, 1856-10-10


mine-that history whose every chapter
!. contains the bloody record of their crue
massaCres.
+ But the senior member from Ohio (Mr
Giddings) is sorely afflicted at the fate o.
Pee-peumOX-mox | shall not stop here
to reiute the exaggerated, nay, totally in
correct account (emanating from a certain
quarter) Of the death of that proud and
naughty chief" l merely wish to state
one fact, and l state it for the especial
benefit of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr
Giddings), for | am sure it was unknown
= to him at the time he wrought his sympa-
thies up TO such high pitch in behalf Of
this, and all the other chiefs who have en-
gagged in war against the whites in Wash
ington Territory. 1t is this Is the gen
tleman aware that he has at this late hour
Of his political life espoused the cause Of
the shareholder? Can it be possible that
he has, at last, abandoned all his hostility
to the upholders and advocates of this in
stitution Why, sir, there is not such a
Slare0crdcy in the world as that which is
composed of the head-men and leading
families of these hostile Indians There
does not live a master who claims and ex-
ercises such absolute power over the per-
son and services of his slave, as these
proud and naughty chiefs" Slavery in
its most absolute form has existed among
them by positive law of the tribes from
time whereof the memory Of man run
meth not to the contrary" By that law
the master is not only entitled to the servi-
ces and acquisitions of his slave, but he
claims and exercises the power Of taking his
life without being amenable to any law or
custom whatever. This power to take
the life Of slave at pleasure, has been aetW-
ally ereroiSm by these same chiefs within a
short time back, and long since the whites
have settled in their midst. BY these tri-
bal laws there is no emancipation nor man
omission. Nor is it possible for a slave to
gain his freedom by escape into the juris-
diction of a neighboring tribe No, sir,
there is fugitive slave law to return him
to his master, without the benefit Of trial
by jury or habeds corpus. 1t is not the
slave, sir, but the slareOcraey with whom
the people of my country are at war.
appeal to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.
Giddings), it his sympathies are not all
misplaced and his tears most sadly wasted
But l must hasten on to the causes
which led to this war. l have some per-
sonal knowledge myself of the commence
ment of these difficulties, but it is not my
purpose to take the witness-stand. l shall
not enter into detail Of circumstances
connected with the first manifestations Of
hostilities on the part of the Indians, Of
which am personally cognizant, because
l wish to refute the many charges which
have been industriously promulgated
against the people of my Territory by
record eridence. A high official functionary
OF the government-no less than the com
mander of the Pacific department of the
army-has seen fit, in this connection, to
prefer charges against the people of Wash.
ington and Oregon Territories, which, if
true, ought to, and will subject them to
the seVerest animadversions of civilized
world. And how does he do it? Now,
Mr. Chairman, l have no harsh word to
say Of Gen. Wool, unless it be harsh to
oppose unfoqnded assertion with official
Statements, unless it be harsh to contra
dict hearsay rumor by positive record tes.
timony. l do not enjoy the honor of a
personal acquaintance with Gen. Wool,
sir, but the history Of his past life is not
entirely unknown to me. can read that
history with pleasure | can recall many
Of the stirring incidents of that life with
pride as an American citizen. know that
the glory Of his valorous deeds illuminates
many pages. of his countrys history, and
} sheds lustre upon the triumph of American
arms. Iregret, sir, that the faithful chroni-
cler of the present times will have to add q
chapter to that history which will sadly
contrast with its preceding pages
have inquired ho1O has Gen. Wool seen
} fit to appear before the public as the vol.
untary accuser of the whole people of two
Territories Has he been satisfied, in the
discharge Of his duties as a public officer,
to confne himself to the usual official re-
ports which the law requires him to make
Has he been called upon, by any of his su-
periors in Office, for information upon points
he has volunteered to elucdate ? Not at
, all, sir. He appears before the country as
a volunteer witness, and slcih one at that
Had he confined himself to the discharge
Of his official duties, l should not have
deemed it my province to animadvert so
freely upon his conduct but as he has
seen fit to lay aside all the dignity Of official
station, and voluntarily assume the charac.
ter OF q scribbling correspondent of par.
tlzan press, am sure he oughtnot to com,
: plain II his conduct, in this particular,
t should be subjected to the closest scrutiny
and his testimony to the most rigid cross
Y examination Yes, sir, he has dolfed the
0 proud plume of the Major G General-un.
a buckled that sword, which, on foreign
fields, had carved its way to fame, and
S snatched up the flowing pen of a ready
0 scribbler, and appears before US in the gart
: Of hasty newspaper correspondent =
! Unmindful of the Army egulations-reck
: less of his former fame-bent on the graft
5 6cation of personal spite, and that revenge
ell which sprinps from mortified nride in boi