, 1856-07-25


the attention Of the house to any remarks
Of mine in reply 10 the gentleman from
Ohio but for the fact that TIiS letter o
General Wool will be published with thai
gentleman's speech, and going TO the coun
try in that connection might produce 9
prejudice in the minds Of the people Of the
country against the governor and the pco
pie Of Oregon. Sir, the people of Oregon
are an honest, industrious people; and to
charge that they could be capable o.
making war against the Indians is a sian
der upon chivalrous, high-spiritcd, and gal
liant men who have periled their lives and
barred their boSomS to the weapons of Il
skulking and treacherons foe in protecting
the defenceless women and children who
have been forced to fly from their beautiful
dwellings, which have, in many instances
been fired by the torch of the savage be
fore they were out of sight of their once
peaceful homes.
Far be it from me to cast any imputa
tion upon the army. We have many gal
liant spirits in the army; and deeply do !
regret that an officer, whose career has
heretofore been so brilliant, honorable, and
useful-who has won impcrishable laurels
upon many hard fought fcld-who now
stands before us full of years and full Of
honors deeply do l regret that such o
one, instead Of adding new luStre to his
wellearned fame, should have committed
errors in the conduct of the war in Oregon
which, to say the least, will throw a cloud
IL hope evancscent-around the depart
ure from the theatre of his renown of he
ro who, otherwise, would have sunk peace
fully to rest, like the setting sun in serene
and cloudless sky l regret, sir-and |
will say that impartial history will decide
that it was unfortunate for the reputation
Of this honOred veteran-that the conduct
OF this Indian war was assigned TO him.
Trained to arms, according to the tactics
Of West Point, n tactician after the fash
ion Of the military fogies Of Europe, he has
become thoroughly imbued with the faults
of the old system, so far as its utter inadap-
tation to Indian warfare is concerned. We
are told 1T is never too late to learn;'
and perhaps Gen. Wool might learn, if his
life should be spared some years, all the
wilcs aud stratagems Of the savage, and
the other pecularties OF Indian warfare;
but to expect him to acquire such knowl-
edge Immediately, or 10 possess it by intui-
ton, is unreasonable to the last degree.
Posterity will decide, in charity TO the old
soldier, whose blunders and mismanage-
ment in Oregon otherwise admit Of no pal
liation or excuse, that it were better for
him had he been left TO repose upon his
laurels already won. Like q good old
ship which has braved the storms of ocean,
and borne the flag Of the country in tri.
umph on every sea, and Is then laid up in
dock, after being pronounced by the naval
inspectors "unseaworthy," he should not
now be sent to meet the perils, and endure
the privations and hardsllips, in conducting
warfare for which he has-and l hope il
is no disparagemcnt to say so-no qualif,
catigqq whatever.
Now, sir, this letter benrs date the I'd oil
April. On the night of the 25th of March
seven days previous-the Indians, by
stratagem, showing generalship of far
higher order than has yet been evinced by
Gen. Wool in prosecuting the war, fell
into the rear Of the volunteers and Of the
regular troops in the field, and possessed
themselves Of the only pass leading from
the settlements into the Indian country,
and which is the only pass by which our
troops can be supplied or reinforced. On
that day--the 25th Of March--they board
ed and took possession of the steamer Mary,
which had on board guard of fifteen men
oil of whom with the entire crew, fell under
the tomahawk OF the savage; and the
steamer was burned to the waters edge.
Only two steamers have been placed on
the Columbia above the Cascade falls; they
have been used for the transportation Of
troops and supplies, and also for the use Of
settlers who have located east of the Cas-
cade mountains. One of them, with all on
board, has been destroyed by the Indians.
And they did not stop there-they took
one OF the most beautiful little towns that
the eye OF man ever rested upon-CaScadc
city--murdered the people aud burned ev-
cry house in the town. Yet, sir, on the I'd
OF April, Gen. Wool writes this letter-at
time when the news of these Indian out.
RACES had reached him--and he does not
say one word of the taking of the steamer
Mary, and the murder of her entire crew
ne does not mention the burning of that
beautiful town, Cascade city; he never
mentions the suherlngs Of the people of Or
egon; but he devoted the whole of his let.
ter to de9Snciation of the people of that
territory
The Indians of Oregon are too cunning
and vigilant to let Gen. Wool or anybody
else attack them where they do not want
to fight. Before l take my seat shall ask,
as Gen. WooPs letter has been read, that
the clerk shall read Gov. Stevens answer
to letter OF his, written some time since.
l shall now call the attention of the house
to some extracts from letter which | re.
ceived day or two since from a gentleman
now in Philadphia, but who has, for sever
nj Years mast lived in Rnoua r;vor ,-oIIo,.