The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-31

In relation to the Indians in Oregon delivered in the
House Of Representatives, January 20, 1855
Mr. EpeKRroS having moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee Of the Whole House the private
Mr. LANE OF Oregon said II the House win allow me
the privilege OF making very few remarks by way Of per
do not shall ask for the privilege Of doing some
other time
Mr. EDGERToN have no objection TO hearing the
explanation Of the gentleman from Oregon.
Mr. LANE Ii win be reoolected by every member of
the House present upon the OCCASION that time since
when the ndian-appropation bin under sonsidera-
ton, conversation took place between and my hon
orable friend from Alabama Mr. HorsTos the chairman
of the Committee OF Ways and Means inquired Of him
at that time whether an appropriation provided by
the bill then under consideration, for defrayng the
penses OF holding treaties with the various tribes of Indians
in Oregon living of the Cascade mountains for the
purpose Of extngushng their possesory rights TO the
country. made the inquiry, and sorry that there
no report of IT, then stated that the Indians living
west of the Cascade mountains claimed the country of the
Willamette and Umpqua valleystha portion Of the
try which had been claimed occupied and cultivated by
white people the government having paid The In
dans anything for their rights desired that they should
be paid for their possessory rights and therefore IN
quired of the chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means whether sufficient appropriation had been provi-
ded for that purpose
further stated that there Indians in Oregon
with whom we could not treat for reasons which had
not then time TO give will read extract from Ore
gon paper which contains the for the statement
then made why could not with of the In
as"''N
attentvey TO these reasons which are very brief and il
will be at once whether they are valid or not.
[Since making the remarks, the paper from which /
read has been misplaced, and | give from memory
the substance of the article then read TO the House
News having been received by party of American ct
zens of the of Wards company of emgrants,
party of eighteen left Fort Boise the 22d for the Of
the outrage On arriving on the ground they found five
wagons burned, and five dead bodies horribly muated.
bodies, and little further the body of young female
afterwards ascertaned be Miss Ward with marks of the
thrust into her person. evidently while she still alive
Near the body Of Miss Ward found that of Mrs. White
her head beaten to jelly and her body bearing many other
marks of brutal violence. short distance these bodies
found the encampmen of the perpetrators of the
wholly deserted in the encampment were found the
bodies of three Of Mrs. Wards children roasted crisp
Near by lay the body the mother Of these children caped
stripped Of her clothing with several and bruises diff
feen parts OF her person and wounds showing that the
of ron supposed to be bolt taken from Of the wagons
Some of the children have not yet been found and
more lingering and if possible to fendsh tortures.
The extract which have read will give the House an
idea of the terrible mode Of punishment and the mode of
infcting crueles upon women and children have
SO many men killed in battle and otherwise that to know
that has been killed murdered does present
itself to with great horror it does to others less
familiar with such scenes But must confess that the
blood ohs in my veins and my feelings wrought up
to the highest pitch when read of such horr
BILE cruetes as the one which have just read.
said upon the occasion to which have referred that
treat used upon that occasion, strong language saying
usually express themselves hearing
an Indian outrage, that they ought to be scaped.
have been in battles with the Indians have many
of them killed but have them scaped by white
man. even when he had the opportunity to do so but
have sem white persons who have been killed by
the Indians seal ped and otherwise horribly muaed and
dsfgured.
In paper published in Ohio find criticism of my
remarks and the conversation held on that occasion with
the honorable chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means The criticism emanated from the lobby of this
House. suppose Some person, within hearing of that
conversation made skeleton report Whether il was made
by that "big sensnallookng beast my friend from
New York Mr. WALSH terms certain individual who by
the courtesy of the Speaker occupies reporters desk
this aluson to the individual referred whether he be
guilty not for, in my nature hate coward, and
therefore would not speak of who is capable of
such conduct This is the criticism:
"An instance of elegant pronunciation illustrated by
humane sentiment given in the national House of Repre-
sentaves,a few days since An Indian appropriation bill
under discussion when the delegate Oregon under
took to enlighten the House Mr. Speaker said he faint
trying civlize the Indians Of Oregon They
nothing about treaties They'll rob and murder whenever
they get chance The only to treat the critters is
to sculp 'em.'"
The author Of this criticism attributes phrases
which serespec habit and due of the propretes
of debate with olerabe knowledge of correct English
acquired by application to books and long person
al intercourse with gentlemen of education and refine
ment forbid me to Some gentlemen may afford to
indulge in such phrases for the amusement of themselves
spec for myself and my position forbid to attempt it.
have been friend of the Indians in personal in
tercourse with, and the official relations which have
tanned towards, them. have done i believe many
of kindness to them any other who has had the
management Of Indian affairs have their confidence
think to extent which has surpassed To show
to what extent possess their confidence and good will
will mention an incident which happened not than
eighteen months ago. On the cath of August 1853 we,
the citizens of Oregon had bloody conflict with the In
dians, in which for long time, ii doubtful which
side the advantage lay when they called out to know who
had the command. 1t answered that there or,
they familiarity call me "Joe Lane They then asked
to treat Blood was hot on both Sides and felt that
had rather fight forty battles than to make treaty. But
when the application from the Indians ordered the
firing to cease held talk with the officers and men,
and having ntimated TO them wish that If dealt
with reacherously by the Indians ! might not
perish unayenged, | went though faint with loss OF
blood and suffering pain from q wound received
in the conflict into their line of deences where seated
log with their chief agreed after brief consult
alton, upon the preminares of treaty of peace which
might prevent the further shedding Of blood The pre-
nnaries here agreed upon formed the basis treaty,
which was afterward concluded by which the Indians for
consideration sold their lands to the United States
eept small reservation This treaty has been ahullyob
served and peaceabe relations maintained between the
Indians and whitesa result which, while willing
give full credit to both whites and Indians for the dispo
son they have shown observe the faith OF treaties s
TO be ascrbed in great measure 10 the energy vigilance
and efficiency of the gallant Captain A. j. Smith, Of the
United States army assisted by adequate military force
and efficient agents whom has devolved the duty OF
guarding and protecting the settlers and enforcing
their part and the part of the Indians also the OBJ
Of the treaty Every Of mine while In the
management Of Indian affairs ought 10 have satisfied
everybody that am disposed TO treat the Indians and