New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-10
OREGON.
THE INDIAN WAR,
Correspondence of the N. Y. Tribune.
OREGON TERRITORY, June % 1876


Having seen some articles in THE TRIBUNE IN
the subject of the Indian War in Oregon, and l
thinking. as stated there, that this Indian war was
got up entirely for the purpose of speculation.
As an an old settler of Oregon, and one who
has been here since 1889, and tolerable well posted
nm IN all matters in relation to this and the other
| Indian Wars of Oregon, propose to give you &
| few facts ard you can make such use of them as
Won please-only that you retain from the public
nrint nv name, for the reason that nor any one
would be safe to give fair or true account of this
most uncalled for unjust, unwarrantable and un-
| righteous war.
This war is only a continuation of project com.
menced in lS47 by set Of men who will take mon
ev or flee at any cost, the one of industry,
| honor or merit. A few Americans lived number
| Of wears in Oregon and never lost hardly man by
the Ipdians-nOt many as the Indians lost By the
whites The passes were kept open to California and
| IN the Stafes-in fact all Me mountains of Oregon
and Washington Territories could be traversed
| wi,b safety and so done by any number of
| men The Indians were chastlsed whenever they
| done wrong-a crime was not left UNPUBLISHED; and
in This way we got along and done well until we
| have been reinforced by "A set OF men who wish to
| ike but not let live. war OF determination was
commenced, but finding il bad job Gov. Curry is
changing his plans and getting tired of the fun A
moor Indian stands but little chance in Oregon
or Washington Territories without he or she is I'M
der United States protection.
| 10, this war debt be paid by Uncle Sam and he
will only be asked for another as soon as 1t can be
| brought about by the same men. The extravagant
| Csyu.e war debt was paid, to the establishment OF
hundreds The Rogue River war debt was paid
soou after. This is third; let it be paid
/ L.. ...,,tA, LAT, IN,
| /. if known in Congress that all United States Off
GERS are held in contempt by the major part of the
| citizens! | mean the army and Indian agents.
| do not hesitate to say that man was never
more abused than Gen. Wool has been. Had Our
two Governors, Curry and Stevens, taken the ad
vice Of the old General. all would have been well
here. and the lives Of many good men saved who
were persuaded to enter into this war Ofpecuatlon.
1t is nothing else, as you have stated. All the
newspapers in Oregon have to support the war or
90 by the board Nearly every one has been stuff
ed as full of scrip as San Francisco balotbox of
| illegal votes The excitement was well got up, the
| plans were we'll laid, the unsuspectlng were drawn
| in good and here We are graspng at anything that
| can be used to substantlate our claims. Upon
| Congress We look for justification OF our acts
We are willing to sacrifice the superintendent OF
Indians Affairs who has done his duty like man and
| a Christian. TO Gen. Wool the atteation Of our
|
Indian wars). They are determined to make out a
good case by securing his downfall, which is com
| mon way in Oregon to raise upon the downfall OF
| another. hope, however, that such man as
| Wool will not be given up by our Government to
satisfy community who are led by such Generals
as " alker.
Gov. Curry leaves on the next steamer for Wash
ngton, to carry on the war with Wool, having got
through long since with the Indians. He is gong
4. T.. hiatt ou Wnul has dome AMT thing Dlt
give protection to the citizens of Oregon; but in
all his efforts he no doubt will fail. 1t Is said here
BY our press, which belongs to Gov. Curry Cor
who ants the scrip cashed), that Gen. Wool re-
manned in W inter quarters aud left the poor VOlun-
tecrs in the field guarding the citizens. e. What
did the Volunteers do last Winter or in the field
This Spring? They have killed and nearly sub
sisted Oh the animals they have taken from the
friendly Indians and American settlers; they have
und he caches Of and potatoes, beside other
food, such as roots, dried salmon, peas, &c, and
used il az their own. In this way they have re-
lnuined at war and in the Indian country so long.
Our regular army dare not go and commit such
wholesale depiedations upon any friendly Indians;
cur Press would be on them IN no time, beside
they dare not. Had Gen. Wool done what Gov
Curry or Gov. Stevens have done, he would no
doubt instantly be removed, and well he ought
As for the murders and depredatons that have
been committed in Oregon and Washington in the
present war; II an Indian has soul let us nOt NEIL
ton it, or ask who has the most nOtches
cut upon the tally stick, lest the Indian APP
pear in the distance. | am ashamed to
acknowledge that we done all that we
have accused the Indian Of And this we have
done over and abOve-dug the bodies Of dead n-
fants from the ground and threw them at each
other, as bad boys do with dead cat they may
fLd in the street. We have ravishcd their girls,
who were too young, if willing, for men, We have
done many other acts that the Border Ruffian Of
Missouri would be ashamed of. These things do
not wish the people in the States to know, for it is
disgrace to the Union We live in; but certainly
something should be done to stop such work, and
know of nothing that will do it except refusing to
pay men for such work. Give US Il military force,
such one as we now have, one that will keep the
law less in check. Gen. Wool can do it if per-
mited, and it will be just what the best OF Oregon
wants. This war never will be brought to close
by Curry or Stevens, or any extermlnators what
ever. he demagogues and croakers OF Oregon
have nearly used us up, and nothing will save us
but strict arm Of justice administered by Uncle
Sam.
The regular army have done good service here;
in fact, If il had not been for It more lives would
have been lost, and yet we would have been living
in blOck-hOuses. LAW ANB ORDER.