54 C. F. COAN
her of agents, 18 but Thurston was evidently not satisfied with only more appropriations and more agents. During the early part of 1850, he wrote:
The Committee on Indian Affairs in the Senate have the subject of extinguishing the Indian title to lands in Oregon before them, and have promised me to report a bill soon for the extinguishment of their title to all of that part of Oregon lying west of the Cascade Mountains, and for the removal of the Indians east of those mountains. I am in hopes that it will pass Congress in the course of next summer, and all the country at present and for some time to come, needed for settlement, will be thrown open to the immigrant and thus the first pre-requisite step will have been taken preparatory to the final disposition of the soil. 19
It was, thus, planned to extinguish the Indian title before donating lands to settlers.
The Act of Congress of June 5, 1850, provided for the negotiation of treaties, and the reorganization of the Indian services, in Oregon. Three commissioners were to be ap- pointed with the authority to treat with the Indians west of the Cascade Mountains ; for their lands, and for their removal to lands east of those mountains. An appropriation of $20,- 000 was authorized to pay the expenses of the commission. The law also provided for the extension of the laws regulating trade and intercourse with the Indians east of the Rocky Mountains to the Indians in Oregon ; the creation of the office of superintendent of Indian affairs of Oregon, thus separating these duties from the duties of the office of governor; and the appointment of three agents. 20 It was understood that three sub-agents would be appointed as formerly. Thurston stated that this act provided for the efficent management of the Indians and made it certain that there would not be the least trouble with them in the future. 21
Nineteen treaties were made with the Indians of the region west of the Cascade Mountains in 1851. The officials found that the Indians would not agree to move to eastern Oregon.
18 The Secretary of the Interior, Annual Report, Dec. 3, 1849 (Serial 570, Doc. S). P.
19 T. T. fohnson, California and Oregon, p. 266.
20 "An Act Authorizin
- ing the Negotiation of Treaties . . .," June 5, 1850,
Statutes at Large, IX, 437.
21 Johnson, op. cit., Appendix, p. 332.
