, 1858-07-23

What might have been my fate in fight
ing seven hundred Indians, with band of
twenty-five men, Increased to fifty as l
got near where the hostile Indians were,
| do not know. But conceived that it
was my duty to get to my post, and do my
best for the suffering people of whom /
was the executive. Sir, learned nothing
Of these volunteers till | was making ar
rangements to fight the hostile Indians.
The volunteers met the Indians, defeated
them in signal battle that lasted four
days, and drove them across the Snake
river, thus opening the way for my party.
| was with them for ten days They con
sisted of the very flower of the population
Of Oregon, men of family, men of substance
who had taken arms in their hands 10 order
to protect the people of the two Territories
and there they were on the cold ground.
without tents, living on horse-fesh, and
without proper clothing, the thermometer
ranging as low as 27o below zero, and new
er, for five days, getting above zero That
is what the volunteers of Oregon did and
l am thankful that l can say this for them
as witness in this high presence.
There are one or two other points, to
which l wish briefly to allude. During the
whole of that war in the Territory Of Wash
ington, not friendly Indian, or an Indiun
prisoner, was ever maltrealed in the camp
of the volunteers of Washington. say
this in the presence of all men; and if any
one will gainsay it, shall ask for the proof
For six mouths the people Of Washington
had to live in block-houses; and yet, SO
obedient we're the people to law, so proud Ct
their country, doing such high homage to
its spiEt OF humanity and justice, that dur
ing all that time the life of the Indian was
sacred in the camp Of the volunteers. Why
sir, there were nearly five thousand dissa-
ffected Indians, during all this time, on the
reservation lying along the waters of the
sound, and not man ever went there to
do them harm rejoice 10 being able to
give this testimony, here in the presence Of
my countrymen, in regard to the people Of
Washington. Do you wonder, sir, that it
has caused to grow up in my heart, the
deepest and most devoted attachment to
that people, who have held me In their sus-
tanning arms in my efforts to advance the
public service, and who have, by their con.
duct, illustrated its dignity and humanity,
and thus given lesson to the country and
to the world. 3l 35f+ ain
Mr.. Chairman, have said all that de-
sire to say at this time. trust that the
same measure Of justice which the commit
tee propose to deal out to Governor Doug
las will be dealt out to the people of the
Territories of Washington and Oregon.
The debt in all the cases rests upon the
same foundation. Our people furnished
supplies, and shipping, aud rendered their
own services, on the faith Of the Govern
ment. Every obligation is made payable
when an appropriation is made by Congress.
II is germaDe to my purpose to give one
or two facts in reply to the grave charge
which has been made against our people of
furnishing supplies at exorbitant prices.
Now, sir, have friend, living near Olym-
pia, VIII sold horse, to be used for the
volunteer service. When asked the price
Of his horse, he replied, that his horse was
worth sixty dollars cash; but said be,
to be used for the defence Of our people,
you shall have the horse for forty.6ve dol
lars scrip Aud the horse was purchased
for forty-five dollars. Aud, generally, for
a considerable period on the sound, horses
were furnished TO the territorial authorities,
for scrip, twenty-five dollars cheaper than
they were sold to the garrison at Fort
Steilacoom for cash. At the close Of this
service these animals were sold at public
sale, and brought from ten TO fifty per
cent, above the original cost. / recollect
an instance Of mule captured, and which
was rode by Captain Henness ut the battle
Of Grand Ronde. Captain Henniss rode the
mule home 10 Olympia, distance of near
ly five hundred miles He was desirous of
owning the mule, aud so be bid for it when
it was put up at auction. Bot the animal
was struck oil at four hundred aud seven
ty-6ve dollars to another man, and placed
to the credit Of the Government. Captain
Henness, who had been captain of com
pany Of volunteers for the whole war, per-
lod of some ten months, was not able to bid
in his own riding mule. .. ra
Aud now, sir, in reference to property
captured from the Indians: it was never
taken and kept by private individuals.
Stringent orders were giVeri,- that all prop
erty taken from the Indians, should be ac-
counted for as public property, and the or
ders were strictly carried out; certainly io
the Territory Of Washington, and, / be-
lieye, in Oregon.
Mr.. Chairman, you can, from facts Of
this kind, learn something Of the character
of the transactions Of our people in this
war. 1t was, most emphatically, a war
lOr our protection, and for the existence Of
our settlements. And am thankful that
it is a war which has left so little sting be-
hind, between the Indians and the white
settlers of country. They have nearly as
sumed their old relations. 1t was not
work of supererogatiOn. 1t was a work Of
toll, and watchfGlness, and of constant ex-
ertion, to bring about the old relations be-
tween the whites and Indians, so that ali
animosity might die out, and spirit of
kindness and confidence pravail.