, 1856-07-04


iect set forth in its preface.
Below will be found the remarks of
Hon. J. PArToN ANDERSON, delegate from
this. TERRITORY deliv rcd on the same occa--
sion, and with the same object, as set forth
in the discussion They will commend them.
selves on u perusal, without comment, to the
thanks and gratitude of the people q both
Territories. We most cheerfuy yield a
large proportion Of our columns for their ac-
commodation.
Speech OF ii On. j. y. Anderson,
OF WASHINGTON,
In H0uSe of Repro.en;GIiN es, March II, 1855,
On the bill appropriata- s21oHCO f1r the suppression
Of Indian h0stiliiies 10 tie Territories Of Washing
ton and Oregon.
Mr.. ANDERSON. l do not propose TO de-
tain the house any lcnsth Of time on this
question; but as the gentleman from Ten
nesSee has seen fit TO call upon the diStin-
guished delegate from Oregon, and upon
those interested in this matter, for in!orma-
tion in reference to the various reports
which have reached US from the Pacific
coast, shond feel that was not doing
my constituents justice, or the committee
justice, if l kept silence. l am sorry that
the gentleman, at the same time that he
tells the committee that he does not believe
the reports contained in the paper he has
Tead-that he believes that it perpetrateS
a SANDER upon the people of Oregon and
Washington territories saw it to read them
upon this floor. They do contain ISLANDERS
They contain what is not true in relation to
the cause Of this war; and when the proper
time comes it can be shown here, not by
newspaper reports, not by anonymous let
Ter writer's, but by official documents that
that war was wholly and entirely unpro
yoked by the whites; that it was a war
commenced by the Indians, and had been
contemplated for twelve months previous
to its breaking out The very fact that it
broke out on the northern boundary Of Or
cgon, and the southern boundary OF Wash
ingtou territory at the same time that il
commenced in southern Oregon and in Cal
ifornia, distance of six hundred miles
apart, shows that it was long previously
contemplated,
But do not propose at this time to en.
ter into discussion Of the merits of the
question which Gen. Wool and Gov. Curry
have gotten up between themselves i do
not think that this is the time to do that
conceive that the distinguished gentleman
from Virginia has taken the proper view
Of this question, and that il matters not, 50
far as the question under consideration is
concerned, whether Gen. Woops report is
correct, or whether Gov. Curry's report is
the true one. This case involves Deither
Gen. Wool's or Gov. Curry's character,
nor the mode and manner of conducting
that war. This is simply n request of the
president Of the United States. based upon
information received from the indian super
inteude1t Of that territory, that $500, 900
be placed at his disposal for the purpose OF
maintaining friendly relations with those
Indians who have not taken up arms. 1t
matters not whether it be true, as the
anonymous letter.wrter asserts. that the
Walla-walla Indians were pcacaLlc-that
their chief was murdered or bru,ally mISsl-
cred. If they are friendly this $500, 900 is
asked for the purpose OF maintaining their
friendship 1t is known that those who
have heretofore been friendly are constant
ly joining the warlke party; and it is ab-
solutely necessary that the superintendent
Of Indian affairs should have funds to ena.
bic him 10 prevent this combination. II all
the tribes in that territory which ere now
friendly should join those who are hostile,
they can sweep the whole country in less
than twenty days.
At the time the last reports left Puget
Sound, the superintendent Of Indian affairs
the governor Of the territory--had under
his charge, aud under the charge or his
subagentS, FIVE thousand friendly indians,
and was feeding them, going on the princi-
pie that feeding them was cheaper than
fighting them. A few days previously
10 the sailing Of the vessel which brought
:he news, a warlike party had entered the
reservation on which these friendly Indians
were. They had succeeded in capturing
one Of the Indian agents and holding him
aprisoner until they had their talk with
the friendly Indians, which had Tor its Oh
ject the inducing them to join the warlIke
party
Now, it is to prevent this->it is to pre-
vent the intercourse of friendly and hostile
1ndians-to keep the friendly Indians on
the reservation-to feed them, and not per-
nit them to roam at largs through the
eou1try where they would lie likely to be
operated upon by the hostile bands-that
appropriation is required. 1t is not for the
purpose Of getting up military expedition
.nto the Indian country. 1t is not for the
purpose Of paying volunteers who may have
served heretofore. Not one dollar, as !
understand it, goes to the payment of the
expenses Of the war. l hope, then, that
The committee will report favora6ly on this
ill, and that the house will determine up
.en it, so that the appropriation may be
t-st out by the. next steamer, which leaves
on Saturday.
Mr.. II. MARSHALL. What do you expect