The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-05


OCR RELATIONS WIN TUE INDIANS.
~NN~>~NO>>~>NS~o.~0~~
anticipated War ON the Western BsrSasr-A
Whsle Town Dsstrsyed I'm Oscssah.
The recent news of the defeat OF Col. Steptoe by
afteen hundred Indians, and the excited state OF
large number of tribes at the North West, leads
many TO suppose that we are on the eve OF serious
Asoubae with our red brethren.
In his report at the opening Of the last session oil
Congress the Commissioner for Indian affairs repre-
scented the Indian tribes of Oregon and Washington
Territories in very unsettled state, and predicted
from that fact a general outbreak on our North
western frontier.
The events now Transporting, not alone in those
regions bat on the borders of Texas, California i'd
New Mexico are ominous of heightened and exp en-
eive Indian war, which may cost much blood and
treasure before il is terminated. Reports from all
these poi ats rs well as from the Minnesota contier,
iadicate serious trouble with the savage tribes all
Aicng the borders of civilization. The Indian wars
IN 1856 sc cost several millions; and in view of the
present condition of the treasury, another outbreak
NJ not to be contemplated without serious apprehen-
sjon.
In Minnesota the Sioux and ChiPpewas have just
renewed the feud which has existed between these
nations for a century and threequarters' rendering
the condition of the Write settlers extremely unsafe.
In the Simcoe valley at the junction OF the Column
bia and Snake rivers, Colonel Steptoe's command,
of four hundred men, met severe reverse from
lO0 of the Polouse and Snake tribes on the 18th Of
May About the same date brutal massacre Of
Indian women and children took place at Fort
Thorne in Arizona, by party Of Mexicans, for the
purpose of provoking war; and in all probability
scrribe retaliation will be taken for that act.
In view of all these facts, it will become necessary
for the government to concentrate strong bodies of
troops at different points the frontier to repress
the growing spirit of hostility thus manifested by
the Indians.
Our correspondence from Dacotah, which we pub
lsh to day, describes fearful attack the town of
Madeira, on the the Big Sioux river, by the Yankton
and Cissidan Indians, who completely burned down
the town and carried off $4,000 worth of the pro-
perty of the settlers rendering it necessary for them
TO appeal to the Governor of Minnesota for military
aid. The whole frontier from Minnesota to Califor-
mia Is pregnant with danger.
1t cannot be denied that our Indian policy has
hitherto been full of grave mistakes. The red men
cannot be bent to civilization more than the
negroes and even if it were possible. the mode we
have adopted has been very bad one. They have
been exposed TO association with the worst classes of
white men-heartless and immoral spectators, who
mix with them only to cheat and demoralize them.
The examples of white civilization which they see
around them calculated to disgust them with its
very name, while the cruel frauds that are continu
ally practised upon them, the vices and disease in
troduced into their lodges and the liquor traffic
that curse of the red man-have all combined not
alone to retard their progress but actually to bru
talize them to a degree far below their primitive
smple nature. The three greatest obstacles to the
progress of our Indian tribes have been the large
annuities paid them by the government-the wide
limits Of the lands allotted to them, and the inter
course of traders and emigrants, with all their
scheming and viciousness. 1t was suggested, we
believe, by Mr.. Douglas, at the session Of Con-
gress preceding the last, that the Indians
should be gathered into one Territory, where
they could be better controlled and governed, and
the lands parceed out TO them in seveltes forever,
of sufficient number Of for each to cultivate
whereby their romadic life might be reformed, and
the tribes who now roaming restlessly over our
frontier prairies, almost without boundary to their
domain, might have opportunity of settling down
into agriculturists. George CONWAY suggested
scheme somewhat similar, and many of those who
have had the best facilities for studying the subject
are in favor of some such plan. The total number
OF Indians the States and Territories Of the United
States, exclusive of few who have lost their tribal
character, amalgsmated with whites, is from
$4,000 to $4,000. OF these, about $50 are located
in New York Indiana, the Carolinas and Alabama,
and harmless peaceful tribes; but all the rest
numbering over 100000 are settled in California
Florida, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Wash.
ington Territory the upper Missouri, and the whole
Northwestern frontier. These, with few exceptions
such as the Shawnees and Wyandotts, the Oneidas
of Wisconsin, some tribes of the Cherokees Creeks
and Choctaws, and the Indians of Northern Mich.
gnn-may be set down q dangerous and irreliable
race, with whom difficulty may be experienced at
any time
With these troublesome neghbors hanging on the
dividing line between the States and our Pacific
shore and at this time threatening danger our from
tier settlements. the prospect Of protracted and
costly Indian war seems imminent, and II behooves
the government 10 take prompt decisive course TO
meet the emergency. We know by experience that
Indian wars are very expensive undertakings. The
war with the Seminsles in Florida cost some fifty
millions OF dollars. When our government bound
itself by the treaty Of Gaudalupe-llidalgo TO pro
tect the Mexican frontier from the attacks Of the In
clans, II found, after very short time, tina, the
claims arising out Of various polations of the hos
tile tribes-some real, but many spurious-would in
yolye the treasury ia an expense OF hundreds OF mil
lions; and IL compelled 20 abroeate that provi-
sion Of the treaty, by the negotiation OF new one.
Our present system of dealing with the red
men is manifestly wrong. II Is not only fraught
with injustice % them but il Is fruitful Of danger 10
ourselves. The parties employed a. agents and in
other capacities are accustomed TO turn their official
powers TO their own private advantage, wholly re.
CARELESS of the happiness Of the Indians or the inte
rests Of the country. Rapacty and fraud are the
characteristic feature in their policy; and as long
as this is true can hope to see the red men
placed on proper footing on this continent, OF 10
find peace secured on our vast western frontier We