, 1857-02-27

tcrtained IN he mines, although such may
have been the case some years ago. So
much, then, for the premises Of the Tribune;
now let US briefly glance at its conclusions,
which are as follows:
q There are, however, two things touching this mat
ter Of Indian hostilites on our frcLt'erS which We
consider settled, One Is that u the irdilfs wire
tteated propedy-and by that we mean honestly and
decently-by the whites should never have Indian
diideulfles and Indian war.
| 1T IA the testimony Of Gen. Cass ard OF Gen.
Houston repeatedly given ia public and private, a.
the fruits Of their long experience northern,
western and southern frontiers, among the various
tribes which stll nger upon the edge Of our adVanc
ing civilization"
"The other fact which we consider equally well
tablished Is that considerable portion Of the pio
neers Of infant settlements consider the Indians
which should be cut up By the roots and eSter1n
mated TO make room for the whites"
From the statements on the one side ard the 9th
er, and from private sources, We derive this conelu
sion: Tia, me lrhifeS Of both Washington dHd Ore
gUE hdte been TOO eager 70 frted thar sdadmsIts aud
there have hitherto been confined TO the coast SIDE Of
4 the Cascade range OF mountains. On the Pacific
Slope parallel with the coast the beautiful WI
amette the seat Of the principal population Of Ore
g0n. There, too, are the other smaller rivers Of Ore
gon the Umpqua, Rogue river and yet eebler streams
pouring their waters into the Pncihc. On the same
side Of the mountains in Washington Territory lies
| Puget Sound around which capacous basin and its
the population Of that Territory. The Columbia river
lies between the two Territories, forming their boun
dairy, and running east and west, pierces the Cas-
cade range about $50 miles from its mouth. Here il
"a broken by extensive falls, marking entire q
division between the upper and lower countries as II
made by the mountain range itself. This range of
country on the coast thus described has hitherto
tanned, as we have said nearly the entire population
Of Oregon and Washington. Here, TOO, is abundant
room for them, both nOlo, and, from present appear
aHees, for tscenty or thirty years 70 come Indeed,
there more than Is now foreseen, the progress Of
population in the future will be very slow. The
country Is not In prosperous condition The settle
ments languish Improved places can be obtained at
far less than their cost The sudden rise Of Calfor
MA stimulated these settlements for time, and they
furnished lumber and agricultural products to the
new population below at very profitable rates. But
California no longer needs them. The resources Of
that State have been developed and she Is longer
an importer bat an exporter Of such products a
Oregon and Washington can furnish. The influence
Of this changed condition is disastrous. Horses and
beepes become dull Of sale at SIS or $40 the had
and tohsGt is toorh no than 30 cents a bUss0.
Oregon and Washington are thus increasing but
slowly; and being thrown entirely on their own
agricultural resources their prospects Of rapid growth
are not animating.
In answer to the implied accusation con-
tanned in the first paragraph above quoted,
that our Indians have not been treated
properly-honestly and decently," We will
simply repeat what We have more than
ouce heretofore affirmed as our firm con-
viction, that the white population of this
Territory, as q general rule, have treated
the Indians better, with more considetd-
ton, with greater regard for their rights,
and with more forbearance, than has ever
before been extended to the Indian race
since the march Of civilization crossed the
Allegheny mountains and we are equally
as firmly convinced that the treaties made
with them were predicated upon as much
justice, honesty, and regard for the future
well being Of the race, as any that were
ever formed by either Gems. CAss or Hous-
TON, to the testimony Of which gentlemen
the TH5Ns refers in support of the para
graph under consideration. Whoever knew
the Indian race to abide the stipulations Of
a treaty until they we're AOgged into re-
spect for its provisions 7 Without stopping
to make further reply to the second para
graph than will be found in the foregoing,
we will proceed TO give the third, and last,
a passing notice. For the sake Of convc-
nience, we have taken the liberty to italieise
those portions TO which we desire to call
especial attention.
The Tribune appears to think "that the
rAites of both Territories hare been too eager
10 srtend their settlements and elaims into the
Indidn country" And by what authority
at whose Invitation have the whites thus
attempted to "extehd their settlements
and claims into the Indian country 2"
Who is responsible that the whites have
attempted TO form a. settlement in the
Walla-walla valley, and elsewhere, east Of
the Cascade mountains We answer, the
General Government; and we further main,
tain that so far as It concerned our citizens,
or whoever might have thought proper to
immigrate from the States Or elsewhere, to
this portion Of the Pacific coast, the dOna-
tiOn Ldio Of Congress rirta0Ay ertiMguished
Tie Indian title to all lands IN Washington
and Oregon territories on both sides of The
Cascade mountains. Persons coming here,
and taking clans on either side Of those
mountains, had right to expect that they
would be protected and defended in their Oc-
cupancy. As far as the settlement Of the
country was concerned, or the rights of our
citizens under the law Of Congress, the
government ordered the formation Of trea-
ties with the Indians, merely to give vital
ity-force and effect TO that which it had
previously assumed, viz : Tie sOrcreigHty Of
The soil.
But according tolthe 7ri6une's argument
we have rcApn enough for settlement O1l lie 4