, 1859-05-06

with five hundred warriors, was at Priests
Rapids on our Aauk, and that Pupumux-
max. with seven hundred warriors, was on
r'c -Touchet aud on Mill Greek in the
Wal,a-walla country blocking up the road.
| started for the Spokane with our pack
animals, carrying only eighty pounds aud
twelve days provisions On the Spokane
We had exchanged oil our horses but five,
aud got the best horses in the country. ]
knew the country well, and was satisfied
that II We found all the Indians hostile, we
could some way or other work our way to
the settlements. This was the service
"such us it was" Fortunately for our
safety, the Oregon volunteers advanced
upon the Wnlla-walla, met and defeated the
Indians, and opened the way for my party,
increased to about fifty men by the acces-
sion of the miners from Colvile.
Mr.. Chairman, desire now to touch
upon some other matters, in justice to indi-
vidual companies and to gentlemen in the
territory. The Auditor bas discovered
some double and treble payments. ! am
glad that these are made known. With
one exception, they were unknown to me
before. 1t is not to be expected'that in a
new service-and particularly in the Quar-
termaster'S aud CommisSary's serVice-mis-
takes were to be avoided, for even in the
regular service, where there are trained
officers, there are very often great difficult
ties in adjusting and making out the
accounts If the Third Auditor had gone
through oil the accounts, and had found
no mistakes in them, it would have excited
the suspicion Of every man versed in such
matters.
Some years ago, Mr.. Chairman, while l
was in the army called OIL friend Of
mine in one OF the Bureaus Of the War De-
partmeut and we commenced to converse
about old acquainLances. The converSa-
ton finally turned upon person who had
prided himself in never having had mis-
take found in his accounts during SER
vice Of twenty years. Said he, IL believe
that man is dishonest. 1t never happened
to mortal man, ia coarse Of twenty years,
TO get his accounts all perfect. lie has
done a good deal Of cooking and working
up." That is the iuvariable impression
produced by these infalible accounts.
IL in our volRnteer accounts everything
had been found right, and according to rule,
it would have been damning evidence
against them, because the thing is impoSsi-
BILE. state this as fact, which the ex-
perience OF the Third Auditor might have
suggested. 1t is sufficient, however, for the
viudication Of the awards of the Commits
sion, and for the vindication of the people
of the territory, that they have not asked
for the double or treble payment. We,
acting for them, have stated, from the very
outset, at the last session Of Congress and
ut this, that we asked nothing of that kind.
1t was simply mistake that occurred, and
that would have been ascertained in any
adjustment Of the accounts.
There were cases however, Of men in the
civil and Indian service Of the Territory
who were also engaged in its military
service, aud there were strong reasons in
the opinion of the territorial government
Of Washington, why they should he allowed
their pay for military service, in addition
to their other pay. But the fact of the
employment in other service, with the
amount of compensation, was expressly re.
ported to the Commissioners, and by them
carefully set forth on the proper muster.
rolls There wasno attempt, either on the
part OF the territorial authorities, or OF the
Commission, to conceal or evade the facts;
which is their emphatic and sufficient vudi.
cation from the implied charge of the Third
Andisor, Of wrong and concealnent
There IS a certain transaction in regard
to exchange of properly between the vol
unteer service and the Indian service, il
respect Of which the Third Auditor arrives
at very wrong conclusion. The Indian
service hired from the volunteer service
horses and mules and oxen, at fifty ccnts
per day, per animal, and wagons at fifty
cents per day each The Third Auditor
concluded-and very naturally, perhaps
that such were the cash prices of the hire
Of animals and wagons at that time, where
as the truth is that they were the scriT
prices. That was what each days use OF a
horse, or mule, or yoke Of oxen, or wagon
cost the vouu'eer service IN scrip. For
taking the cost Of the animals and wagon,
We purchased, and deducting from it the
amount for which We sold the same, and
distributing the balance through the day:
work Of animals and wagons, we find the
cost to the volunteer service was about fifty
cents per day, and such was the charge
made for their use against the Indian ser
vice. Observe, that this whole matter was
a thing which grew up in consequence Of a
particular turn in affairs, which was mol
anticipated and provided for in the begin
ming, The battle OF Grande Ronde wa,
fought, and a great victory gained over til,
Indians. They all sent in messenger;
asking for peace. The Nez Perces, partcu
larly, who had been friendly up to thai
time, asked me to 60 the WaIa-wulla and
meet them in council. This victory aud
the changed department Of the Indians, il
connection with the movement of regular
troops to the WalIa-wala, which before
that time had been refused, as the officia
reports show, changed the whole aspect o.
affairs. Although | bad issued n procla