The Nevada Democrat., 1858-04-14

A Government Agent slandering the People.
Mr.. J. Ross Browne, the general financial
agent Of the government, in his report on the
Indian difisultiss in Washington Territory,
says some hard things about the citizens Of Port
Townsend, in that Territory. The following is
q sample:
The chief Of the Claims is the "Duke Of
Yerk," once powerful and Intelligent chief,
but of late very much debased by the use Of in
toxicatlng liquOra Accompanied by the agent
we called to pay eur respects t. the Duke at
his domicil ON the beach. He lives in o large
shanty built Of slabs and boards, within the lm-
its Of the town. On each side il whiskey shsp
from which he derives continued success. With
in the past year he has scarcely ever been So
Der.
We found him stretched ON q rough bed, 10
drank that he was incapable sf noticing even
the sndearments Of his wives, "Queen Victoria"
and "Jenny Lind" who were sitting beside
him, beating him as demonstration Of affec.
tion. A few days before he had given Jenny q
black eye and knocked few teeth out of the
Queens mouth; and now that he was hors dtI
combat, they were having little satisfaction.
Both ladies were exceedingly drunk. The
Dukes brother was lying on the ground near
by, more drunk, If possible, than any Of the
party. We took our departure, very much i'm
pressed with the scene. 1t was a sad cOmmen-
tary upon the morals Of the white population Of
Port Townsend. From what saw during my
stay there, formed the opinion that the Duke
of York, ana his amiable family were net below
the average of the white citizens residing at
that benighted place. With very few excep-
tions, It would be difficult to find . worse class
OF population in any part of the world. No less
than six murders have occurred during the past
year. 1t is notorious as o resert for "beach-
eombersn aud outlaws Of every description.
AS might be expected, the people Of Port
Townsend became furious en- reading Mr..
Brownies report, aud number Of them have
addressed letter to him on the subject from
which We make the following extract:
Your report first describes the Indians at this
agency to be in the most depraved condition,
and add that from what you saw, the "Duke Of
York, and his amiable family. were not below
the average Of the white citizens Of that be-
nighted place" Now, sir, at theltime you were
here, We were, every one Of us, resident citizens
of this place. Will you be kind enough to in
form as when or whore ysu saw any one Of US
pursuing any other than an honorable calling
for q livelihood Will you also, in like man
ner, inform ms Of the six murders you assert
positively to have been committed here the past
year? We know Of but one neither the mur-
derer nOr murdered were residents of the place.
We regret, sir, that you should, without any
cause, step outside Of yeur official capacity to
wholly and most wrongfully misrepresent o
community Of as peacesble, industrious and
law-abiding citizens as can be found anywhere
You have made no exeeptiOns-yOu average us
all in one pit of moral degradation. We, in
selfdefense, say yOu have done us great injus-
tcs You have wholly misrepresented US.
Yours,
Washburne IL Whsels, Fowler Il Co.,
L. d. Hastings, F. W. Psttygrove,
A. A. Plummsr, A. Hibbard,
J. G. Ginger, J.J. II. Van Bokkelin,
Thomas S. Russell, G.. II. Gsrrish,
A. Mclean, John Price.