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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
not the way to retaliate; it is the way to produce war by inflict- ing chastisement, as it is called, on people who have perpetrated no offence on the Government. That is the way our Indian wars are kept up. The Treasury would be drained of hundreds of millions annually, if eYery occasion of an outrage were immedi- ately to be redressed by falling upon the first Indians upon our extended frontiers who are suspected, or upon any tribe, because they had in their possession articles taken on the occasion of the massacre. A resolution requiring the Secretary to ascertain and to report the facts, I should be glad to pass [the resolution] ;.and if it can be ascertained who were the perpetrators of the deed, inflict upon them a punishment commensurate with their offense; but do not fall indiscriminately on the Indians who are at peace on our borders, and thus provoke hereafter the massacre of pet- haps ten for every one that has fallen. ,ve know that Indians, if they can help themselves, never go unavenged of injuries done to them, and you may attack an innocent tribe that had no par- ticipancy in this transaction, and inflict on them a great wrong. Redress on their part is the consequence, and other innocent persons have to fall victims to this indiscriminate mode of war- fare that we are conducting on our frontier. [Mr. Gwin and Mr. Foote speak.] . Mr. Gwin. Does the Senator from Texas still object to the passage of the resolution? Mr. Houston. I do not, if the gentleman will amend it in such a way as to ascertain- The Vice President. The Senator from Vermont is on the floor and has made a motion. 1 Congressional Globe, Part 2, 1857-1858, pp. 1176, 1177. REMARKS ON THE ADMISSION OF KANSAS, MARCH 19, 1858 1 Mr. Houston. I have no expectation of making a speech, nor had I any intention of uttering a syllable upon this subject, but as my friend from Alabama-[Interruptions.] It was not my intention to have uttered one word in relation to this subject, nor do I now intend to address the Senate upon the topic before it; but an observation which fell from my friend from Alabama, in relation to the passage of the Nebraska bill, demands of me a passing observation. The remark was that those who opposed the passage of the Nebraska bill, opposed it on the ground that it opened the Territory to slavery. I opposed
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