New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-27

pense 90 q swindlins speculation on tho Govcrn-
ment. Such il the substance of Gen. Woods
representations. II has been alleged that tho regu
lar troops could at any time have brought il speed
lily to an end, if the volunteer force under Cow.
Curry and Stevens would withdraw from the field.
On the other side, we have the speeches Of Gen.
Lane of Oregon in the House, and now We have the
exposition Of Gov. Stevens to show that the Indians
were the original ageressors, and that the people
were compelled to Hy to arms in selfdefense.
From the statements on the one side and the
other, and from private sources, we derive this
conclusion: That the whites Of both Washington
and Oregon have been too eager TO extend their
settlements and chims into the Indian country.
The white settlements there have hitherto been
confined TO the coast side Of the Cascade range OF
mountains. On the Pacific slope, parallel with the
principal population Of Oregon. There, too, are
theother smaller rivers Of Oregon, the UmpquA
Rogue River, and yet eebler streams pouring their
waters into the Pacific. On the same side Of the
mouI tains in Washington Territory lies Pugets
Sound, around which capacious basin and its nu-
merous arms are congregated the major portion Of
the population of that Territory. The Columbia
River lies between the two Territories, forming
their boundary, and running east and west, pierces
the Cascade Range about $50 miles from its mouth.
Here it is broken BY extensive fails, marking a.
entire division between the upper and lower coun'
tries as If made BY the mountain range itself. Inns
range of country on the csast thus described has hth
erto contained, a. We hare said, nearly the entire
population of Oregon and Washington. Here, too,
il abundant room for them, both now, and, from
present appearances, for twenty or thirty years 70
come. Indeed, unless something occurs to stmu-
late settlements there more than is now foreseen,
the progress of population in the future
will be very slow. The country is not in q
prosperous condition. The settlements hnguish.
Improved places can be obtained at far less than
their cost. The sudden rise of California stimu-
lated there settlements for . time, and they fur
nshed lumber and agricultural products to the new
population below at very profitable rates. But
California NO longer needs them. Tho resources Of
that State have been developed and she is no longer
an importer but an exporter Of such products a.
Oregon and Warrington can furnish. The influence
of this changed condition il disastrous. Horses and
beeyes are become dull of sale at SIS or 800 the
head, and wheat il worth no more than 80 cents
busbel. Oregon and Washington are thus incress-
ing but slowly; and, being thrown entirely on their
own agricultural resources their prospects Of rapid
growth are not animating.
Yet, notwithstanding, il has been the aim of the
settlers and the ambition Of the Governors OF those
Territories to extend their settlements into tho in.
terror, over the great valley lying between the Cas-.
cade range and the Rocky Mountains. This at
tempt, incOnsiderately made, as We shau see, has
been the cause Of the recent Indian difficulties, and
upon those who have made it, and not upon the
Indians of that valley who have resisted tho at
tempt, rests the responsibility Of causing the
recent war. The path into that upper country 10
through the valley of the Columbia River. A
short distance above the point where tho
Columbia breaks through tho Cascade range,
10 1.-the DalJes," a narrow, rapid shoot Of the
river between perpendicular walls of rock. Hero
il a post and q small settlement. Forty miles
further up the river forks one branch extending to
the north and the other to the south watering the
great valley lying between the Rocky Mountains on
the east and the Cascade range on the west. Near
to this junction Of the two main branches OF the
great river of the Pacific, ID Fort Walla Wallis
and here has been another small settlement. Along
this line Of ingress into the upper country the first
Indian difficulties occurred, and from this portion
we learn that the whites, what few there were,
have bee expelled, and that it now remains in the
exclusive possession of the warike tribes inhaolt-
ing it, namely the Yakimas, the Walla-Wailas the
Cayuses, and the Nez Perces. The Government
troops hold few isolated posts in the country. but
the Rarrsons are email and poworloss, and can do
no more than defend Themselves against attacks.
The Indians hold the country and roam ct
pleasure.
Al we have said, il was the incOnsiderate attempt
to get possession of this upper country
on the war. The facts are these: The whites had
pushed through the gorge Of the Cascade range By
the way of tho river, and begun scattered settle
ments on the Indian lands above, with sort Of tsct
assent Of the tribes. But prudent men foresaw diff
culties from this and demonstrated against the en-
croachment, to the military authorities. Tho re.
plv wa.. "There are but few Of these settlers and
"no more than the Indians are willing should
"come." Soon after, treaties were negotiated BY
our Indian Agents with the tribes Of the
yicinity-the Yakimss, the Walla-Wslss,
and the Csyuses, and the region round
about ceded by them to the Government Just
about this time, gold was discovered on the upper
waters Of the Columbia at ColviIe, some two or
three hundred miles further up on the North fork Of
the Columbia, and thither miners began to 60. At
this point Of time the principal chiefs of tho tribes
A. Il daelaxad that The aliena.