, 1856-10-10
NO.. 49,.

Chinn, Lupton, and their comrades-in the
names of tloenty murdered Ieomen and babes,
protest against it, In the name of hu-
1manity pronounce it cold, unfeeling and
untrue Whoever the author Of such q
sentiment may be, let him go through the
world with the blood Of three hundred mur-
dered citizens upon his skirts. But, says Gen.
Wool, these volunteers were unnecessary.
Remember, Gen. Wool was in California
at the time they were called out, and it is
not to be presumed that he could judge Of
the exigency as well as those who were on
the spot. At the time Of the outbreak,
Maj. Raines was in command of the U. S.
troops in this region What did he think
of the necessity for volunteers! / have
time only to refer to the evidences on this
point, and to state the main facts the de-
tails are contained in the official dispatches
before me as published to the country.
On the 9th of October, 1855, Maj. Raines
writes to Gov Curry that the expedition
sent to the Yakima country under command
Of Major Haller, comprised Of over 100
men, with a mountain howitzer, had failed;
that maj. Haller was surrounded, and
had called for reinforcements !" that he
had ordered oil the United States dispo-
sable force into the field Immediately !"
that as "this force was questionable to
subdue the Indians" he therefore called
upon him (Gov Curry for four companies
Of volunteers and upon Gov. Mason for
two. But Gen. Wool attempts to get
round this material point by asserting that
"the Major (Raines) partook somewhat Of
the alarm pervading the country" If this
were true, does it furnish any reasonable
excuse for Congress refusing to pay the
volunteers thus called into service, which
seems to be the main object Of Gen. WooPs
extraordinary publication 7 But was there
no cause of alarm Had not Agent Bolon
been brutally murdered by these Indians2
Is it not fact that Mattice and other
miners had been massacred And had
not the Superintendents Of both Territories
officially reported the fact that there was o
powerful combination of several Of these
tribes for the purpose of extermiuating"
the whites 7 and that nothing short Of Q
large military force could prevent disas-
trous war2 Did not Agent Olney, (who
was at that time in the Walla-Walla com
try), write to Gov. Curry that the "storm
was gathering !" that it required large
military force to keep them back y that
" the regular force in the couAtry was in
sufficient for the protection Of the settlers;D
that one thousand VOluRteers should be raised
impiediatelv and sent into this part of Oregon
and Warrington Territories? ? Thus called
upon as Gov. Curry was, by the command
ing officer Of the United States troops, by
each of the Superintendents Of Indian
Affairs, and the Indian Agent, who was
personally present in the region where the
troops were needed, yet Gen. Wool, affect
ing patriotic desire to protect the Treas
ury from "plunder" and " depletion" !" has
the hardihood, in the face Of these facts, TO
assert that the Governor T" usurped his
power; that Major Raines partook some
what Of the alarm pervading the country,s
and that the volunteers were unnecessary
to protect the citizens Of Oregon" With
these unmistakable evidences of impending
peril to the whole country before him, Gov
Curry would have been wanting in all those
qualities which so eminently be6t him for
the position he holds, if he had not prompt
ly responded to the call which was made
upon him. Read the record, sir, Of the
privations and hardships these volunteers
endured, and tell me II "plunder" could
have inspired such heroism. Sir, II the
commanding Generals physical exertions
to protect the settlers, had been at all
commensurate with bis newspaper efforts
to delay Congress in taking favorable
action in their behalf, he might have saved
the lives Of at least twelve men, women and
children who fell at the Cascades.
Mr.. Chairman, my time admonishes me
that l must omit many things that de-
sired to say, and merely allude to others
without stopping to comment upon them
as they deserve. Gen. Wool has shed
much ink and expended no small amount
Of sympathy upon Pee-peu-mox-mox, the
Walla-wall chief, whom, he says, the
volunteers barbarously killed. For a
foil and complete reiutation Of Gen. WooPs
charges on this point, refer the commit
tee and the country to the official report Of
the gallant Col. Kelly, who commanded
the volunteers in the memorable fight when
Pee-peu-mox-mox fell. The facts as there
related are simply these The chief had
been retained by Col Kelly as prisoner
bis warriors in large force attacked Col
Kelly (the volunteers did not commences
the attack, as Gen. Wool asserts y in the
midst Of the fight, the chief and bis com
panions rose upon the guard, wounded one
Of them, and then twas that be was killed.
and this is what General Wool calls bar
barous !" and seems 10 think that the fact
that Pee-peu-mox-mox came into Colonel
Kelly's camp under white flag, much en-
hances the barbarity' Of the killing.
Let US see what Gen. Wool thought Of
similar proceedings but short time before.
l will read his official account Of little
affair which came of at Fort Boise, in
Oregon, July l6, 1855. Speaking Of Maj.
Haller's expedition against the Snake In