the United States residing in that territory, to erect a line of military posts from Fort Leavenworth to the Rocky Mountains, for the protection of the Indian trade, and provided also for the appointment of an Indian agent for Oregon Territory. The chief feature in these resolutions was a provision for granting to each white male inhabitant over eighteen years of age one thousand acres of land.
This was the measure of the 'liberal grant' to settlers, which was, on the suggestion of Jason Lee, to reward the pioneers of Oregon, a suggestion which was eagerly caught at by the western people. A petition was presented to congress at this session from twenty-seven citizens of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, setting forth that in their opinion the United States government should plant a colony in the Oregon Territory giving it such nurture in its infancy as to enable it to establish itself permanently, and to develop the natural resources of the country making it contribute to the national wealth. They believed it necessary to the success of the enterprise that a road should be cut[1] from some point on the Missouri River to Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia. "As soon as this passage can be opened," said the petitioners, "a colony of farmers and mechanics should be conducted across the mountains and settled, with a military power stationed, strong enough to protect the colony. Donations of land should be made to those who would become actual settlers, sufficiently large to induce emigration. At convenient distances across the mountains, small garrisons should be placed to protect travellers from the hostilities of the Indians." These measures it was thought would secure a more important commercial position than any yet enjoyed by the United States.[2]
Forty-four citizens of Indiana also petitioned con-
