Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-18
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
Indian War in Oregon and Washington.

Indian War in Oregon and Washington.
We have received a late number OF
the Alta California, which contains news
from Oregon and Washington territories
Of the most exciting character. 1t rep
rcsents the Indians of those territories as
having banded together to exterminate
the whites. Several persons have been
murdered and large amount of prop
erty destroyed. The principal danger is
in Washington, as there the inhabitants
are few and the Indians numerous. The
latter are well armed and the whites are
more poorly ACQUIRED than one would
have reason to suppose, when we remem-
Der that so large an amount of offensive
weapons and ammunition have been car
ried to those territories by emigrants.-
1t is to be accounted for Nearly all the
arms have been sold to their enemies by
the settlers when all was peace and no
danger was to be apprehended.
Gen. Wool has been ordered to the
theatre of war with an effective force,
and there can be no doubt but that we
are on the eve of a murderous Indian
war, perhaps not long protracted, but a
war which will prove of immense trouble
to our government and of great vexation
to the inhabitants living in the vicinity of
the troubles. Several of the killed and
wounded were personally known to us.
Among them was one Mr.. Wallace, for
rnerly a candidate for congress from
Washington territory, and Col. A. B.
Moses, L. S. Collector.
Olympia, the capital of Washington,
with several other towns, were being for
titled and put in a state of defence.
Relative to the difficulties spoken of
above, we wish to append few remarks,
explanatory of what we suppose to be its
origin. We think we know the immedi-
ate cause of all these troubles. We
were living in Washington territory at
the time the first aggression upon the
Indians was made, which was nothing
more nor less than downright, wilful
and cold-blooded murder. The circum-
stances are these: A man whose ~
we do not now remer.I-., nlred some six
mr. e;gbt Jn4ans living about Fl. Simp-
--.,ork for him by the month. At
'er Working faithfully for some time. they
ana demanded their pay, which was re-
fused; and in addition they were ordered
oil. They replied that they would when
PAD WhereupOn the owner of the pre-
misses ordered one of his men TO shoot
the chief, which was obcyed. The In
dams gave no provocation. The man
burt, who shot the Indian, was tried be-
fore justice, and though it was clearly
proved by the testimony of two or three |
respectable witnesses that the murder
was committed without cause, vet the
magistrate in the plenitude of his mercy.
very coolly ordered the prisoners dis
charge, remarking as he did so. that in
"sihuch as the country was new and they
nau no Jalls in which to confne the pris-
oner, and if they had it would cost 60
much to keep him till he could be tried
at higher tribunal, and then again bo
might make his escape, and furthermore
is the outrage was committed upon moth
ing but an Indian, he thought it best to
release the prisoner.
Now we ask in all conscience. was not I
this shameful? Is it to be wondered ot
That poor, weak, deluded tribe ef In
l'ans' possessing the feeling of resent q
nent as strongly as they do, should seek i
Tor revenge! They did seek for re- Z
'enge and several persons were murdered
4 short time after the death of their
'lliel' but they were shortly quelled. as !:
I'll the Indian tribes beyond the RocLv
Mountains were not then united. That
> not The case now. All the Indian
rloes IN Oregon and Washington are
low on friendly terms. This is WHY so
nuch danger is to be feared to the inno-
ent inhabitants.
The case cited above is not an isolated E
me- The history of our Indian affa;r. !
crowded with such shameful instances
We quote the above because II fnrn;sho.
case IN point, one which we know to no A
rue as we were resident of WASHING -
On territory at the time the difTicrl,;o. -
olnmenced, and an eyewitness of n mart T
the proceedings which were then had ~
' saw the murdered man, one of tho h,
OLDEST Of his tribe. We also saw his
'uefer' an excellent specimen of a
border rufTan."
ii"a the same outrage been perpetra-
u upon white man, what would have u'
cen the consequence? Hanging with az
!. -. Judge or jury would be the sure PEN Ir
en-
We conclude abruptly, by saying when 81
r. =, cOun'rymen wish to avoid any diff p p