The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-06
OUR INDIAN POLICY ON THE PACIFIC.

Since the expedition of Lewis and Clarke to the
Pacific early in the century, the Indians beyond the
Rocky Mountains have been remarkable among the
red men of North America for their superior intel
lgence and warlike spirit. Until recent years
government has had but fcw relations with them of
any sor and their knowledge of the whites has been
derived altogether from their dealings with the
agents of the Hudson Bay Company in the British
Provinces, and with few individual traders the
Columbia river from the United States. The policy
of these traders has been that of peace and
sion and the Indian has been encouraged by the
whole course of these dealings with the white man.
TO believe that he is as unused and incompetent
he is averse to war. We do not recoect that the In
dian of the Pacific has had single lesson of the
white mans prowess in war, and of the terror he
inspire in exacting vengeance for wrong. The white
man has rather retreated before him than advanced
upon him; and large regions Of northern Mexico,
once the abode Of civilization and Of dense and
thriving population, have been desolated by the
incursions of the war like Apaches. The whites
have scarcely ever made formidable and successful
resistance outbreaks from the Indians Of the Pa
cfc, except in the war in Oregon a few years ago;
and here the whites rather aimed at protecting
themselves from the attacks of the savage than
red upon an aggressive war to strike terror into his
counsels.
The hostile news from the Indians of Oregon and
Washington Territories, which we are now receiv-
ing, is not surprising They the most warke In
dams on the continent. They have felt the
power Of our government They are pulled up with
an inordinate opinion of their prowess and of
the imbecty of the whites and they exasper
ated and alarmed at the tide of immigration which is
filling up their country. They persuaded that
they will have to strike terrible blow to preserve
their country from these incursions, and that the
present is the day and the hour for the blow Their
long intercourse with the traders on the Columbia
river and in the British possessions has supplied
them with arms and famiarized them with their use,
and it is said that they bring into the field two
thousand warriors, supplied with firearms, and ex-
| pert in the use of them.
The true policy for government to adopt towards
them is plain. Temporizng measures, and persua-
sons to peace and amity, are not the expedents we
should resort to in the contest These win only en-
courage them in their vain opinion of themselves
and contempt for us. Our first measures sould be
of the opposite character The cowardly assault
upon Col. Steptoes command should be punished
with severity and most vigorous and sustained
campaign should be inaugurated against them, which
should not be RENTED in the least until overtures
came from themselves. Then, and not till then will
be Tie time for pacific propositions and pecuniary
| persuasves They will never agree to genuine
peace in good faith until they shall have experienced
| the force of our military power One sound drub-
bling from army will insure peace for a ccntu-
ry while treaties and annuitics of money can only
| purchase it from year to year. To negotiate with
| and to subsdizo the Indians before we whip them
| WE'LL is only to keep Indian difficulties on the
Pacific constantly in state of fermentation To
teach them in a single energetic campaign the power
Of our military and their utter impotency to re-
sist our authority, win do than hundred trea-
ties of amity and millions Of subsidy to establish
| policy of peace.
| Weare persuaded that our government entertains
views like these and is fully impressed with the ne
cessity and expediency of an energetic campaign
against the Indians in the two Territories of the Pa
chc. We understand that orders have issued which
are concentrating body Of troops in the Indian
country some two thousand strong They viii be