The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-05
INDIAN AFFAIRS INDIAN POLICY OREGON

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In my last communication it stated that six recent
treaties with Indian tribes in Oregon and one with tribes
in Washington had been ratified Foar Of the Oregon
treaties and the one in Washington 1t appears nego
tiaed under the Instructions memorandum of which
quoted in my last letter and In conformity Herewith
From the table to which have SO often referred learn
six other treaties have been negotiated with tribes in
Washington, two with tribes in Oregon, and two with
tribes inhabtng portions of both Territories which have
not yet become binding. Whether their provisions
form to the instructions given, not is reported
There may be serious and insupeabe objections the de-
tails Of these treaties yet the brief found opposite
each in the table indicates the probability that they
similar to those heretofore ratified
The design of Congress that treaties should be negotia
ted with tribes in Oregon has been early manifested and
consistently adhered TO- AT the session of ls495O the
of $4,000 appropriated to deay the expenses of
such negotiations The next Congress- at its first session.
made additional appropriation of $4,000 Under Mr.
Fillmores administration sundry articles of agreement
entered into and the United States paid the expense
But those agreements not approved. The Thirty
third Congress appropriated additional sos 600
for treaty expenses in Oregon and $4,000 for the
expenses in Washington and other articles have been
entered into and other expenses doubtless paid The ques
ton ought them TO arise, with great force whether the
Executive has executed these repeated directions Of
Congress in wise and able manner2 We claim that all
papers made public indicate that he has done The
|
what ought to have been done in the incpency Of
things but what should be done in the present state of
affairs?
Voluminous papers submitted to the present Congress-
at the first session and this session. show that the gov
officers in the Territories alluded to- by way of
encouraging tribes to remain at peace and to them
from the influence of hostile bands have collected friendly
Indians mostly those west of the Cascade range in colo
MES reservations Several thousands seem thus to
have been collected Subsistence has been furnished to
some Transportation has been paid for Others and the
inquiry arises what should be doae2 Without
endeavoring to solve this question: will refer to the past
to show that there parties interested in wise de-
cson.
In 1850 an act of Congress was passed authorizing the
survey of all the lands in Oregon then embracing the other
Territory also between the Pacific and the summit
of the Cascade range Donation tracts Of half section of
land each were by the act given to every white
and American halbreed settler above eighteen years of
age if unmarried and section to every married man.
under certain restrictions Emgran to that region between
December l. 1850 and December l. 1852 TO receive
100 acres By passed February H. 1853 other priv
eges were given settlers and the act of 1850
tended and continued in force to December 1855. Pro-
vision was also made have the surveyed lands exposed
to SALE and subject to entry.
In July 1854 another act passed further securing
the rights of settlers and making separate land district
| in the Territory of Washington.
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invited all the world and bis wife" (of white half
breed to go to Oregon and settle. But the Indian
there and occupying the land Congress 1t that
the right give away the lands before the Indian
had been satisfied for his claims Congress il that
ordered his lands surveyed Congress that directed
that officers be appointed to sell and to take the money for
the surveyed lands.
Under these circumstances it is clear that both whites
Indians have right to look to Congress- and to ask
why did ye thus I?
The settlement of Oregon and Washington Territories
has been attended with disturbances and bloodshed
Congress has manifested its readiness pay the
incurred by the settlers in fighting the Indians Congress
the expenses Of the Cayuse incurred in s47
ls4s and in 1851 appropriated 100000 and in 1854
$7oOo to that object So likewise Congress assumed in
1854 the expenses of services subsistence forage stores
and supplies for the then ate with the Rogue River
Indians in Oregon aatR.as. En-. .sa
Here then is the Congress induces white settlers
to Oregon by donations OF land still in possession of
Indians and pays those settlers for fighting the Indians
Whatever else may be said of this method of settling
Indian country, and extinguishing Indian claims to lands
it is entitled to the credit being It is not the old
and rcical display of Indian treaties But developed
in Oregon and Washington, what be said of its hui
manity What of its economy Is it in these respects
superior the decried policy Of bargain and sale2 Its
continuance might rid the country of its Indian popula-
tom but let put you sordid question, what will it
aud then let reply the best lights before
The first brush with the Cayuses cost $l75,0OO. The
| Rogue River of 1859, know not how much
Governor Stevens estimates the expenses in his Ter
rtory September 1885, covering about ten months
$s999 $685. about 900 per year. lex. doc. No. g.
lst 34h Congo have seen no estimate for Oregon
but presume the claims there will be greater in Wash
| ington Territory. 1"@
i General Wool remarks this subject: The Indians
be extermuaed but only ut expense Of City one
hundred millions and thousands of innocent and valuable
lives" (Same doc, p. ~
Should the question to-day be- is 1t best to feed fight
these Indians, question of dollars and cents think
it might prove cheapest feed them In Texas 800 In
dams have progressively in three years been brought
gehe and assisted in procuring subsistence at
about 100000. AT the rate the Indians of the
Cascades, in Oregon and Washipgton-say three six
thousand in each Territorywil cost in three years
100000 to $6ooooO, $25oooo to 100000 per year
| for three years
Where many Indians to be looked after the sum
appears largetoo large TO be admissible But will it not
compare with the policy of fighting Them even on the
moderate cstimates2 Moreover If every nducement
is to be held out to cmigrants to 60 those Territories
the disbursement of money to feed Indians preferable
method Of developing the of the Territory to
that of tempting the cupdiy of men go there to fight
| them.
The foregoing calculation allows 100000 to $s0OOOO
for the cost of system of colonization in that portion OF
Oregon west of the scades for three years. Now us
foot up the Of carrying out the treaties ratified and
unratfed that have been negotiated stated on page,
s4 to sl7 of Elk. Doc. No. y embracing all payments Of
1 r. Al Al