, 1861-12-13
Lewiston and the Nez Peroes Reservation

ASW4SCOu ana Cne Nez FerCeS Reservation
PACIFIC SLOPE Dec. 8, 1861.
EDS. Statesman few items noted and here
with enclosed, please insert for the benefit of
whom it may concern.
/ Circumstances and times make places as well
as men. Great events make great men: there
fore small acts make small men. Shall the Indian
Superintendent or the Agent make Lewiston. or
shall Lewiston make the Superintendent and.
Agent? If town be established at Lewiston.
special tavors will eventually make personal friends
great property-holders. Undoubtedly the pres
ent Agent and some others think the Superinten-
dent has much to do in this affair, building towns.
etc.; Issuing license to a dozen particular friends,
assigning each that certain Block No. -, and al
low each to trade with the Indians, pretending to,
comply with the intercourse laws regulating
trade with the Indians without executing bond,
contrary to the U. S. Statutes
1t was expected of the present administration
that competent, honest and prudent men would
be appointed to protect the interests of the Indian,
without speculation, without building towns upon
the reserve at the expense of the Iudian-assgn-
ing to certain personal friends that portion of
ground block number -, and then boastinoIv
threaten those who have an equal right to trade
with white men and the Indians as those acting
under the pretended license, but for the reason
that some persons do not willingly acknowledge
themselves plant tools and contribute literally
or share about equally in the profits of advance of
the price of block number -. "Sr, the military
are at my command; and unless YOU take out
license, sir, I'll have you removed, sir by force,
sir. intend, sir, to have none around me but
/, my friends. This is a thing of our own creation,
sir
1t is matter of some Importance TO know the
5 result OF the establishment of this Lewiston, or
/ Skemanane-either the town must be built. or the
: Agent will not succeed.
The Superintendent of Indian affairs of this
Territory thinks Lewiston is not the place for
town, and ought not to be built on the Reserve.
He says BY Cd, am Superintendent. This
5 town cannot be built You, Mr.. Agent. are not
allowed a clerk. Your clerk is discharged. You
cannot build town without clerk Ny instruc-
tions are positive and imperative
t NOW, the Superintendent and Agent will be
} convinced ere long, whether the people-and in
} the course OF four or six months there will be a.
few in this part of the country-desire to build a
S town anywhere on the Reserve for commercial
! convenience, or for speculation. Both Superin-
tendent and Agent will then require clerk
2 We have no objections to the building of
town at the mouth of Clearwater thOnob II Is
amusing to see these officials. clothed in little
2 bret authority, assume great responsibility and
execute 1t In their own peculiar way The Super-
mtendent has the reputation of being quite fel-
low and that reputation sometimes precedes a
fellow. The Agent no doubt heard that the Su
perlntenGent was on his way around TO see who
2 had clerks, etc His visit to Fort Simcoe. and
= proceedings, where he acquitted himselfwith great
+ credit gave the Agent much uneasiness at Lapwa.
who was advised that all clerks would be at once
discharged and that the Umatilla agent was tray
cling with him
General Jackson hoe boc, ia l
else we might be induced to believe that the pres
2 ent Superintendent almost personates the great
soldier and statesman!
' We are convinced that but little improvement
has been made in Indian affairs since the present
administration came into power. We have too
much faith and confidence in President Lincoln to
t believe otherwise than that he and the Cabinet
have been badly humbugged by some persons in
inducing the appointment of some of the present
2 mcumbents to office; and we trust thet immedi-
ately after the crushing out of the present rebell-
lon next IN Importance to the interest safety and
S security OF the country, will be a change and re-
t vision in the laws and regulations of the Indian
2 department Humanity demands a change The
Justice integrity and honor Of the laws regulating
a republican form OF government, demands it.
Inc indian reservations are now and heretofore
have been nothing more or less than HOSPITALS
f and asylums for political bummers and impover-
lshed ofhce-seekers who, with their pets fitch and
leed upon the government, and then curse it for
T not oeng more generous; and the poor Indian,
whose money they squander for selfish aggran-
dlsement and political purposes, because he is the
+ subject and the protected one is not allowed to
complain. Better abolish and nullify the Indian
agencies and reservations, pay the Indian for his
lands in cash, and rot in gimlets, gunny blankets,
and other useless and worthless trash, out of
which few individuals speculate and rob the In
dian
Yours respectfully, E. & E.