, 1856-03-07
Memorial.

'"0 O'iO""S MeinOrlal was passed by
the late legislative assembly Of Oregon,
which sets forth the grievances Of the peo-
pie here and there, in consequence of the
Indian war, and the disposition manifested
by Gen. Wool TO attack the whites Of
both territories, rather than to take the
field to fight the Indians: ''-"
TO his ercclieHcy the president of tho UniteJ
States: x ,
Your memorialists the legislative assem-
bly, of this territory respectfully represent
that early in last October the people Of
Oregon aud Washington territories, were
startled by general outbreak among near
ly all the Indian tribes in the western and
middle portions Of those territories. These
hostilities unproyoked on the part Of the
Whites, were characterized by the usual
modes Of Indian warfare--and indiscrimin-
ate slaughter of all our citizens who fell in>
to their hands, without regard to age, sex
or condition, and by the pillaging and
burning of dwellings aud the destruction Of
property. '' q
The people in the most defenceIess parts
Of the country, alarmed by the dangers to
which they were exposed, called upon the.
governor of this territory for that protec-
tion which they had right to ask.
We are happy to say that this cry for
relief vas not unheeded by the governor
and that our citizens, with promptness
and zeal which sense Of danger alone
could call forth, volunteers to go Out in
defense of their country-leaVing their
homes and the various avocations in which
they were engaged-they have nobly dis
charged their duties under many adverse
and trying circumstances, and are still 10
the heart Of the enemy's country, combat
ing the Indians, or holding possession Of
the country which they have conquered.
In this distressing state Of affairs, and
while the Oregon volunteers were sur
rounded by hostile Indians, il was with no
little satisfaction that your memorialiaia
as well as the people Of Oregon, hailed the
arrival in this territory Of Major-GeEsral
John Il. Wool, Of the United States ar;
my. i5a m iaiap
His past services had led US to hope
that he would at once have sent the forces
under his command to the assistance and
relief of our volunteers, who were desirons
of returning 10 their homes. Ii is with re-
gret, we confess, that in this respect our
hopes have been disappointed. Its with
regret that we are compelled to say that
Gen. Wool has hitherto remained inactive
and refused to send the United States
troops to the relief of the volunteers, OF 70
supply them with arms and ammunition IN
their time of need That he has gone into
winter-quarters and left our settlements ox-
posed to the ravages Of our enemies: that
he has removed the greater portion OF bis
troops from the Indian territory 20 Van
couver, military point remote from the
scenes Of war--and that, too, while our
volunteers were threatened by an over.
whelming force Of Indians: that he refused
to go to the relief Of q number Of our ciii.
zens who lad settled in the Walla-Walla
valley, and who had iled from their homes
for safety; and that he refused TO send any
Of the forces under bis command 10 pro-
tect the people Of southern Oregon whose
lives and property were being almost daily
destroyed or endangered by the hostile In
dams. Haa1iia ila. AGs
Your memorialists would have borne an
these grivances in silence, and leit these
public acts and omissions Of Gen. Woo, 70
the Just Judgment Of the people Of Oregon
and Washington territories, and to The ap-
proval or disapproval Of the proper officers
Of the United States government. But 50
it is, that Gen. Wool, not content with
the inactive and inefficient course which
he has hitherto thought proper to pursue
in this war, has departed from bis inactive
policy only to censure the governor and
the people Of this territory for their com
mendabie zeal in defending their country
and to thwart all their efforts to procure
supplies and the means Of subsistence for
the Oregon volunteers that are now 10 lho
field. ~
Instead Of offering aid and encourage
ment to our people, he has shown q dis
graceful activity in his endeavors to induce
our merchants and those Of California not
to furnish ammunition and supplies for our
volunteers in this trying time OF need; IN
stead Of attending to the duties Of his high
Office, be has become an iniermeddler be-
tween the people Of Oregon and the gov
ernment Of the United States, and public
ly declared that his influence viii be exert
ed to prevent the payment by the United
States Of the just claims incurred IN prose
cution Of this war. ~
Therefore inasmuch, as your memorial-
lists, as well as the people Of Oregon, have
lost all confidence in the willingness Of Gen.
Wool to assist and defend them in their
present Indian difficulties, they most re-
specially ask that be may be recalled
from the command of the militesy depart
ment of the Pacific: and your memOriaIisis
will ever pray. sf sU It NJ
Passed Jan. 30th, 1856. j INA
(Signed) DELAzON SMITH
Speaker Of House Of Representatives
A. p. DENNIsoN,
President of tie Council.