Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-03-24
What Shall be Done With Them z

The Northern Californian truly asserts that
the final disposition of the Indians living in
Humboldt county has become serious question,
and is right in saying that an "rrepressibe con-
hcsi really exists there. The blow has been
struck which is TO instigate the relentless savage
to greater deeds of cruelty and rapne. For ten
long years the citizens Of that county have lived
in dread of their dusky enemy. sometimes, per-
haps, with good cause, for in every settlement
there are men--bad men, of cOurse-who will
not hesitate to do deeds that eventually result in
injury and suffering to the innocent and unpro-
tected.
There has been much comment and great
deal of just censure bestowed on the actors in
the late indian butchery on The Bay. We do not
pretend TO uphold the perpetrators of that SEEM
ingly nncalled for shedding OF blood-the blood
Of helpless babes and decrepid old women On
the contrary, we believe that unless all the In
dians ip that county are gathered together and
removed to some one of the Reservations from
which they cannot escape, that the perpetl ators
will see the result Of their hasty action in pill
uged homes and indscriminate massacre Of men,
women and children who are in no way respOn-
sible for their act Indeed it is nothing more
than may be expected it is Indian nature, and
we shall not be surprised to see the work speedily
begun.
As yet we have seen no good defense set up
for the late killing nothing beyond the fact
that the coast Indians trade with the mountain
their arms and ammunition, while on the contra.
ry the tribes living on the coast side of the Bay
are represented by the local papers to have been
an innocent and harmless race, and living on
friendly terms with the settlers Both of the
above statements may be true, yet the citizens Of
Eel river would have been better justified, and
would certainly have accomplished more good
had they united in a crusade against the noun
tain Indians those at whose hands they had
suffered
But it is too late for regret now, and we can
see bat one course TO pursue--the removal Of all
the Indians in the county. But we hope the
farce Of removing them to the MendocinO or any
other local Reservation will not be re-enacted.
If Government Indian Reservations were estab-
llshed for the keeping and proper maintenance OF
tronblesO me Indians, why were not the hundreds
retained a Mendocino after their removal in the
spring OF last year. Certainly they could be
retained if those in charge did their duty, else
for what were Reservations established? As at
present managed, the whole system is a humbug
no benefit TO either the settler or the savage,
aud We hope that the present Legislature will
use every effort to remedy the evil before they
fually adjourn. Let them make proper show
ing to the General Government Of the condition
of the settlers along this coast and we are salts
fed that some remedy can and will be devised.
We know that the citizens Of Humboldt,
klamath and Trinity have repeatedly had suff-
cient provocaion TO lead them to adopt any
measures to rid themselves of their savage pests.
Citizens of the three counties named have been
shot down on the mountain trails, their homes
destroyed and their cattle killed. 1t is no use
Tor people far removed from the scene of action
to tell us that all these acts have been brought
on by the cruelty of settlers TO the aborigines.
For nearly five years these depredations have
been constantly carried on, until we almost be-
licve that any punishment in any way admins
tered, is merited. Tue lime has come when that
vast range of country should be settled up, and
the settlers protected until the Indians are re-
moved ii cannot be done