, 1856-07-04
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY, JULY A. 1856

tecrs. They turned out Immediately; and
having joined with the troops they marched
into the Indian country. The Indians on
that occasion avoided the fght. They
avoided a general battle The force
against them was rather strong.
Now, Mr. Chairman, the position Of
Maj. llaler, at the time he was surrounded
by the Indians and badly whipped, was "
on the Columbia here, on the northern side
of this river, in Washington Territory, in
the country known as the Yakima country
This country, till within few years past,
has not been settled by white people but
ment has extended east of these Cascade
mountains, into Washington aud Oregon
| Territories. When Gen. Wool arrived in
Oregon Territory he found the volunteers
up in that country, against the warlike
Indians. Now, will ask gentlemen and
the writer Of that letter. which has been
read whether the troops ought 10 have
been recalled at once from that country,
leaving hundreds Of defenSelesS women and
children, scattered about on their claims,
exposed to the attacks of Indians who had
driven the regular forces out Of the cOun-
try! If they had, what would have been
the condition of these people ? Would
there have been one single family left in
that country? Would there have been
one woman that would not have been
burned at the stake, or one child that
would not have be IL tomahawkcd p? Gen.
Wool, when he arrived, took up his head
quarters west of the Cascade mountains, on
the north bank of the Columbia river, or
Fort Vancouver, pointing out the loca-
ton on the map. lie ordered the regular
forces that were engaged in the Indian
country to fall back on Fort Vancouver.
The volunteers did not go up there of their
own accord. They went out at the call Of
an officer of the United States army. II
they had left the country with the regular
forces they would have exposed the life Of
every woman and child there to certain
DEATH Ought they to have done so ?
Will any man say to the people of Oregon
that these volunteers should have fallen
back upon the settlements, or gone into
quarters and put themselves under cover,
leaving the women aud children Of the
country to fall under the tomahawk of the
savage? No, sir. 1t is SANDER when it
is said that the volunteers Of Oregon went
there with view of making war upon any
other Indians than such us murdered our
people, and as were ready to bury the
tomahawk in the heads Of women and chill.
dren.
What would have been said Of the Gov,
crnor Of Oregon, If he had acted as Gen
Wool did, and ordered the volunteers out
of the country leaving it exposed to the
savagesY So far from doing it, he main,
tanned his position. Those troops were
commanded by noble aud gallant young
man, by the name Of Kelly, who went out
to that Territory few years ago from the
State of Pennsylvania. He is known tc
some of the members of this House. HC
is brave and gallant man, lawyer by
profession, and peaceable, law-abiding
citizen. He took the command Of these
forces in the place Of my gallant friend
Nesmith, who was compelled to quit the
service on account of sickness in his family
Soon after his taking the command. the
Walla-wallas, Yakimas, and other tribes
, of Indians throughout the whole extent o.
country east of the Cascades, made gen
cral attack upon his command. And, sir
) while fighting for life, when his ammunition
had been expended, when he had fired hi'
last volley, with ammunition almost ex
hausted, and scant of provisions-for III
was for four days surrounded with these
+ hostile Indans-I say while thus fighting
for life, under these circumstances, the reg
, ulnr troops, under the orders of Genera
Wool, were marching to their winter quar-
ters. And, as am Informed, when Kelly
, applied tSf powder and other supplies, thai
officer shut his magazines and refused tht
supplies.
Now, sir, shall this man be quoted her.
against the people of Oregon Territory
Shall his evidence be used in condeHhatior
, of the people of that Territory, x6o volun
teered to save the women AID children o
the settlements from Esassacre Shal
such an argument be produced here agains
t the appropriation row asked for? l hop,
+ not.
Mr.. ALISON. If the gentleman vii
: permit re for o moment, l desire to say
single word. He asks, why should W,
hsfng the evidence of Gen. Wool here o.
testimony in case of this kind, under sucl
: circumstances ? Now, am sure the gen
: tleman from Oregon will not object to al
inquiry, such as was propounded to him
for the purpose of giving him an opportu
, nifty OF making the explanation which be i
, now making to the House. We find il
e our executive documents there, official com
q munications from the officers of the Gov
] ernment which can alone speak ofliciall,
9 upon the subject How is it possible tina
{ we can disregard these communication
thus officially made, unless some cxplana
r ton were made to remove the dificultie
with which we are surrounded, in maxim,
S this appropriation. If we are to take tn
!, statements of these officers, to which aon
= We can 70 for information. We cannot con