New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-02
FROM WASHING TON.
INDIAN WARS AND WRONGS
Il Core.pordenee Of the NY. Tribune.

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Perhaps stand alone in the belief, or at least IN
its bold ayows, that Territorial Extension Is one
of the greatest evils and dangers which now threat
en- the American Union. trust my name will
stand on the Great Book as that of steadfast,
earnest coz sstent opposer of every increase OF our
National area, whether by conquest, purchase, or
whatever other form of Annexation. AS con-
d. mn the blind grasping Of the farmer who buys
an adjacent homestead with the money which
should have improved and rendered fruitful his
own, 60 do protest against our National hard bar
gains Like that last purchase of worthless strip OF
the Northern border of Mexico before we had even
made wagon. road from the Mississippi to Cali
fornia and Oregon. Let US first improve what We
have to the utmost, and thee consider the policy OF
buying out or driving back our neighbOrs.
presume the Valley of the Rio Grande is now
costing the Federal Treasury, in troops, Territorial
government, Indian Agencies and CustOm-houses,
not lees than Two Millions per annum over and
above all revenue thence derived. Who pays this
Two Millions Why should they pay it What
profit do they realize from the outlay Such a
river can never constitute half so good National
boundary as would the desert on one side OF it's
valley or the mountain range on the other. II is
facility and temptation to smugglers, not barrier
against them. Slaves and poems run across it and
are reciprocally kidnapped and sent back again;
feuds grow up between the rough borderers thus
thrown into dangerous proximity; maraudng e1-
petitions cross it on slight pretexts and commit
outrages which provoke retaliation. II were bet
ter for US if the sterile district which bounds east
werdly the valley Of this river had been recognized
as the Debatabe Land between Texas and Mexico.
California and Oregon are valuable countries,
the former especially So II is fit that they should
be settled and improved by adventurous spirits
from our midst but l wish they had done so "on
their own hook" They would have governed AID
protected themselves much cheaper and better
than we have Gone or can do it. They would have
saved millions Of dollars which we have already
paid out in their behalf, though scarcely to their
advantage; for while / don't say that Messrs.
Collier, Butler King, Hammond, r. N. Price, and
others are not perfectly honest, | do say that
if California and Oregon had formed sn indepen1-
ent community, they would have collected and dis
buried their revenue at far less cost than has been
incurred in those processes By the Federal Gov
eminent. SO with their Indian Wars, and in fact
with their outgoes generally. Men have trumped
I'D ebominabe bills because Uncle Sam was TO De
paymaster, who would never have thought of
charging any such sums ~ the local authorities
Who does not know that Rhode Island and Yer
mont are far more frugally and honestly governed
than New-YOrk and Virginia
That what are called Indian Wars are gener-
ally the offspring of White cupidity and outrage, il
now pretty well understood; but / doubt whether
even Florida was ever the theater Of an Indian war
more scandalous in its origin and objects than that
of which Oregon and Washington have re:ently
been the arena. II was only last year that the
Government agreed TO pay 1926, 600 for the extra
cost of the last Indian war in California AMI now
We have another such in full blast in the Territories
north, which is expected TO take a: least -Four
Millions from the Treasury and distribute it among
the spectators in Indian killing. Ard presume
they will get every dollar Of it.
Just 81 the House was on the point Of adioDrning
last Friday after another discreditable days work
on the District Elections bill, Gen. LANE, Delegate
from Oregon rose and introduceda bill spproprat-
ing $780, eco for immediate use in buying savage
aid or neutrality in the Indian war in Oregon and
Washington, which bill he wanted put on It's pas
sage forthwith. This was very properly resisted in
spite of telegraphic dispatch real by Gen. L.
which rung the usual changes on savage cruelty
treschery, massacre Of women ard children, &c.
The bill was sent 10 the Committee of Ways and
Means, where il will doubtless be reported this
morning, and probably passed during the day.
don tknow whose hands the money is to 90 through,
50 cannot be accused of personality in saying taat
| don't believe the Indians VIII ever see one thitd
Of il.
This Oregon Indian War is pslpably White
cou,riyance to plumber the FEDERAL Treasury.
want 10 better evidence Of this than thas its abe-
tors denounce and calumniate Gen. Wool, CON-
uander of the United States forces On the Pacific
side, accusing HIM of all manner OF mallessanee,
and asking for bis removal Gen. Wool is not
great mar but be is honest and brave, and TIA very
last nan TO be justly accused OF desertng an mol
fensiye people committed 10 his military protection.
His real ofense is obstinate resistance TO pecu-
latipg conspiracy. So says The San Ffdaeisco
Herald; 60 will say al when they become cogui'