Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/211

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The object of Mr. Atcheson's bill, as we find it succintly stated in the Baltimore American, is to take possession at once of the Oregon territory, including the whole country west of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and between the parallels of 42° and 54° 40' N. latitude. It authorizes the President to have erected a line of stockades and blockhouse forts, five in number, extending from some point on the Missouri, to the best pass for entering the valley of the Oregon. Provision is also made by the bill for granting six hundred and forty acres of land to every white male inhabitant of Oregon, of the age of eighteen years and upwards, who shall cultivate and use the same for five consecutive years. The grant is upon this condition secured to him and his heirs. Every married man thus settling in the territory, is to receive an additional grant of one hundred and sixty acres for his wife, and a like quanttiy for every child under eighteen.

The bill has been referred to a select committee, composed of Messrs. Atcheson. Walker, Sevier, Merrick, and Phelps. It is altogether likely that a favorable report will come from this committee.

Mr. Lee, one of the eleven men who returned from Lieutenant Fremont's expedition, leaving that adventurous young explorer still in the mountains, has arrived in this city, and his statements fully confirm the representations that have already been made public in regard to Fremont and his party. Captain Fitzpatrick, with a division of seventeen of Fremont's men, arrived first at Fort Hall in September, the Oregon company arrived the next day, and Fremont himself the day after. There was a great distress for provisions both among the Oregonians and Fremont's party. Some of the former remained at the Fort, while others continued on their journey. All Fremont's horses were driven off in a stampede by the Osages during his outward progress, but were subsequently recovered. Fremont went on to the valley of the Wohlhamette, thirty miles or more the other side of Vancouver.

Major Adams, now in Independence, is, it seems, constantly receiving communications, relative to emigrating to the Oregon territory, from all parts of the Union. Judging from the letters received,