to meet in council at Walla Walla, saying that was their old council ground. The council was convened, and lasted fourteen days. All those tribes were present. The greatest care was taken to explain the treaties, and the objects of of them, and to secure the most faithful interpreters. Three interpreters were provided for each language; one to act as principal interpreter, the other two to correct. At the close of that council, such expressions of joy and thankfulness I have never seen exhibited to a greater degree among Indians. Kamiakin, Peu-peu-mox-mox, the young chief Stickas, and the Lawyer, all personally expressed their joy and satisfaction. Kamiakin asserted that personally he was indifferent about the treaty; but as his people all wanted it, he was for it, and that was the reason he asssented to the treaty. The record of that council was made up by intelligent and dispassionate men, and the speeches of all, there made, are recorded verbatim. The dignity, humanity, and justice of the national government are there signally exhibited, and none of the actors therein need fear the criticism of an intelligent community, nor the supervision of intelligent superiors. By these treaties, had the Indians been faithful to them, the question as to whether the Indian tribes of this Territory can become civilized and christianized beings, would have been determined practically, and as to whether the intervention of an Indian service, for the supervision of the Indians, might not become unnecessary, in consequence of the Indians being able to govern themselves. This spirit lies at the basis of all the treaties made in this Territory.

The

Another council followed, in which three considerable tribes were convened, which lasted eight days-the Indians, at the close, again expressing the utmost joy and satisfaction. It is due to gentlemen of the legislative assembly to make this frank and full statement. printed record will show that the authorities and the people of this Territory have nothing to blush for, nothing to fear in the judgment of impartial men, now living, nor the rebuke of posterity.

As to the causes of this war, it is not a question necessary to dwell upon. It has been conclusively demonstrated, that it has been plotting for at least two or three years. I am frank to admit, that had I known when the council at Walla-Walla was convened what I learned afterwards, I should not have convened that council. I learned from one of the fathers, some days after it had commenced, and I was satisfied that his information was correct, from the deportment of several of the principal chiefs, that many of the Indians came to that council with hostile feelings. But when I left Walla-Walla, I thought that by the treaty such feelings were entirely assuaged—that those who were once for war were now for peace.

It is difficult to see how such a combination should have existed

and not have been known; and yet it extended from the Sound to the Umpqua-from one side to the other of the Cascade mountains.

Fellow citizens! War has existed for three months, and still exists. A war entered into by these Indians, without a cause; a war having not its origin in these treaties, nor in the bad conduct of our people. It originated in the native intelligence of restless Indians, who, foreseeing destiny against them, that the white man was moving upon them, determined that it must be met and resisted by arms. We may sympathize with such a manly feeling, but in view of it we have high duties.

I will not dwell upon the efforts made, the false reports circulated, distorting the proceedings of these councils; the stories of killing friendly Indians, which those hostile have resorted to, to spread hostility. The war exists; the question is-How shall it be met? There are duties to be discharged, difficulties to be grappled with. The war must be vigorously prosecuted now. Seed time is coming, and the farmer should be at his plough in the field. The summer is coming. The snows will melt in your mountain passes. It seems to me the warm season is not the time for operations. Day-light is breaking upon us. The gloom which for a time hung over us is giving way. There has been great energy displayed in handling the whole question. Judgment and energy in driving back, into a comparatively small region of country, the hostile Indians, and in keeping the great body of the Indians entirely friendly.

The work remaining to be done is comparatively small. It is my opinion that it would be expedient forthwith to raise a force of three hundred men, from the Sound, to push into the Indian country, build a depot, and vigorously operate against the Indians in this quarter; and nearly the same force should be raised on the Columbia river, to prosecute the war east of the Cascade mountains. This last would have a vast influence upon the operations in this section. It would prevent reinforcements from either side joining the bands on the other side, and would effectually crush both. But what is more important, would be the influence upon the numerous tribes not yet broken out into hostility. It is due to you to state what experience in travelling through the Indian country has taught me. There is a surprising feeling of uneasiness among all the tribes who have not broken out, except, alone, the Nez Percés. These tribes may be led into war if delay attends our operations.

I regret on this occasion to be compelled to criticise the official acts of a gallant and war-worn veteran, one whose name has been on the historic rolls of the country for nearly half a century. But it is due to the people and the authorities of the Territory of Washington that the facts should appear and be known to the national goverment. Gov. Mason, in obedience to the requisition of the commanding officer of the United States forces upon the Columbia river, raised two companies of volunteers, of excellent material. They were well mounted and ready for the field. Another company was raised to protect the commissioner appointed by the President of the United States to make treaties with the Indian tribes in the interior of the continent. These troops were disbanded, were brought down into