am free to pledge the hearty co-operation of the five members from this county in support of such a measure.
The State of California has authorized the raising of a company of mounted rangers in the adjoining county of Klamath (the officers of which have already been duly commissioned) for the sole purpose of affording ample protection to her citizens from the incursions of hostile Indians. If such an act is necessary there, where there are comparatively few Indians, and those mostly ignorant of the use of firearms, it must be doubly so here, where there is probably three times the number of Indians, well armed with firearms of the best quality, and who have been taught by experience the most effectual mode of warfare.
I could cite other pecedents, but fearing that I have already overtaxed your patience, I subscribe myself your obedient servant,
C. S. DREW,
Quartermaster General of Militia.
His Excellency Jno. W. Davis,
Governor and Commander-in-chief of the Militia of O. T.
We freely endorse the above facts as set forth by C. S. Drew.
E. H. CLEAVLAND, councilman elect.
ALEX. McINTYRE, legislative member elect.
O. B. McFADDEN,
JOHN E. ROSS
Executive Office, Oregon Territory,
Salem, July 17, 1854.
Sir: Your communication of the 7th instant is before me, and I avail myself of the earliest opportunity to reply. Judging from your representations, and such other information as I have been able to obtain in relation to the state of the Indians in southern Oregon and northern California, I have no doubt but what a military force would be of great service in affording protection to the coming immigration; but, unfortunately, while the necessity of such a force is obvious, I am, in the absence of the funds necessary to carry out such a design, utterly precluded from rendering that prompt and efficient aid which the circumstances of the case seem to demand.
The attention of the general government has frequently, within the last few years, been called to the necessity of affording protection to persons immigrating to this coast, yet no appropriation of means have been taken for the accomplishment of that object. There is not a single dollar in my hands which could possibly be applied to the outfitting or paying such an expedition, and the only alternative which presents itself to my mind is to authorize Colonel John E. Ross, of your regimental district, to enlist and muster into service a volunteer company for that purpose, should an evident necessity arise for so doing they, as a matter of course, will be compelled to await the action of Congress for their pay.
There are many reasons why it would be preferable to raise such
