, 1860-05-18

this course was indispensable to prevent
the most shocking scenes Of massacre. 1t
was blevcd by many persons that If they
remained in the Territory they would
starve. The great point was to see If the
war could rot be brought 10 close by u
vigorous campaign, in order that the farm
ers might get in their spring crops. To
this point We moved everything. ], my
self, Travelled all over The Territory, appeal
ing to the citizens to stand bE US, eudeav-
oring to encourage them everywhere and
| also visited all the Indian tribes, in order
that no cXertion might be spared that
should tend to soothe their discontented
spirits, and to restore to them their former
confidence in oar government. The official
reports and records on the files Of the de-
partment show that the most anxious vigil
lance was exercised The reports to the
War Department and to the Indian De
partment were exceedingly full and minute
As Indian superintendent, | deemed it my
duty 10 report to the Indian Department
every case Of tue unauthorized killing Of
Indians by White men No such rase was
reported for the first six months OF the war,
because no case of unauthorized killing oc-
CURED during those six months. The com
miitee will see what a Triumphant and
splendid Vindication this fact is, of the
character of that people, against these cruel
and scandalous charges Of Gen. Wool aud
others. Recollect, they were living in
block houses. They were in great suffer-
ing. Many lives had been lost by massa-
ere much property had been destroyed !;
and yet for six months no case Of unau.
thorizcd killing occurred. When the pub
lie miud became persuaded that the war
might be ended by vigorous and decisive
campaign, so that the farmers could get in
their spring crops, the idea of leaving the
Territory was abandoned all persons de
termined to stand by the Territory, and
they did stand by the Territory. And
this brings me to my refusal to comply with
requisiion Of Col. Casey, in March, 1856,
for two companies of volunteers to be mus
tered into the regular service. At the
time this requisition was made, our troops
were actually in the Indian country, fight
ing the hostile Indians, with ample supplies
aud transportation for the movements
which, in our Judgment, would conquer T.
peace and my Judgment was thoroughly
conyiced that the safety Of the Territory
and the public interests with which l was
charged, demanded at my hands that those
means should he vigorously applied accord
ing to the plan which had already been de-
termined on. The correspondence is given
in full in this volume have before me,
Message and accompanying documents Of
the Governor of Washington Territory,
4th session Of the Legislative Assimbly) to
which | will particularly invite the atten-
ton of the committee.
Mr.. STANTON There is another point
which we would be glad to have you ex-
plain. We do not understand the necessi-
ty of the operations of Col. Shaw east OF
the Cascade mountains. Will you be
pleased to give an account Of that
Mr.. STEVENS. will remind the commit
tee Of the fact that throughout that war
took the necessary measures to get the most
minute and accurate information in regard
to the whole interior Of the country. There
was organized system Of expresses, which
reached every band and tribe east Of the
Cascades. Through our Indian expresses
aud spies, we ascertained the designs Of the
hostile Indians, learned the proceedings Of
their councils, and the steps which from
time to time they took to induce Indians,
before friendly, to join them 10 making war
upon the white population. In the Nez
Perces country there was an Indian agent
Of great experience and knowledge Of the
Indians, with some white settlers, upon
whom | relied very much for information
with regard to that country. A portion Of
the Nez Perces chiefs, and the head clief
Lawyer especially, were Of unyirlding 10y
atty, and were determined to maintain the
peace of tue tribe. had message after
message from the chiefs OF the Nez Perces,
imploring me to send troops there, inform.
ing me that portion Of the Nez Perces had
already become hostile and embittered
against the whites, and that Kamiakin and
the Yakimas were coming into that coun-
try all the time to increase the disalIection,
aud that there would he general Indian
war unless troops came there. deter
mined that / would not send troops cast OF
the Cascades if it was part of the pur-
pose Of the officer in command of the regu-
lar troops, Col. Wright, to send, them to
the country where they were so much need
ed-that is, to the Walla Wala country.
This movement would have broken up the
hostile combination east of the Columbia,
aud have relieved the Nez Perces. first
corresponded with Col Wright, and aseer-
tanned fron him that he did not intend TO
send troops there. advised him of my In
formation in regard to the disposition OF
those Indians, aud the probability Of an
outbreak there; aud then conceived it to
be my duty to send considerable force,
with the view of checking it in the very
bud. As Indian superintendent, sent to
the Nez Perces and other friendly Indians
quite large AMOUNT Of provisions, clothing,
and other articles required for their CON-
fort. The whole force rendezvoused ut
Walla Walla, consisting Of nearly four hun
dred volunteers. There they met the Nez
Perces in council Everything seemed to