Sir:
    I have the honor to inform you that, by direction of the President, J. Quinn Thornton, George C. Preston and Robert Newell of Oregon have been appointed sub-Indian agents to be employed and to reside in that Territory. The appointment and instructions of the first, who is here, have been placed in his hands. Those of the latter I have the honor to transmit herewith, to be communicated to them by you. The copies in the first case, which I enclose, will advise you of the tenor of these papers in each, all being alike.
    You will perceive that these sub-agents are placed under your control and direction, in your capacity of Acting Superintendent of Indian Affairs within the limits of Oregon, and are required to execute such duties and to carry out such instructions as you may find it necessary to assign and to give to them.
    These appointments are to be regarded only as temporary in the absence of authority to appoint full agents, and of any authentic and official information as to the number and localities of the Indians of Oregon, and the number and capacity of the persons absolutely requisite to aid you in efficiently managing our Indian relations in that Territory. Such information on the above and other material points is desired at as early a period as practicable to enable the Department to submit to the President some proper plan for an efficient organization of this branch of the service, and for properly conducting our Indian relations in Oregon. By direction of the Secretary of War I have therefore respectfully to request that, at as early a period as may be in your power, you will give your attention to this subject & report to this office for the information of the President and Congress all the facts it may be in your power to collect on the following and any other points that you may deem to be of interest and importance.
    Some definite information on these and such other points as you may think necessary to be considered with reference to legislation by Congress for the purpose of placing our Indian affairs in Oregon on a proper basis will enable the President to make appropriate recommendations upon the subject, and it is therefore very desirable that your report be received in season for this to be done prior to the termination of the next session of Congress.
    No appropriation having been made for the purpose of the late session, the Department has no funds which can be applied thereto, except a portion of a balance of a limited amount of a general appropriation applicable to the service generally. Beyond the salaries of the three sub-agents, and the same number of interpreters, but little can be spared for objects of an incidental and contingent character, so that in expenditures of this kind the greatest economy must necessarily be observed. The following sums for the purposes named will be placed in your hands, viz:

	For salary of three sub-agents for six months commencing when they actually enter upon their duties in Oregon	$1,125.00
	For salary of three interpreters for same time at the rate of $300 per annum, the same being fixed by law	$450.00
	For incidental & contingent expenses embracing fuel, stationery, actual & necessary traveling expenses in the performance of duty, and provisions requisite for Indians visiting agents	600.00
		$,2175.00

The above will be accounted for quarterly, if practicable, by regular account abstract and vouchers, under the head of "Current Expenses Indian Department."
    It may not be necessary to employ interpreters continuously, in which case the amount under that head would be applicable to the employment of a greater number than three at broken periods should that be necessary on account of the variety of languages spoken by the Indians.
    In addition to the foregoing amount there will likewise be turned over to you by direction of the President the sum of $4,727.15/100, being the unexpended balance of an appropriation of $10,000 made by Congress for "payment for the services and expenses of such persons as have been engaged by the provisional government of Oregon in conveying communications to and from the United States, and the purchase of presents for such of the Indian tribes as the peace and quietude of the country requires."
    The above balance is the amount left after paying the claims of persons of the character mentioned, and is therefore applicable to the purchase of presents. The Department has no information to enable it to give you specific instructions in respect to the expenditure of this money, and it must therefore be left to the exercise of a sound discretion on your part under the circumstances in which you may find yourself placed in the management of relations with the Indians. The President is confident however that in this you will exercise a just and proper degree of economy. The expenditure must be accounted for as in the case of the other money placed in your hands by this Department, by regular accounts current, abstracts and vouchers, made up quarter-yearly, and transmitted by such safe conveyances to this office as may offer.
    Copies of the material laws and regulations on the subject of Indian affairs accompany this communication for your own information and use, and extra copies of some of them for the use of the sub-agents.
P.S. Mr. Thornton having left this city, his appointment and instructions are also forwarded under cover to you.
His Excellency
    Joseph Lane
        Governor & Actg. Supt. Ind. Affairs
            Oregon
Joseph Lane Papers, OHS Mss 1146, Oregon Historical Society Research Library