New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-10
THE INDIANS AND THE NtRDERED
MISSIONARY UHITMAN

To TIRE Edif0r of The " y Tribune.
SIR: The fate If the lamcntcd Whitpon has been
repeatedly brought up in the Oregon papers, in proof
that Indians have gratitude, and when caprice or
interest promps will kill without discrimination, ether
friend or foe and hence they justify the atrocious
war of c1tcrmDatlJD.
Now if this was even true of the Indians, ii is Ger
tainv tue of their white neghbors, for it has been
notorious that for one white person killed whole
n be has been put 10 death. And there scores OF
men in Oregon who have made their boast OF shoot
i'm Indsns not because of crime, but merely because
they were Indians ~
The old chief John objected TO make treaty with the
authorizes, unless they could assure him of more
thorough protection, for, said he, had more men
",hO' ~ the same hnc during peace man IN rdr !;
"fRtH IRE rcre OF guard bit nor zee look out Jar
"IbonfCS."
The writer Of this was in the vicinity and earnestly
both III public and in private, protested against the
contemplated massacre of the Rogue River Ind ans
for weeks before its attempted preparation. Never
thcess because come few had received aTetaliatory
shot aAic passion and patriotism combined IN an or
ganiZaon for their destruction. IL was not even pre-
tended that they all guilty, but ohlv suspected
hat some Of a hostile trbc among them, and for
this scores including men, women and children were
put 10 death md hut for the superior di-crt hsn and
courage of The Ibcians over their asalans, the war
would hsye been far bloody and destructive than
il was for after the first roachorOus attack on tile
2Sth of October, upon party vino hal JUS been az.
smed OF peace and protection, when u,ir,y or l1ly
tie volunteers and could have Sustained with them
war for years. Yet they far from burning prop
elty and killing all that fell III their power They stu
dirsy kept within the limits OF Ictaafory law-prUp-
eat for property and life for life Hence it wa. often
snbicct Of remark that fifty Indians could have de-
sroyed in oeta all the houses in the valley II they
had been disposed But the fact ia, they did not con-
sder themselves at war with the G1vernmp or re-u'
lar settler. but only with the BOstOHs,' or voun
tecrs They even requested Capt Smith of Fort Lane
prevent tie otrocous cruet,s IN killing women aud
Children for, SAID they, We do not 70 IN our wars
IL is quite natural that the simp mnd OF the Indian
should be credulous, and when deceived suspicious,
particularly in regard 70 chemicals On one occasion
a spe culator during an epidemic, procured number
If bottles of water scented with peppermint, aud a1-
sured them it mfalble cure and charged
horse for a bottle; he soon got drove for California
where they were worth 500 10 500 each. have heard
of oune a humber being poisoned with -trychnne mixed
ith sugar, and exposed in some situation where they
would be tempted 10 cal. i lately had Gil intervlex
with Il gentleman connected with the Hudson Bay Fur
Company, who was neighbor and Intimate friend OF
Dr. Whitman a, the time OF his lamented DEATH
From him learned the following particulars: DR..
Whitman a true philanthropst and Christian, gen.
orally esteemed by all classes but be had some bitter
enemies las every good man has. These took advan-
tage of q time when the measels prevalent iand,
notwithstanding the doctors medicines, terribly fatal
among the Indians TO insinna;e that the doctor gave
them poison. Some OF the Indians applied 10 their
Chief TO enforce their own law, which is to kill the
medicine man when the patient dice The Chief firmly
resisted but enemy proposed to convince the Chief
of the nature OF the medicine by giving some 10 two
HEALTHY INDIANS when they botl suddenly died. liz
is believed strychn'De was privately mixed. Such
proof the Chief could rot resist bis religion and his
law like that of Moses, demanded blood for blood.
Fr,nzied with grief and rage, OF their number,
whose wife bad ust died, seized and with Others
fastened TO commit The fatal deed. Blu, aft,rwari this
nsn asserted be had killed his best friend and % this
day the tribe reyercs the memory OF their fallen friend
and terchtr.
In view Of these facts, how naneetly unjust it l. in
th,se who allude 10 this Justification especially
when those who do II have sanctioned wrungs of larger
magnitude against tie very people Hholn they so
-, s>Iy accuse In con uson, cannot but express
NY deep regret that while Cen ID Is very properly
sustained Gen Palmer is di-houored and dismissed
be trueE1 ared man in the midl Of defamation row.
,I,i,m and wrong, lie defended the ngLs of those
whom the awess -Quaucr soy-rclsns ought 10 de-
strv, n,