The Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1852-1872, 1853-03-26
The Indians of Northern California

The Indians of Northern California.
The question, What course shall the whites
pursue toward the Indians of Northern Cali
formal has now become oft the most serious mo-
ment. Involving, as it does, the preservation of
both life and property, It demands prompt and
speedy solution.
BY reference to other portions of to-day's pa
per, the distant reader will learn that the sava-
ges are every day becoming more daring in their
attacks upon the property well as the lives of
our people. Through out Colusa and Shasta, and
in portions of Trinity and Siskiyou, they are
wasinS most active and ruthless warfare
against us. No longer combining themselves to
the preparation of mere acts of theft, they are
boldly and at every opportunity Staying our citi-
zens. Indeed so daring have they become that
it is absolutely unsafe to travel oye r any expos
ed portion OF this section Of country unarmed.
Those tribes inhabiting that portion of the Coast
Range forming the western boundary of Shasta
and Cousa counties, have become perfect
scoGrge to the inhabitants of the Upper Sacra.
mento Valley. While the Pitt River tribe, the
most warlike Indians in California, are infestine
the Sacramento trail leading from this point to
Yreka. in such numbers and with such deter
mined fierceness, as to render it almost certain
death to pass over that road, unless with large
and well armed party. They have also recently
been observed lurking upon the trail leading
from this place to Weaxerville. In a word, i'm
PEELED by hunger, and that hate which the saw
hear xx,lit fbaxy he,
ing upon every trail north of this point, and
fighting for food with fury unparalleled in the
history of our intercourse with Them But not
outstanding appearances are favorable to the
superstition that the present state of hostilties
Is the result of preconcert the part of the bel
hgerent tribes, we are persuaded that this is not
the case, but that hunger is the great cause of
their recent attacks. 1t is known that their
winters supply of acorns has been completely
exhausted, so that they are now contending
more for the mule and cargo than for the life of
the owner. This being the case then, the pre-
sent state OF things must inevitably become az
gravated every day, unless some act of terrible
retribution be inflicted upon them at once
And now the question arises, How shall this
be done! The plan heretofore pursued to-
ward the Indians has failed in every instance to
effect any permanent good. California Indians
look upon treaties. as soon as they grow incon-
venent, just in the light as do the rulers of
more civilized and enlightened nations-as so
much waste paper
The only sure way then of accomplishing this
desirable result is by means of force. They
must be whipped-if needs be- exterminated
1t is contemplate. sickly, mawkish feeling OF
philanthropy that urges, by way of palliating
the offences of these miserable devils, that we
have despoiled them of their fishing and hunt
ing grounds. Would such exquisitely sensitive
souls have Americans abandon the country
The miner and packer are willing to live
terms of amity with the sayages, but the savages
will not. We repeat then, they must be whip
Ped-ter.ibly unprecedented through the
mountains and shot down withoutmercy. They
must be struck where the blows will be most
felt They must be pursued to their homes
their ranches must be burned-their squaws and
children must be taken and brought in as hos
tages-and then after the retributive hand of
number of their warriors are beneath the ground
we may hope to make treaty with the suryi-
vors that will effect lasting peace.
The Indian in the course of few years
is bound to become extinct They wiiher away
before the breath of the white man like leaves
before the trosts of autumn. Their total ami
hilation is certain, and it is but question
OF tlme-whether that event shall not be hasten
ed by war of determination waged by the
whites. Unless our people can speedily whip
a peace out of them, such war win and should
ensue. And 1t the United States troops are not
authorized to prosecute such war, our own
people must pay number of men to do it for
them. What are the lives of hundred of these
savages to the life of single American citizen
|. The letter of Co arrived too late for in.