, 1856-07-04
speech of Hon. Joseph Lane

OF OREGON,
In the IlDuse Of Representatives, May 81, 1850,
On the lG appropriating $500 900 for the suppression
Of Indian hostltes in the Territories Of Oregon
and Washington.
Mr. LANE ! am very much obliged to
the gentleman from Tennessee for calling
nv attention to the paragraphs which he
has just read and | am very glad to have
the opportunity to vndicate the character
Of the people Of Oregon. And, sir, when
the time shall arrive that l can have full
opportunity to do so, | shall be able to sat
isfy every gentleman upon this floor that
the people Of Oregon Territory are in no
way to blame for the war with the Indians,
which is now in progress in Oregon, and
which has been going on since last October.
We have, sir, in that Territory a Governor
who has lived in Oregon since the year
lS45. He is o peaceable, quiet, orderly,
sensible, and practical man.. and in all the
troubles which the settlers have had in SET
Ting that Territory, he has uniformly been
found upon the side of peace, whenever
peace could be had with safety TO the peo-
pie and security to the lives Of families in
that Territory.
The people of Oregon Territory are
peaceabIe, law-abiding, orderly people /;
and they are also gallant people. They
have taken pains ever since became ac-
quninted with the country, to cultivate the
most friendly feeling with the Indians
Z They lived in the same valleys and districts
Of country with the Indians, and they were
anxious TO do oil they could to maintain
n.:..,ll., ,olot;ocs ,,;tl, thap, for mn hod
among our earlier settlers many missiona-
ries, who had been sent there for the pur.
pose Of civlizing and Christianizing the
Indians, and Of teaching them the arts Of
civilization, and the habits and customs of
men in higher and improved social posi-
ton, as far as the dispositions and habi-
tudes Of the aboriginal tribes admit Of their
elevation to the social and moral attain
ments Of the European races
To this end many devoted men labored
with an assiduity and zeal which attested
the SINCERITY and earnestness Of their de-
sire to reclaim these untaught children Of
nature, and place them on the catalogue Of
Christianized and enlightened nations.
Among those who thus labored faithfully
and unremittingly, and with singleness Of
purpose and self-sacriicing zeal which COM
manded the admiration and respect of all
who observed his devoted and untiring la
bors, was the Rev. Marcus Whitman.
Never, in my opinion, did missionary go
forth to the field of his labors animated by
q nobler purpose or devote himself to his
task with more earneStness and sincerity
than this meek and Christian man. He
arrived in Oregon in l842, and established
! bis mission in the Wylatpee country, east
Of the Cascade mountains, and devoted his
entire time to the education and improve
>pent Of the Indians, teaching them the
arts Of civilization, the mode Of cultivating
the soil, to plant, to SOW, to reap, and do
Rll the duties which pertain to civilized
man. He erected mills, plowed Their
ground, sowed their crops, and assisted in
gathering in their harvests. About the
time he had succeeded in teaching them
some Of these arts, and the means of using
some Of these advantages, they rose against
him, without cause and without notice, and
massacred him and bis wife, and many 9th
ers who were at the mission at that time.
/ mention these things, Mr.. Chairman
To- give you an idea Of the treacherous and
ungrateful character Of the Indians in Ore
gon. The blood Of Whitman, their great
est bepefactor, was the first blood Of the
whites which was shed by them in thai
Territory, and from that day to the present
they have commenced all the wars which
have taken place between them and the
white settlers. This say in justice 10 the
people Of that Territory, and to vindicate
them from what / consider unfounded aud
unjust imputations upon their courage and
honor. regret very much, sir, that it is
necessary, in defense Of truth and justice
to place myself in opposition to the reports
Of Gen. Wool. He is my old commander
know him to be a good soldier, gallant
man, and an accomplished officer But ]
know, as far as the reports are concerned
relating to Oregon Territory, that he i,
mistaken, and that the reports are not true
The war was commenced in Oregon, as
stated the other day, by the indians on the
white people. 1t was not instigated by
any act Of the whites-not induced by any
violence on the part Of citizens Of that Ter
ritory. As then stated, the Indians com
menced the slaughter Of the white people
from the southern portion Of Oregon to the
Northern extreme Of Washington, at the
very same time, thee sbtek Of the SAME