Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-04-19
INDIAN WAR IN OREGON.

Gov. Curry, of Oregon, is prosecuting, ut an
enormous expense, n war OF determination against
the Indians Of that Territory. lie has issued his
proclamation for two regiments of mounted volun-
teers, and issued scrip for the purchase of horses,
forage and payment of men to the amount, rumor
saws. of 1000, coo. lie has made no requisition
on Gen. Wool, military commander on the Pacific,
for assistance, nor has there been any rcquision
made on him for volunteers by the United States
officers, except in one instance. All the rest OF
his operations have been commenced and carried
on without any encouragement from or understand.
ing with the United States military officers, who
ought to have directed in such matters. n
On the other hand, the United States officers all
say that this proceeding is unnecessary; that the
Indians, as n body, arc friendly and Cesirous OF
peace. Joel Palmer, Superintendent of Indian
Affairs in Oregon, in November last, wrote to Gen
Wool as follows:
~ am satisfied that the Caynses, as a tribe. are
DESTROYS of maintaining peace, and that there must
be on the part Of the whites a departure from the
principles of justice, and n violation OF rights Sc
cured this tride by the treaty, before they will be-
come a hostile party in this war. Such n step will
be, in their apprehension, "a desperate last resort for
preservation.
"This is also true of the Nexperces. Their uni
form good conduct and friendship for our citizens
render all intention on their part TO make Sar on
us quite improbable.
'The reported combination Of all those tribes
with intent to wage n war Of determination against
the whites is, | apprehend but d phantom co liured
up in the brains Of alarmists, unsupported by one
substantial reason; and the plot, said to have been
nearly c~onsummated, of cutting oft hose engaged
in the negotiations last June, / regard as of the
same character, originating in the same source"
In December Dist lie writes at follows;
believing as | do, that the cause of the present
difficulty in Southern Oregon is WhoHy to be al.
tri6uted to tie acts Of our orn people, cannot
but feel that it is our duty to adopt such measures
as will TEN to secure the lives Of those Indians,
and muint.i in guarantees secured to them by treaty
stipulations. The future will prove that Mis rdr
has been forced upon those Indians against NeI
wiV, and That too, by a set of reckless vagabonds,
for pecuniary and political objects, and sanctioned
by a numerous population, Wb0 regard the Treasury
of the United States aiegdimafe object Of plludcT.
The Indians in that district have been driven to
desperation by acts of cruelty against their peo-
pie; treaties hare been ri0idteR, and acts of bar.
barity committed by those claiming to be citizens
that would disgrace the most barbarous nations
of the earth; and if none but those who perpetra-
ted such acts were to be affected by this war, We
might look upon it with Indifference, but unhappily
- this is not the case"
D On December 18th. Gen. Wool reY orts to head
quarters at Washington, that he had failed to or
g ganize an expedition against the Indians, because
81 could neither obtain in this country the means
t Of transportation nor forage, without paying euor-
o mously for them, and which the state of the war
: in this region does not call for. This state of things
e has been caused by the extraordinary course p,r.
sued by Cor. Curry, 1rho is making Uar against tie
e Indians on his Orn account, and without the slight
Q est reference to myself, not having received
any communication whatever from him on the sub
ject.
"The quantity of the supplies required for the
volunteers, and the enormous prices paid in scriT
u by those authorized by the Governor to make pur
d chases for them, has rendered it necessary for mt
+ to resort to Benicia for horses and mules, and fol
forage to San Francisco. In this section of coun
try no danger existed which required either tho
y services of the volunteers or extravagant price:
= which have been paid in scrip for tie horses ant
forage, as well as everything else required for the
volunteers. IF volunteers were required at all, il
Il was in the Rogue River county and along Puget
Sound, but not to defend the inhabitants OF either
Oregon or Washington Territories against the In
dams who made or threatened them with war, re
siding east Of the Cascade Mountains"
n? January 18th, he adds;
n an Oregon, as well as in the Northern part Of
I'd California, many whites are for discriminating thu
Indians. This feeling is engendered by two news
papers that go for determination, and is more Of
to less possessed by the volunteers as well as other
GO not enrolled under the banners OF Governor Curry
k AS long as individual war is permitted and paid fU
at by the United States, and which is expected by al
the citizens of Oregon, we shall have no peace, anC
in the war may be prolonged indefinitely, especial,
to as it is generally asserted that the present war is
s. godsend to the people,"
re 1t is very possible that individual Indians hav,
h been thievish and quarrelsome, butt t would appea,
~ from the above that their acts have been seized OF
as n justification for an exterminating war, and
III good grasp into the United States Treasury.
ne HOPE is PROPHECY.