they have been thus cast upon their own resources.  They are anxious that our laws should be extended over them, and I recommend that this be done by Congress with as little delay as possible in the full extent to which the British Parliament have proceeded in regard to British subjects in that Territory by their act of July 2, 1821, “for regulating the fur trade and establishing a criminal and civil jurisdiction within certain parts of North America.”  By this act Great Britain extended her laws and jurisdiction, civil and criminal, over her subjects engaged in the fur trade in that Territory.  By it the courts of the Province of Upper Canada were empowered to take cognizance of causes civil and criminal.  Justices of the peace and other judicial officers were authorized to be appointed in Oregon with power to execute all process issuing from the courts of that Province, and to “sit and hold courts of record for the trial of criminal offenses and misdemeanors” not made the subject of capital punishment, and also of civil cases where the cause of action shall not “exceed in value the amount or sum of lbs. 200.”

Subsequent to the date of this act of Parliament a grant was made from the “British Crown” to the Hudsons Bay Company of the exclusive trade with the Indian tribes in the Oregon Territory, subject to a reservation that it shall not operate to the exclusion “of the subjects of any foreign states who, under or by force of any convention for the time being between us and such foreign states, respectively, may be entitled to and shall be engaged in the said trade.”  It is much to be regretted that while under this act British subjects have enjoyed the protection of British laws and British judicial tribunals throughout the whole of Oregon, American citizens in the same Territory have enjoyed no such protection from their Government.  At the same time, the result illustrates the character of our people and their institutions.  In spite of this neglect they have multiplied, and their number is rapidly increasing in that Territory.  They have made no appeal to arms, but have peacefully fortified themselves in their new homes by the adoption of republican institutions for themselves, furnishing another example of the truth that self-government is inherent in the American breast and must prevail.  It is due to them that they should be embraced and protected by our laws.  It is deemed important that our laws regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes east of the Rocky Mountains should be extended to such tribes as dwell beyond them.  The increasing emigration to Oregon and the care and protection which is due from the Government to its citizens in that distant region make it our duty, as it is our interest, to cultivate amicable relations with the Indian tribes of that Territory.  For this purpose I recommend that provision be made for establishing an Indian agency and such subagencies as may be deemed necessary beyond the Rocky Mountains.