, 1857-11-20

dthan were about to lock horns on the sub
ject of the Foreign Enlistment question.
How singular it would seem to be- that the
untutored savage could have had a knowl
edge as to what was passing between two
of the most powerful governments of the
world in their diplomatic relations
'.Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction
Another inducement, as we have learned
urged by the chiefs, why all the tribes
should join in hostlities, were the argu-
ments advanced from source that the
reader must guess Of, but which is very ap-
parent and palpable to all intelligent minds.
They were given to understand, prior to
the outbreak of the war, that conflict be-
tween the United States and Great Britain,
was unavoidable and that if they, (the
Indians could succeed in wiping out the
settlements north Of the Columbia river,
they would not only receive the benefits Of
the plunder, but that the Americans would
never again attempt to settle the country !;
and that the English government would be
more generous in remuncrating them for
their lands than the United States. As
surances of this kind, We are informed, were
accompanied by liberal presents of ammu,
milton, and promises of future assistance in
case of need. 1--WE are only speaking now
of the reciprocity between the eastern and
western slopes Of the Cascade mountains,
as between the Indian tribes.)
During the summer Of 1855, we have
evidence TO believe, train was despatched
from Fort Steilacoom 10 Fort Colyille,
and the conclusion is irresistible, that the
gentlemen in charge Of the train, whilst en-
route, made large presents of ammunition
to these Indians, openly encouraging them
1 to take up arms against the BOstons, and
promising to assist them in their meditated
design against our territorial settlements
and authorities.
Should any doubt remain as to the In
dians' belief that perfect and general
combination had been entered into, the
murder Of our citizens in cold blood, en- route
to Fort ColVille, should dissipate all such il.
Iuson. At the time of the treaty at Wal
la-walla, the head chiefs of all those ma.
tionS gave in their adhesion to its terms,
knowing, as many of them did, that they
were bnt giving "the word of promise to
the ear, to break it to the hopes" 1t was
a primary object with Pe.pu-mox-mox, Ka-
miakan, g. Co., to make their first grand on
slaught upon the forts at Steilacoom, and
the Dalles. Thus holding these posts,
they could, with great deal Of security,
control the entrances and exits from and
into the mouth of the Columbia river and
Puget Sound As result, the whole
country would have been held subservient
to their wishes. The plan for general
warfare and combination Of the several
tribes, had been -Rdroitly managed by the
ruling spirits of the war party. Commits
sioners were despatched with instructions
from the eastern to the western slope o.
tho mountains, proposing terms. The
bearers Of these dispatches were the native
hostile chiefs Te-i.as, young Owhi, and
another, whose name we do not now recol
-deputised to concert with Kanascut,
Leschi, Nelson, and Kitsap; permanent
arrangement was made, and means adOp.
ted for successfully carrying into effect the
object Of the conference. How well the
hostiles west of the mountains fulfilled
their part Of the contract, is evidenced by
the fact-not alone in turning large por-
ton of the people of our Territory into
the occupancy Of block houses, &C., but
also in the fact that Leschi, after perform
ing all that he had agreed to do, was ac-
tually tohiPped out Of the Clickatat camp
on his arrival there to receive bonus in
horses and cattle, which had been prom
ised the Nesqually tribe in making up the
terms of hostility.
In this general combination may very
properly be included the Upper Nisqually-
Upper Puyallup, portion of the Lower
Puyallup Indians, on this side, in connec-
ton with the White and Green river Indi-
ans, being about half Clickitat (some Of
the Duwamish,) and nearly all the power
full tribes on the other side Of the noun
tains. Many Of these Indians were induced
into hostile measures, being afraid, from
libelous reports they had received, of the
white man on one hand, and equally in ter
ror of the threats Of the indians on the
other side of the mountains. Many hesi-
tated, and for some time stood on balance,
| as it were. for peace or war: in the mean