New-York daily tribune., 1859-09-24
THE OREGON WAR AND ITS DEBT.


SIR: la tie last WEEKLI TAIsusy July o. I
notice letter from David Newson Of Oregon, which
seems to hsve been purposely designed to strengthen
the already strong and unjust prejudice that has
become almost universal throughout the country,
wherever the merits Of the case are unknown against
the allowance Of the Oregon debt by the General
Government This letter bears the evidence upon
its face that it was not written in the right spirit aui
il is precisely Of that character Of writings thai. un
fortunately fer the people Of Oregon has rendered tue
proposition for the payment Of the debt exceedingly
unpopular with the great macs Of the people e.st Of
the Rocky Mountains. As a whole Mr.. Newsons
letter is erroneous and unreliable abOunding ntsle
charges Of fraud that have been legally invests gated
and totally refuted long ago; ard from my persons,
knowledge of the Democratic leaders in Oregon and
their mode Of electioneerDg, firmly Of the opinion
that the letter is in reality Of Democratic origin To
give THE TRIBUNE false information respecting Oregon
matters, and then quote il to the di5parsgement Of
Republicani-m there, is DO new Dodge with Oregon
Democrats. Perhaps you may re member tue letter Of
your Salem correspondent concerning the organzati
Of the Oregon constitutional Convention held a.
Salem in S. epember, 1851. That letter was written in
the office Of the Superintendent Of Indian Affairs by
msn who does dirty work for The party, and was a.
that time also chef clerk in the Office named. Other
letters TO THE TRIBUsr, have good reasons for be-
levipg have enanated from the same source, have
been dictated by the men VINO lnstgsted the writing
of that and have been used for the purpose have
mentioned.
do not wite with the expectation that what thus
voluntarily offer will change the position Of The
TRIBUSR with reference TO these Oregon claims As
a citizen Of Oregon, having a thorough personL
knowledge of the origin and conduct Of the
account of which this debt created desire to
it paid-snd paid too, while the Democratic party,
under whose auspices it was created, and by whose
management its creation became absolutely necessary
s in power. As a Republican, too, would have
republicans examine the matter theuseve.-the
more thoroughly the better-end not form their opn.
ions respecting It upon mere rumor, nor be guided in
their action in the premises by the false and vinic
tive reports that Democratic psrtisans have msde.
The subject will bear the closest nvestg aion without
loss to any one. For whatever may be true respect
ing the treatment of the Indians by the people on
other frontiers it is cersn that the people Of Oregon
have exercised tluly Christian spirit of forbesrance
toward the Indians Of that region either within
without their borders.
Unlike many, or perhaps nearly all other portions of
the United States when new, Oregon has been settled
almost exclusively by bona fde residents and actual
lers of the coil who went there for the sole purpose
of making it their permanent home. 1t is mainly an
agricultural country and such as matter of course
it was for the interest Of its settlers to live
friendly terms with the Indians as possible. This,
siDce 1851 TO my certain kno Wedge has been their
policy. But there have been times when christian for
bearapce could 70 orger be practiced without render
ing the slaughter Of the inhabitants aud the destruc
ton Of the settlements absolutely certain; and it has
been necessary for the settlers to organize and take
the field for the sake Of their own preservation, and
that of then families and the couutry Regular troops
have never been Of any utility whatever, either in
keeping the Indians at peace or in suppressing actual
hostlities. On the contrary they have been an i'm
pednent in the way of keeping the Indians quiet, by
barboring and protecting Indians who were known to
have Just committed the greatest crimes known to our
laws, ard allowing them to repeat Their r. atrocities
mt nt too well the country at large, by not re-
porting the condition of Indian affairs, or the murders
and other depredations committed by the Indians aud
when it has been necessary for citizens to perform the
soldiers duly, they have grossly misrepresentet their
acts ard impugned their motives.
The millions Of dollars that have been expended on
regular troops in California and Oregon, and IL the
Territory of Washington, for the protection OF that
extended frouter has resulted in practical good to
The country; and millions millions may yet be ex-
pended there with the same result. The whole policy
of the Government with regard to frontier protection
is wholly wrong. Regular troops as experience proves,
are utterly useless as meaps of protection from the
Indians in ordinary times OF peace and are en-
trely worthless in an Indian campaign. In proof of
this, will give few facts that have especial refer.
ence to the war for which pay is now asked. could
90 back to an earlier dae and furnish much additional
proof Of the Improbable and injurious employment OF
regular troops frontiers and could furnish more
than two hundred and thirty names OF citzens Killed
by the Indians Of Oregon and their immediate allies
in times Of 20 called peace, and couli establish
the fact that about forty unknown citizens have been
thus killed. in most cases the sworn testimony OF the
persons Who found and buried the bodies la all nearly
or perhaps quite, 800 citizens have been wantony
murder in cold blood by Oregon Indians. But as the
Oregon war of 1856 is the matter under considers
on will only refer, in detail to the atrocl les com
mitted by the Indians after the close OF the Rogue
River Indian OF 1888 August) and up - the 10Th
Of October, 1855.
October g. 1885, James Kyle, merchant of jacksonville
in southern Oregon while en- ' % return a from IONS s.tt;S n. %i.a
cm Fort Laue Killed by Indians Of tie Rogue River tes
and Wesley Msyoeu were kec by River Shasta and
Modoc rdsps resr skycn Mountains about Tif~ay be
Fort and Jones snd lear the main hooushiaro
April Is, 1854 Edwsrd Philip. killed in his house
Appesa,e Creek about fourteen miles from Fort Lane BY
Rogue River Indians. -
"Jane IS lsSi. Daniel Gage, trader Of YIeks Cal while
City, CAL with mtchspdse, killed by Modoc Irdsn' ani
probable that Rsge Rive. nd., had @ hand IL the '''o'
June "a 1864, mr McAmy killed near klamath River
between Forts Lane and Jones By Rogue River aud Shasta
"XuEss. ao. 1884. Alexander Ward Mr.. w,d, aud their
brothers Adams w Bsboock, John Frederick Rudolph Shuts
Mr. Aues and a unknown. eirsan killed by in
clans on Suake River between Fort Boise 10 Hudson Bay do
and the DAles of the Columbia River Northern Oregon.
September, 1854 Mr.. Stewart Of Corvallis Oregon,
killed the mi6ce nesn; road whittier be had 70 meet
son friends who coming in via the plains BY Klamath
Lake Indiana
River indiars Like Philips be killed in his house.
"Jupe lt55 jerome Dyer and Daniel Nc Kew killed
bv Jacksorvile TO whA:
nov Kerb e miles from Fort Lane
Phipot killed tire plsce and by
lnti.ns above noned Up TO this time the
regular troops particularly at Fort Lane ana Fe Jones hai
made little effort the Indians ia their
depreciation either the settlements on the Highways