, 1856-07-04

distance, that their hearts have ceased t
pulsatc with patriotic devotion to our coun
try's flag and our country's honor? Be
lieve it not. They are Americans still
not aliens and interlopers from foreigl
lands. Hear it, gentlemen of the so-calleC
- American n" party, you who oppose thii
appropriation, your countrymen-not for
cgncrs-arc impcriled American BLOOD
is being shed-ayc, sir, and on our arm soil
Americans call on you for succor. Noun
tninS rise aud wide deserts intervene be
tween us and them, but they are still Oh
our own soil they have but changed theiI
chamber in their patema mansion the
same banner which waves from the dome
of this Capitol spreads its folds over them
Is it an emblem Of protection which the
Government affords to all ourpeople, or a
piece Of painted bunting--a rag spread to
the winds in derision aud mockery Of their
pcrils and their woes 2
One trait in the character of the people
Of Oregon they possess in common with all
their countrymen, but which seems to be
denied TO them by those whose occupation
appears to be TO malgn and traduce all
that is generous and noble in people or
an individual-thoSe professional Scribblers,
the vulIurcs Of the press, who feed upon
character which has been first polluted and
destroyed by their own poisonous breath,
and who never soar except it be in an at
mosphere of detractiOn, like those birds Of
i'll omen which arc found in no other coun-
try except where grows the Upas. al
ludc TO that trait in the character of the
Oregoniaus so characteristic of the popula-
ton Of the western States-mdgaaaimi ;
the chivalrous sense of honor, the pride,
blended with innate generosity, which
scorns mean, dishonorable, or COW
ardly action, which revolts at the idea OF
depressing or being oppressed, which is
quick to resent an insult from an equal or
superior, but bears with meekness and pa.
tiencc the peevishnesS, the taunts, and
even the deliberate insults Of interiors. In
this spirit the people of Oregon have borne
with patience and forbearance the injuries
and insults Of the inferior race by which
they are surrounded. They have thought
their mission to be to subdue the proud and
intractable spirit of the savage by kindness,
to soften his rude nature by manifesting
towards him friendly and paternal spirit,
to reclaim him from his savage condition
by example-the example of life spent in
peaceful industry, instead Of Improbable
and wasting wars with each other.
l am sorry that these humane efforts o.
the Oregon settlers have not been appre
ciated by the savage Humanity has beer
mistaken by him for tame submissiveness
of spirit forbearance for pusillanimity
The consequence has been, that, instead Of
being benefited by his contact with the
whites, the Indian has brooded over what
he has enormously deemed an unwarranta
BILE intrusion upod his domain, until at
length o general uprising has taken place
for the purpose Of eXterminating the intru
ders, or driving them from the land. Whc
that acknowledges the right Of the|whitC
race 10 occupy and improve th0/lands o.
the natives, (and l know oE/6o one who
will deny it)-who that acknowledges suct
right will deny to them the right Of self
defense when assailed in their pioneer
homes and who will not go further thar
this, and saythat, where thcirnumbers anC
their means are inadequate to their defense
it is the duty of the Government to aforC
them protection, and save them, not from
,Mestruction merely, but from destruction
by q refinement of cruelty, an eXquistenes
of torture known only in the annals Of In
dian warfare
will have an opportunity Of explaining
these things more fully at some future time
| will not consume the time Of the commit
tee now. l am prepared to go into th'
subject fully. have anticipated, think
nearly every objection which can possibly
be. made to the conduct Of the Oregon vol
unteers, or of the settlers in that Territory
| shall be prepared to furnish all the infor
nation on the subject which gentlemen
: may desire. / only ask what is right
nothing more and, if 1 do not great.
mistake the character and feelings Of tn
members of this House, am sure the.
, will not refuse my just dem and.
The purpose of the appropriation as sta
: ted in the bill is "to restore and preserv
friendly relations with the Indians"
Another object Of the appropriation
| 10 NllC ulOdno VI WV pAiS
{ oners who have already been taken by, o
r who may hereafter fall into the hands @
: the Indians. Already several prisoner
, are ia their hands, men, women, and Chi
: dren, liable at any moment to be put to
cruel death. Perhaps by timely apprc
! priation of the kind asked for, the lives c
t these prisoners may be saved. Does an
+ one begrudge the application of the publi
money to q purpose so humane Does an
, dare to say that the whole $500, 900 woul
] be an extravagant price to pay for tn
' ransome of one-only one of those helples
(; infant captiyes, whose wailing cry is musi
: to the ears of his cruel captors, drunk wit
+ the blood of his slaughtered parents
S There went from Missouri, in 1858, a part
c of nineteen. In August of that year
e saw, in Oregon, two boys, the only surv
+ yors of that party. Where were the otl