, 1856-03-28

to 1000 warriors. Their families and
stock will be in secure retreats in the
mountains, and unless before that time the
Indians here are completely subdued, the
passes over the mountains secured by
block-houses, it will be within the range Of
probabilities that large portion OF the
friendly Indians on the Sound can be in.
cited to hostility. The CIickatats aud
Yakimas know oil the passes of the. Cas-
cades and can readily crOss after the mouth
of May. Hence the necessity of the most
vigorous blows now, of no changes of plan,
of having troops in the settlements to guard
against any sudden outbreak of the friend
ly Indians. Two men have recently been
killed within IA miles of The capitol of the
territory, by a band of maranders, who
have only been driven out within the last
few days. .l.
1t seems to me that the present condition
of things imposes upon you the necessity of
recognizing the services Of the volunteers
Of the two Territories now in the field, aud
of your doing every thing to facilitate their
operations. But if you waste your exer-
tions in the fruitless effort to induce either
the authorities TO withdraw their troops.
to abandon their plan Of campaign in order
to comply with your rcquistion, or TO meet
your peculiar notions, l warn you now,
sir, that /, as the Governor Of Washington.
will cast upon you the whole responsibility
Of any difficulties which may arise in con-
sequence, and that by my firm, steady and
energetic course, and by my determination
to cooperate with the regular service,
whatever may be the proVocation to the
contrary, will vindicate the justice Of my
course and maintain my reputation as b
faithful public servant. / warn y6n,> sir,
that nnless your course is changed yon will
have difficulties, in relation to which your
only salvation will be the firm and decided
policy of the two Territories, whose ser1i-
ces you have ignored, whose people you
have illuminated, and whose respect you
have long since ceased to possess. N
You have erred in your Judgment as to
volunteers being needed at all here; and as
l have before observed, in calling for volun-
teers after increasing force deemed by
yon sufficient, two companies, you have
indicated the justice and necessity of my
acts in organizing the people of the Terri
tory as its executive.
| have Thus, practically, your own en-
dorsement that l have judged rightly when
you were in error, and my Judgment hav-
ing thus been sanctioned in calling out vol
unteers, prefer to rely upcn it in the mat
ter, both Of the numbers required and the
organization which will give them the
most efficiency. ... ....l - 4
Can you presume, sir, to be able to cor
rect your opinions by q hasty visit to the
Sound Of few days and do you expect,
after having taken my deliberate course,
that l shall change my plans on simple
from you, without even q con
ference between US? We're you desrous,
sir, to harmonic the elements Of strength
on the Sound, you would have seen
that it was your doty, at least to have
informed me OF your presence, and 70 have
invited me to a conference. There was
ample time for it, for it was less difficult
for me to reach you, on receiving notice,
than Colonel Casey, and have shown
throughout the most anxious desire to CO..
operate with the regular service .,s 757.r
Whilst in the country in the fall and
winter, you complained that the authorities
Of the two Territories did not communicate
with you. Why did you not inform me Of
your presence in the Sound on your arrival
at Steilaooom 2 learned Of your probable
arrival, by simply learning, on Saturday
morning BY my express, Of your having left
Vancouver and / Immediately dispatched
the chief Of my staff to wait upon you with
a letter. But you were gone; and whether
you did not know the courtesy due to the
civil authorities Of the Territory, who had
taken the proper course to place themselves
in relations with you, or whether you were
unwilling to- meet man whose safety you
had criminally neglected, and whose gen
eral views you had been compelled to adopt,
is a matter entirely immaterial to me. /
enclose copy of the letter transmitted by
the hands Of Adjt. Gen. Nlton, the Sur
veyor General Of the Territory Of Wash
ington. .T 3if-f. l 9aw Ssh a.5iN
After the defeat Of the Indians in the
Walla-walla valley, they were completely
cowed, and for weeks, spies only crossed the
Snake river to examine the country; grad
ually becoming emboldened, they have
since come over in small parties and got
some small successes in running of horses,
and now they have more than recovered
from the prestige Of that defeat. They are
making Gttaeks on the whole line Of com
mnnicatiou, and arc more firm and united,
more hopeful and have more strength than
when the war commenced Pr .,.,
What, sir, would have been the effect il
Gov. Curry had not made the movement
which You condemn, and my party, with the
friendly Nez Perces, had been cat of I
Sir, there would have been burriesne oI
war between the Cascades and Bitter Root
aud three thousand warriors would now be
in arms. Every tribe would have Joined
including the Snakes, aId,the spirit Of hos
tility would have spread east Of the Bitter
Root to the Upper Pend d QTeillsa, sdor,
/ believe, sir, | would have, forced ny
fa.'A ..afa ~ N.HNIs n A III