The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-10
The Indians In California.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Ny attention has been directed to the report of thu
Superintendent Of Indian Affairs for California by the
notices which have of in the public prints of the
country In looking the report find stranga
things set down to the charge of the citizens Of that
State which are new and unaccountable to me. am
unwilling that q report unjust to the citizens OF my
State should go to the world unoontradicted regret
that Superintendent had not informed himself better
before he made his report 1t is evident to my mind that
he entirely from the say Of Others and h
inormers have been very careless the they
municated their information have resided in Calornix
since October lS49 the greater part OF the time IN the
during that period Inhabited by the Indians resided
from August until December, 1851, the San Joaquin
river, within two miles OF Fort Miller where there the
travelled great deal among them in other parts Of the
State, and must say that have heard Of sucR
Of barbsry set down in that report against
our countrymen
Kings river in six hours after the ARRAY had
ere Of and children and which he says was pre-
meditated knew all the Americans engaged in the AZ
fray, and the gentleman who is stgmatised the leadec
Of the have known for years. And from the
careless manner this affair has been reported to
the conclusion that the whole history Of Indian barbara
there was not one woman or single child killed. NOE
even wounded. The Indians made the attack upon the
Americans and wounded one man WITH an arrow Se' ore
one got wounded the rest fed to the mountans
as informed by Major Harvey, who was the leader
and also by the entire party in Blk hours after it
Kings aud visited the Indian village. one of
the party and we saw the Indian who had been
gagged in the ARRAY the day BEFORE ~ho informed that
they had been told by the ndsn Commissioners to fight
looking at their country to take it from them. We told
them that such not the and Immediately enter
ed into friendly treaty with them and At their request
/ committed to paper the purpors Of our talk.
O party passed to what is called the Four Creek
Country, and remained among large number Of Indiana
fer several days. looking at the country and on our re-
turn Kings river found that the Indians at that
lace had kept their PROMISE and the whites and them
getting on entirely friendly.
This whole affair greatly exaggerated ct the time
and those who to be in that region Of the
country at the time did all could on our return To
Francisco to correct it, and should have supposed
the which found their way into
the newspapers in the month OF July, 1852 would not
orm part OF report made at Washington in the month
of February 1853 The Superintendent has done great
INJUSTICE TO the State of California in the following,
which take from his report =
Accounts Of the killings usually appear in the news
papers and such accounts mostly derived from
the actors they appear exploits and expeditions,
for which the United States is called upon to pay The
total demand for Indian in California it 10 believed
is a million OF dollars"
Of over one million Of dollars for which she has given
her bonds part of which bear twelve per cent inter-
est the remainder seven per cent This debt she owes
for men and supplies ordered by the proper authorities OF
people, and single debt has assumed where the
parties had not been properly called out by the lawful
authorities This debt she expects the government to
pay The report is very strange In other respects
but forbear saying anything more as know it will 30
fully investigated by the people of California
Very respectfully, your obeiient servant,
BLANTON McALPlN.
Washington City, May 7, 1853.