New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-31
THE OREGON INDIAN WAR.

in Oregon was urgently asked for IN the House on
Friday, when the subject was referred to the Com
mittee of Ways and Means for consideration
We learn from our private correspondence at the
theater Of hostilies in that distant Territory, that
the war there ia of the same character, and pro-
voked by the same causes, as that waged by Gen.
Harney against the squaws and children OF the
Missouri frontier. Whatever may have been the
former character of Indian wars in the West,
and however much the infant settlements in our
earlier history may have suffered from savage
cruelty il seems now TO be established by testimony
of uDimpeachable character that the recent aud
existing hOstilites with the Indians have all been
caused by the inexcusable and outrageous assaults
of the whites in the first instance. We all know
how the Harvey on the Missouri frontier was
got up last year, and how mercilessly it was
cOnducted-an encampment Of unarmed women
and children having been cruelty put to the sword
through the scandalous fslsehoOd and treachery of
our forces more inexcussble and cowardly
murder was never committed than the attack of
our dragons upon that encampment, though with
unparalleled official impudence it was styled in the
reports a "battle." Since the massacre in ques-
ton we have heard of no more battles in that
quarter. We should never have heard of
this one if the Indians had not believed
in the friendship of the lying villains who first de-
ceived and then slaughtered them. Informed by
cruel experience Of the falsehood and savage bar
barity Of their Christian foes, they have ever since
kept scattered and out of the reach of our bold
dragons.
1t ia notorious that the Indians everywhere are
now fully impressed with the power of the whites,
and instead of seeking opportunities Of attack and
outrage, they desire to live in peace. They know
that it is only by so doing they can be saved from
utter determination. The testimony borne BY Gen.
Cass and Gen. Houston at the last session of Con-
gress, in the debate on the appropriation for this
Harvey war; entirely conclusive as to the present
dispositions of the Indians. No two men in the
country have had so long, varied and thorough ex-
perience of the Indian character as these two Sen
stors and in that debate they both protested against
the commencement Of the Harvey war. They both
deprecated the savage policy of Mr.. Secretary Davis
who asked for and subsequently obtained two regi-
ments and two and half millions of dollars to
cha.tise the red men who had dared to fire back
when csuselessly fired into by detachment of
troops under headstrong and hairbrained leuten-
ant. Both Gen. Cass and Gen. Houston declared it
was nothing but wickedness and folly to treat the
Indians as was proposed, In punishment of that al-
legged eence 1t Eas stated that the pacific desires
of the Indians were perfectly well known, and that
to makewar upon them was no better than malignant
cruelty. Yet the war was made in spite Of all such
proestations, and the fruit of it, after years op
eratons, is a treacherous and bloody assault upon
a confding body of Indians, consisting Of hand
full Of men and large number of women and
children, who all ran away as fast as they could
when they found themselves attacked, and who
were mercilessly hewn down as they fed by the
sabers of our brave heavy horse. The trophies of
our drsgoOns were the caps and blankets of some
thirty or forty sQusws and children, and the fowl
iDg-pieces of dozen or twenty men. The cost of
the operation. which all grew ont Of an Indian
theft of one lame COW, is between 81 000, 600 and
$3,000,000. Such is the nature of the war on our
Western frontier, where the Indians are trying TO
be peaceable, and only ask to be allowed to be so.
OF snilar character, it would seem, is the
Oregon war We have observed by the Published
accounts that General Wool, who has command of
the United States troops in that Territory is in
cliped TO inactivity and We have noticed reports
of his remarks which 90 TO show that he does not
concur with the violent proceedings against the
Indians, recommended in other quarters. From
what we have seen, We have for some time been
led TO infer that the hostilities there much re-
semble those on this aide of the Rocky Mountains to
which we have referred. We are now confirmed
in our impression BY the character Of our private
sdvices from Oregon, coming directly from the
theater Of hostilities, under date of the lst Of
truth is not allowed to appear in the public intel
lgtnce from the Territory, because it will preju.
dice the future claim against the Government for
the expenses Of the war. The conflict is, in fact,
said to be to some extent husbanded as prolific
source Of emolument 10 numerous rascals engaged
IN II The effort is not TO stop the war, but TO
Keep II gong. As example of the mode of
proceeding toward quellipg the savages, the fol-
lowing statement is made by our correspondent:
A body Of ten or twelve men on reconnaissance.
came upon shan;y in which some Indians had shelf
cred themselves, and which they had converted into
fort. The whites, to themselves from harm.
professed friendship and spent the time in talking Of
peace, treaty, &c, until darkness favored their
escape Afer getting away they aroused the country
for attack upon this body Of Indians, about 20
in har "a Id in Ia