Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-17
TELEGRAPHIC.
FOR THE STATESMAN,
Last Nights Dispatches.
FROM WASHINGTON.

WARRINGTON, Feb. 16.-The Presidents mes
sage, with accompanying statements of offlcerI
OF the Department Of the interior, in respons,
to the House resolution of December last, In
quiring into the causes Of the outbreak of tn,
Indian tribes Of the Northwest, gives no ade
quate cause for mischief and outrages of suct
magnitude. Evidences Of premedltated desgr
10 their attacks, is not satifactory. The Siou,
brooded over and complained of miaunderstand
ing treaty stipulations, but their agent, Mr.
Galbraith, had apprehended no unusual difd
Guilty up to the time Of the outbreak. They
appeared to cooperate cordially In preparations
made for their civilization aud material ad
vancement. Messengers had been sent Ia
other tribes, even to Selkirk settlement, tc
announce their declaration of war, and ia
demand the assistance Of those tribes, bu,
there ls no evidence that there was a reason
able ground for such expectations. The Sec
rotary of the Interior thinks the chief or i'm.
mediate cauEe was an unfortunate affair In
which few reckless young Indians became In.
volved through the use OF spirituous liquors at
Acton. This occurred at time when their
minds were iDhamed by accounts given by reck-
less or malicious persons Of bloody conflicts in
United States affirming the Government broken
up and their snnuities would not be paid, and
they must iako care Of themselves -
This excitement added to dissffectien
that having parted with their lands, evidently
led them to attempt TO repossess their hunting
grounds. The threatened difficulties with
Chippewas, Pilager and Winnebago Indians
was happily arrested. The quarrel was per-
sonal between the agent and the principal chief
of the Mississippi bands. The message Ia &C.
companied by interesting crcumstantial details
Of the massacre by agent Galbraith and Geo.
II. Spencer aud the report Of Calvert Sibley.
The report OF Senator Wilson, from the mil
itary committee, in answer to o re olution en-
quiring into the case Of Richard Thomas, OF
Maryland, alleged TO be insane from i'll usage
while prisoner of war, states that be was
placed in confinement Dec. 3lst, 1861, and after
March Sd, 1862, he was kept in close quarters.
He attempted to escape by jumping overheard
aud swimming to Long Island, since which time
he has not been out of his room except
during a visit from his mother, permit.
ted by the Secretary of War. He Ia
allowed to communicate only with the off
GERS of the guard and fort, through whom be
can procure any food he desires In addition to
hs ratODs Having taken advantage Of paper
aud books to communicate with persons outside
he is not allowed the privilege of their use
The surgeon reports his health generally good;
better, by his own confession, than when be
was first imprisoned. He considers the prisoner
mentally sane, but regards him as eccentric
Adutant. General Townsend reports him aa
indicted by the grand jury of the Msrylan
district, for attempting to seize the Mary
Washington, for treason, and quotes the opiu.
ion of Gen Dix that no should be treated 40
pirate and a spy. There are four witnesses tC
the first crime, and the evidence to the second
charge consists in his being taken in disguis,
of female, with a commission as colonel il
the active volunteer force Of Virginia upon hi
person. Ia consequence Of such u report, he i
not held as a prisoner Of var; aud he VIA
placed in close confinement for a d9sperst
attempt to escape.