, 1858-08-06

our people, unu OF tne cOHuhcJ VI lne NOf
unteers during that war. Their conduct
was throughout humane and meritorious.
At no time during that war was there any
unauthorized killing by the volunteer forces
The Indians, whether friendly or hostile,
were sacred in the camps of the volunteers,
and it is this fact that we hold up in the
MONDAY sun to disprove the accusat ions
made against the people of those territories.
The first act of war was by the Indians.
| have referred to Kam-i-y-a-kan, to his
cordial farewell when LETT him, and to
his promise to assist the Indian agent Bo-
Ion, when he went into his country The
Yakimas occupy q country from the Cas-
cades to the Columbia, one hundred and
fifty miles east aud west, and some two
hundred north and south. In the month
Of August we began to hear Of our citizens
being murdered by the Yakimas. Finally
the reports became so we'll authenticated
that military force under Major Haller
was sent there by Major Rains, in COM
mand of the troops on the Columbia river
to demand the surrender of the murderers,
or on the event of refusal, to punish the
tribe.
Who we're killed by these Indians? The
victim Of most mark was this Indian agent
Bolon He was killed by the Yakimas,
and by the order of Kam-i-y-a-kan, though
he went there as their agent, loving the
Yakimas. He went there, and went
alone, unwilling to believe that the re-
ports of their having killed our people
were true, and hoping that the results Of
his Investigations would show that no such
killing had been DONE He was much be-
loved by the Yakimas, was recognised by
them to be their friend, but having re-
solved in war, they said, { referring to 30,
lon 1--WE kill our friends as well as our
enemies" We had some ten or twelve
Others-there were one or two Of my own
neighbors; there were two or three from
Pierce county, as well as several from the
neighboring county Of King; men of sobri-
ETY., men of character-men who had means
at home in the settled portions of the
territory, but who had gone, as our ad-
venturous American people will go, into
the wilderness to see whether they could
not better their fortunes They were killed
on their way to the mines at Colville. l
submit it to the gentlemen Of this commit
tee-was it right that the military arm Of
this Government should be stretched out,
when tribe of Indians 10 violation of the
plighted faith Of treaties, guaranteeing safe
conduct to all whites passing through
their country-slaughtered an officer of the
republic, and citizens Of the republic, with
out cause or provOcation2
trust that have not to pause for a
reply. Such has been the general policy
or the Government. Such has ever been
the policy of the British Government upon
that coast, although under the control Of G
simple trading company. The Hudson
Bay Company owe their nscendancy over
the Indians to this fact more than to all
things else; that the life of a Hudson's
Bay employee has been held sacred, and
the Indians who did violence to it were
held to a strict accountability. l could
mention many instances when this course
was pursued.
1t has been alleged that the miners
passing through the Yakima, violated the
Indian women, and committed other out
RACES which provoked them to retaliaie.
l heard nothing of this On the Spokane
coming in from the Missouri, though used
every means to ascertain whether the war
had been provoked by indiscretion and
wrong, comforting not only with the Indians
of the Spokane and neighboring tribes, but
with the fathers Of missions at the Occur
dAlene and at Colville, aud with the Off
GERS Of the Hudson Bay Company at the
latter place.
In consequence Of these murders, Major
Haller marched into the Yakima country
with about one hundred regular troops;
was met and attacked by force Of from
ten to fifteen hundred warriors, and though
for time, entirely surrounded and cut of
from water, maintained his position, reach
ed water after an obstinate and protracted
fight Of some twenty-fOur hours, and finally
succeeded in making good his retreat and
saving his command with loss in killed
and wounded, Of one-third of his entire
force. While surrounded, be was FORUM
ate enough TO get OF friendly Indian,
who made his way to the Dalles and gave
information Of the condition Of Major Hal
ler's command. There was great excite
ment throughout both Washington and
Oregon in consequence. Major Rains inn
mediately made a requisition upon the
Governors of Washington and Oregon for
volunteers, and that requisition was promp-
ly complied with. The volunteers moved
into the Geld, and thus this war had its or
igin, so far as the volunteers were concern
ed have here a whole volume of requis-
tions and orders, and correspondence, de-
monstrating these facts, bnt will not read
from the volume as it will occupy time
needlessly.
The volunteers, Mr.. Chairman, came
into service in consequence of the attack
of an overwhelming force Of Indians upon
the troops of the regular service, in virtue
of requistion Of the officer in command
Of the military district, and because the
regular troops were inadequate to protect
the settlements and bring this war to q
] Innno1uuion