, 1856-03-07
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY MARCH T. 1856

Perces, who, with his powerful tribe, was
our only safeguard from destruction.
The utter want Of foresight in the man
ner in which these treaties were conducted
is burning disgrace to the Home Depart
ment; its recklessness can only be pardon
ed by the miserable apology of utter in
competency-aiTording another sad proo
that men occupying high and responsible
positions are not always fitted to discharge
the duties devolving upon them.
lncapability too often comes into power
through the accident of political exped
ency-pity tits true. Had there have been
as sound policy dictated, and as Gov. Ste
yens himself earnestly requested, proper
military force at the treaty ground, il
would have at least impressed the indians
with the power of the government, and this
war, which will probably cost many MILL
ons, Certain authorities, before it is through
with, will have found out that it is not SO
much of stampede as they represent,
would never have existed.
The only force at the Walla-walla council
was A infantry, and that small force was
only obtained by the most urgent solicita-
tons OF Gov. Stevens and Gen. Palmer
from the post at the Dalles. At the Black.
foot council, where there were assembled
5000 of the most warlke Indians on the
continent of North America-Indians who
had never been at peace with the whites
whose name from time immemorial had
q terror, there was not single soldier.
Comment is unnecessary. No wonder that
they deride the power Of the government.
They accepted the treaty because it was
their interest; they will break it whenever
it suits their pleasure. Yet had regiment
of dragons been present, as there should
have been, there would be no fears Of the
Blackfeet for oil time to come
1t was n great, very great mistake,
when the Bureau of Indian Affairs was
separated from the War Department.
They are so necessarily connected that the
separation could only be as it has proved,
extremely injurious
The history of that Walla-walla council
is itself sufficient answer to the calumnies
against the priests. They went there be-
leving, in common with all belonging to
the expedition, that it would bring about
a state Of peace, where oil was uncertainty
and dread. Notwithstanding they were
assured by the Indiansrof the dangers to
be incurred-implored to remain away for
e ar that in q moment of excitement all
whites would be treated alike, they came
boldly to the council, not free from appre-
tensions, since it is not given TO human ma
ture to go forth to meet terrible death
nnconcerned, but with o noble and higher
courage, deeming it their duty that what.
ever fate should befal the rest should be
theirs also. 1t is right" they said to the
Indians, that some arrangement should
be made that will put an end to oil difficult
tics between yourselves and the whites
you have asked it, and you have done well
in doing so. You complain that the whites
arc coming upon your lands; that the lands
ore those Of your fathers, and none have a
right but yourselves. Let oil these com
plants be sOttled. Let us come together
and talk over these grievances-fnd out
what is right for the rcd man, and what is
right for the white, so that the chiefs on
both sides may restrain their people. 1t is
better that there should be peace-not
war"
The priests did all they could to bring
about that treaty, thinking it would be
mutually beneficial to the Indian and the
white: to the Indian, as it conceded to
them a sufficient reservation, giving them
farms, blacksmith shops, mills and school
houses. A more liberal treaty has prob.
ably never been made. To the white man
| it would throw open for settlement the
large and fertile valley Of the Walla-walla
1t has turned out vastly different from
the thoughts Of oil engaged. Man wills
God ordains. We all believed that before
many months there would be in that valley
thriving population-the country being
almost unequalled for grazing purposes
instead Of the scattered few then settled
within it and who, as they laid down tc
rest, knew not whether the war whooI
mis- ght not awaken them as the knell thai
summoned them to their last long sleep.
1t was this state Of uncertainty that W.
imagined was done away with by the treaty
and well do / member,-after the stormy
debates of three weeks council with it:
attending doubts and perplexities, at one
moment the Indians swayed almost to oil
outbreak by the naughty Cayuse and the
cunning Walla-walla, at another all would
seem peace and quiet, no vestige of the
storm that was past, and then again the
fitful burst of angry passions, subsiding al
before,-how at last, when it was brought
to an end by energy and patience, eacl
turned to the other with congratulations
that the danger was over and permanent
peace had been secured.
Little did we dream that the calm wa
but the precursor Of an outbreak, Of which
the only parallel was that Of the combna
tion formed by Tecumseh; that the frs
information we would receive after w
crossed the Rocky mountains, not on tn,
white mans account, but solely for tht
benefit of these tribes with whom we hat
been in council, would bring to our ear