Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-16

district and il from that officer learned the follow
lug STORY OF ms analr party Of Indian fighters had
been ON long hunt after Indians and unsuccessful in
nndlng any. Being determined however not to come in
without soalps they for Indians who were living
near 10 make treaty with them These Indians slept
IN the white camp that night eating peacefully with as
they supposed, their friends In the morning the
mander OF the white party ordered his men to
their res and load afresh that each might be sure Of
his gun lie then disclosed his plan; which was that az
the crack OF his pistol they commence the
ere OF their guests. The plan succeeded admirably An
the Indians were killed. and the returned with the
scaps Of thirty Indians TO the mining town where
they received enthusiastic welcome from the citizens
This told General Hitchcock by Of the actors in
this glorious affair At the time a United States
force OF regular soldiers in the vicinity for the purpose
Of chatsng the Indians should there prove any neces
sy for doing So
Another instance is the following, brought by the last
mail
"Hews from The Iatertor--Na,yspile
| "a correspondent of the Marysvie Herald, writing
few weeks since from Lyons ranch giving account of
ARRAY with the Indians which resulted in the death of
eighteen twenty writes again under date Of the 18th
| instant:
Yesterday evening information was received that the
old chief at Frenchtown, mining settlement across
the West Branch four five miles distant openly threat
ening vengeance upon the whites for the castga
ton they had received party of eight immediate
ly formed and at o'clock out from Hasy's ranch
crossed the river and arrested and brought back the old
chief arriving before II o'clock After binding him.
strong guard placed him prevent the posi-
by of his escape, until this morning, when he was re-
moved about mile, TO Lyons ranch and after short
deberaton 1T was unanimously resolved to hang him at
once. Arrangements were made and the redoubta
bic old brave who has figured conspicuousy in every
Indian aray of Importance this region since the intro
ducton of the whites after calmly surveying prepa
rations made for his execution met his fate with
summate bravery He suspended by the neck the
limb of oak in the neghborhood The vote deciding
upon this course was unanimous but there is at least
who strongly doubts the policy justice of the proceed
ing Time will show There still two chiefs remain
ing and tribe that least two hundred and
fifty lighting men, in the immediate neighborhood of
small scattered population of exposed and defenceess
whites What they together with their allies the
Igres and Nmskews, will pursue remains to be seem
! remark upon the above:
l. That whites appear to have been killed in this
"a6ray' where eighteen twenty Indians were killed
full proof that it was Of helpless and de-
enceless beings, perhaps mostly and children
2 That the old Chief atFrenchtopn openly threat
nig vengeance. This is SO contrary to Indian habits
that set it down entire untruth An Indian land
an old man at that does not go into to threaten
vengeance" If he wants vengeance he goes privately
and takes it.
g. The unanimity of the for hanging the old man
is with me, sign Of its Justice and as for his courage
in dying that is natural to the Indian character and
peclaly In these California Indians who reduced to
despartheir country and all support taken away from
them resting place where they be safe death on
one hand from starvaton and the other by killing and
hanging.
now to the remedy that is proposed for these
wrongs and which is supported by the approval of
military commander, the governor and lieutenant gov
ernor Of the State, as the following letters show
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY, 1853
To his Exceleacy The President cfMe United States:
We desire to recommend to your careful and favorable
consideration the plans proposed to be adopted by the
Superintendent Of Indian Affairs, Lieut. Beale for the
government Of the Indians of this State.
The Indian policy for this State should be carefully de-
ursal md lanha,
well known. His knowledge of the custom and habits
of the Indians of this State has been acquired by resi-
dence among and around them and together with his
perience in border life emnenty qualify him to submit
feasible plan of future operations to the Admntra
ton, whereby the lives and property of our people may
be secured and the condition of the Indians improved
greatly reduced tax on the general and on our State
Government.
These, to great degree, believe, will be attained
in the adoption of the plans proposed by him.
And in this connexion we beg to deprecate the removal
OF Lieut. Beale from his position but hope that il
may be the pleasure of the Administration continue
him here, TO elaborate the system projected for on the
successful development Of this policy think depends
much Of the prosperity of the people the borders of
our State JOHN BIGLER, Governor
SAMUEL PURDY, Lieut. Govr
The Indians Of this country do not hold labor in dis
grace, those do who live the Atlantic side Of the
continent They labor freely, and in the time of the
sons did nearly all the labor of the country cutiyatng
and buildings and memory and tradition as the
happest period of their lives know they would rejoice
get back into such condition and they hope to find it
in the military reserves if established At place where
have collected FIVE six hundred between the Maripo
and San Joaquin, and where make frequent visits
and temporary abode they working about twenty
poughs and about thousand will be cultivated
this year The poughing is well DONE and other Indians
are begging the same privilege The plan Of military re-
servations which have proposed to the Government is
eagerly embraced by the Indians, reminding them as it
does of their peaceful and happy times at the missions
and entirely approved by the United States command
ing officer in the country, the following letter from
Gen. Hitchcock will show
Copyof letter from Gen. Hitchcock 10 COL Cooper dated
San Francisco, NoVeabeT 80 1852
deem it necessary for such use as the Hon Secre
tary Of War may think proper, to express opinion
carefully formed in favor Of the plan proposed recently
by Mr. Beae, the Superintendent Of Indian Affairs in this
division, for adjusting and placing permanent basis
relations with the Indians in this country. Mr. Beale
has fully explained to his this subject
municated few weeks since by letter to the chief Of his
department at Washington city and it appears that
the choice OF the Government lies necessarily between
cepng that plan and giving the Indians rapid
termination expulsion from the State. The objection
to the plan the apparently policy of assuming direct
control over the Indian lands and providing for the In
dams giving them the alternative Of accepting such
engagements as the Government may make, Of being
treated Tor matreaed) at the pleasure Of the white
settlers.
In answer to this it should be considered that these
Indians have been recognised by the Spanish
Mexican Government having Independent rights in the
counry and therefore, far rs they concerned the
proposed policy would introduce decided change, but
on the contrary respect to dominion would be such
they have been accustomed In regard to the settlers
il not to be denied that there is serious difficulty
the real question is whether they SHALL in unreguated
manner, determine intercourse with the Indians in
ducng expensive wars with other evils or whether the