The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-08
tFrom the National Intelligencer.]
The Indian WarS--The Peace
Commission. -

Fr Mr. "A. IL. JackSOn, OF New Ork city,
has compiled from the official record and
will soon publish statement of the cost
and causes of the several Indian wars
during the last thirty-seven years, com
mencing with the Black Hawk war of
1872, which cost, directly, 100000
indirectly, destruction of property, en-
ployment of militia, volunteers, pensions.
Dc, $4,000, 900 more, making an agere
gate of S5,000,0e0, attended with loss
of 400 of our people. Officers of the
army and Government, including the
present Secretary of the Interior, who
served through this war, are unable, even
at this late day, to give the real cause Of
that conflict, They are confident that it
was forced upon the Indians in the inter
est of broken down politicians and spec
ulators. s..Eg 80.
The Seminole or Florida war lasted
nearly seven years, employing the army
and navy, the militia of Florida, and
volunteers from some Of the other States,
costing 1,500 lives, and S100,000,000.-
The number Of Indians engaged, as esti-
mated by the agent, was 500 warriors.
The army officers estimated their number
at 1000, nearly 300 of them still remain
ing in the everglades of Florida; the
Others were removed west of the Mis-
sissippi. Those still in Florida protest
that they were never whipped. The first
cause of this outbreak was in conse-
quence Of Interpretation given to three
treaties-one requiring the removal of
the Seminoles, the whipping Of an Indian,
and the Imprisonment of Osceola, who
escaped and became the leader of the
war party. About the same time diff
ficulty occurred with the Greeks, Chero-
KEGS, and other Indians, costing in the
aggregate Sl,000,000. - .
In 1852 the Sioux war on the Plains
commenced; the cause, an Indian killed
a COW worth $40, the property of Nor
mon emigrant. This war lasted nearly
four years, and cost about 800 lives and
$40,0OO,OOO. ... .....-.......
In 1864, the Cheyenne war, which las
ted nearly a year, costing 1000 lives,
and, with the Sioux war at about the same
time, SGO,OO0,O00. Cause of the out
break with the Cheyennes, false charge
made against them of stealing q horse
worth $50 With the Sioux, the open
ing of road and the establishment of
road in their country, in violation of
treaty stipulations. The war with the
Cheyennes ended by treaty of peace in
the fall of 1865 with the Sioux until the
recent treaty with them by the Peace
Commission. ...a. .r ..... ...
Cheyenne war again for seven months
in lS61ain consequence of the burning OF
their village by Gen. Hancock, cost about
800 lives, and from S1O,00O,000 to S15,-
100000; not fully settled up yet. Six
Indians killed. ..
On the Pacific slope, during the past
twenty years, Indian outbursts have cost
in the aggregate $300,0C0,O0O.
In New Mexico Territory, three cam
paigns against the Navajoes have cost
$50, 600, 0,000-the cause, the enslavement
of Navaioe women and children by the
Mexicans. The trouble in that Territory
with the Indians have made it cost this
Government S150,000,000. Indian
troubles on small scale in some Of the
States and Territories, with the expenses
growing out of war, the claims for de,
struction of private property, will make
our Indian troubles foot up nearly 500.
0O0,000 during the last forty years, and
in almost every case the fault was with
the whites. l--
The present conflict with the Chey,
ennes, Apaches, Arrapahoes, Kiowas
and Comanches grew out Of a failure to
fulfil treaty agreements, and the blunder.
ing of some of our military officers.
To destroy the rowing Indians-fool-
ishly advocated by some-will cost, ia
king the Seminole war as criterion, 81
coo of our people, and 81, 100000
and keep 100000 troops employed ten
years. -.
Commissioners W. G. Taylor, Gen. A,
II. Terry, and Col S. F. Tappan, of the
Indian Peace Commission, are now here.
Senator j. B. Henderson, Lieut.. Gen. w.
l.. sherman. anu Oen. JOHN d. OdnDofl.
also of the Commission, are expected to
arrive here on the reassembling of Con
gress, when an earnest effort will he
made to induce Congress to pass such
laws and make such appropriations ne.
cessary to enable the peace Commission
to carry out its policy for the civilization
and welfare of the Indians; also, the
peace of the Plains Should Congress
fail to carry out the recommendations OF
the Peace Commission in their report,th
Commission will be forced, as last eX-
tremity, to make the humiliating confes-
sion that the civil arm of the Govern.
ment is powerless in the Indian country
to protect and civilize its wards, enforce
the law, maintain thefaith, and vindicate
the honor of the Republic, by advising
the transfer of the Indian business from
the Interior to the War Department, fol
the reason that military law is better
than no law-army rules for the Indians
preferable to absolute outlawry.
The other day l3 head of cattle were
killed by grazing in acorn-feld near Mel