, 1857-11-06


is true TO some extent, owing to change o.
climate and the prevailing influenza, which
has assumed a very malignant form at this
place
Proceeding thence sixty miles, by the
way Of Fort Haskins, the Silotz Reserva-
ton was next visited. This is quite new
place, and contains the largest body of In,
| dams brought together in either Territory,
consisting of the Rogue Rivers, Shastas
and Coast Indians as far south as Rogue
river, under treaties besides various other
tribes with whom treaties have been made
but never ratified. Unlike the soil Of the
Grand Ronde, which is of cold and poor
quality, the Siletz embraces some of the
best land in Oregon Territory, and is but
six miles from the head Of the navigable
waters Of the Toquina Bay.
Here another council was held, and the
Chiefs told their wrong and grievances, all
of which tho Special Agent promised
them he would faithfully report to their
Great Father at Washington. ,.They are
desirous Of going back to their native val
eys on the Rogue river, and are generally
dissatisfied with their present location.
The whole system seems to be cruel and
monstrous evil; but civilization must take
the precedence, and there is no remedy for
it, but to treat these poor beings with kind
ness and humanity when they behave them
selves, and with the utmost severity and
rigor upon the first symptom Of an out
break
The war debt of Oregon, as passed upon
by the Commissioners, has reached the
round sum of 5O0,O00-making with
that of Washington Territory, s., 100000
Nor does this include any of the claims
which. will hereafter be presented to Con
gress for spolations being only for actual
services rendered and supplies actually fur.
nished.
After a thorough examination of Indian
affairs and accounts of agents west of the
Cascades Messrs. Browne and Sprague pro.
ceedcd to the eastward and held q council
with the principal chief Of the Nez Perces
(who had come down to the Dales) the
Wascoos and few of the Yakimas and
Klickatais. Lawyer, the Chief Of the
Nex Perces, is a man of great intelligence
aud good sense. He professed friendship
for the whites, but stated that others Of
the prominent chiefs were disalfected, ow-
ing to the non-ratiication of the treaty.
He thought il ungrateful ON the part Of
the Government, that he had been always
on the side Of peace. bad furnished horses
for the volunteers for which he had never
received payment and yielded up his alIe-
glance and arms, without receiving any Of
the annuities promised him in the treaty |;
whilst the Blackfeet, who had always been
Sighting against the whites, and the Yaki-
mas and Klickatats and other hostile tribes
we're now treated as friends. There is a
good deal of truth in this, and il peace is
desirable, something should be done for
Lawyer and his tribe. -
Having thus conferred with the various
chiefs, with whom treaties had been made,
and ascertain their feelings, itSseemed evi-
dent that they are in very disafTected
condition, and the present peace east Of
the Cascades, can only be regarded as
truce, which may be followed by open war
at any moment
But one opinion prevails throughout the
Territories In reference to the murderers Of
Fantyng, Mattice and Bolou. They should
be taken and punished even at the expense
of another outbreak. II Government ad-
mits that it is afraid 10 take them lest
there,shonld be more war, then it at once
acknowledges its inability to protect its
own citizens and agents. II the death OF
Boloa is left unave1eed what security Is
there for the lives Of any Of the Indian
Agents?
The same may be said Of the murderers
Of Wright, who are now going at large on
the SiIetz reservation, fed and clothed at
Government expense. II was but recently
that they held feasts aud dances over the
scalp, and but for tho heroism and daring
Of the agent in taking the scalp from them,
they would have continued their orgies to
the present time. tssH -
The chief causes Of the war, which
formed the principal subject for Mr.. B 3
Investigations, may be summed np in few
words: Previous to June, 1850, no steps