, 1856-02-22

" Blsing their movements on tNe reports "l NoN
Stevens, immigrants entered the Indian country, com
menccd improvements and the Indians not constituting
these acts as fair consequence OF the treaty, aud lc
garding the settlers ntcrlopers, numler OF mur
defs were committed, the news of which speedily
spread through the territories. In September Mr.. BO
l0n the Indian aCeat started alone for the scene o
difficulty and trusting to the prestige of his office and
the knowledge Of the language, entered freely among
the savages enquircd into the cause Of the murders
and demanded the surrender Of the murderers. He
rather imprudently threatened them with an armed
invasion by the government troops If they were not
delivered.
Some arrangement was at length entered into and
returning towards the settlements Mr. Bolon was
murdered on the road
Now these treaties, were treaties of ces'
sioa in which certain lands were reserved
for the homes of the Indians. That the In
dians knew precisely the limits of these res
ervations, every man present at the council
well knows. Maps of the reservations on a
large scale, were shown to the Indians at
the council ground, and they were urged to
state, freely, their views in regard to the
propositions of the Commissioners. Every
thing was agreed to unanimously by the In
dians-especially that of opening the lands
outsidehe reservations, Immediately to settle
mcnt. Practically, there had been no In
tercourse Law in either territory. Congress
had passed Donation Law, giving to set
tiers land, by a residence on, and cultivation
of the same, for a certain number of years
and under this law, both territories had be-
come settled previous to the extingushment
of the Indian title. Congress had likewise
directed public surveys to be made over both
territories, in advance Of the extinguishment
of Indian title. All this had been com
planned of by the Indians, and the Indian
officers were of opinion that no delay should
occur in making the treaties. The Indian De-
partment had taken the same view, and after
being clothed with the necessary authority,
both Gen. Palmer and Gov. Stevens as Com
missioners, entered, in good faith, upon the
duty of making the treaties. .. ... nod
In these treaties, every care was taken to
protect the Indians in the possession of their
improvements. A provision was inserted as
regards the improvements outside of the res
ervationS, that their value should be apprais-
ed, and the Indians protected in the posses
sion of them, until the value thereof was ac-
tually paid in money, or, in equivalent, i'm
provements 'Oithin the reservations, at the
option Of the parties.
The correspondent for once speaks the
truth when he says that "Mr. BoLoN went
alone into the Yakima country to settle these
difficulties" He went through, advised by
friendly Indians, such as Garry, chief Of the
Spokanes, that the Yakamas would kill him.
Such was his confidence in the good faith Of
these Indians, and such his earnest desire
amicably to settle the difficulties, that no 'ad-
vice or warning could prevent him going for
ward. He even doubted, whether or not
murders had been committed, and if so, he
believed it would not be approved by the
chiefs. There is no reason to believe that
he "imprudently threatened" them He was
treacherously murdered, though esteemed by
the Yakimas for, said they, "having de
termined to go to var, we will kill our friends
as well as our enemies"
Several persons, going quietly through
their country, had been murdered by them,
under circumstances Of the most unexempled
attrocity-persons going to the mines, and
treating the Indians with kindness, justice
and consideration, were indiscriminitely mur-
dered by them in detail The Indians do
not allege that our people did them wrong.
They allegc no such cause for the war.
What was the cause?
The evidence is ample, and is still accumu-
lating, that the war has been Matching for
some two or three years. Such is the testi-
mony of the Jesuit Fatbers-such have been
the reports amongst the Indians. Even be-
fore the Indians finally assembled at WalIa-
walla, every exertion was made to prevent
the Nez Perces, known to be unfaultering
friends to the whites, from coming to the
council The other tribes sent messenger Of
ter messenger, asking them to stay away.
The Nez Perces came. They refused to en-
ter into any combination with the other
tribes now in arms. These tribes at Walla-
walla, though they agreed to meet in coun.
Gil to make treaties Of cession, came to the
council ground, hostae-refusing to accept
tobacco and provisions They were hostile
for several days gradually became softened,
and at the close Of the council, expressed the
utmost satisfaction. To these facts are some
forty lCitHCsses, and zoe challenge denial.
They were all invited to send delegations
to the Blackfoot council. When Looking
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