The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-09-18
is THIS THE MAN WE WANT:

secure a reelection. Judged by the
sample of Legislative conduct he has
given us in reference to Indian affairs,
he is not fit to represent Oregon
Even the mass of the radical party
represented by such papers as the
Oregouiaa and Unioaist severely de-
nounce the policy that Williams has
been an assistant in adopting and to
which he is entirely committed. But
more than this Mr., Williams conduct
since the Inauguration of Mr.. Grants
Indian policy is not explainable upon
.any hypothesis consistent with the Dig
nifty of q Senator or the honor of q
private citizea.
Mr.. Nesmith and Mr.. Williams were
the principals in the debate that took
place IN the Senate upon the question
of transferring the Indians to the
charge of the Military Department,
the former opposing and the latter
supporting the measure. Now if Mr..
Williams constituents and those who
are asked to vote for his friends In the
election of members of the Assembly
will turn to the Globe for 1866-67, ;,
they viii find some things that are
worth knowing to those who have an
idea Of helping him to reelection.
We submit portions of what he said as
showing that judgment is not the only
requisite wanting in this gentleman who
wears senatorial toga. Our extracts
begin on page 1916 of the Globe for
the years 1866 and 67.
But do not wish that at this time judgment
Of the Senate should be pronounced against the
proposition to transfer the Indian Bureau to the
War Department, fer am satisfied that it will be
Of great advantage to the country. and that
that fact can be made to appear"
Il have lived from my boyhood to this time in
Western States aud Territories, where have had
opportunity TO see the workings of the present.
system, and / am convinced that the Military
Department ought to have the charge Of Indian
Ahairs." .
at seems to me that the advantages Of turning
over the Indian Bureau 20 she War Department
are manifest. In the first place. ksote 1t Is tAe
.eaSe "a OFegoH-wherever there Is a reservation.
and oar Indian Agent Is appointed with his en-
PlOye 70 take care Of the InGians upon tho res
erTatson, il is necessary 20 have military force
there % keep the Indians from killing the Agent
and his employees, OF at any rate to preserve the
peace between the Indian Agent and his employees
and Indians upon the reservation -
In
league. There are five reservations in Oregon
and eight in Washington Territory. and there are
no soldiers about any Of these reservations except
enc. The whole administration is In the hands o
q; mers and practical men there are no troop.
about them.
MR- PoxERoY. There are ten reservations il
my State and not . military post connected witt
chem.
Ma WILLIAMS. know that the Superintendent
OF N lian affairs in Oregon has ieesraphed to ms
several times since have been here urging me u lp
Fly to tie War Department 20 provide troops fol
eEtaia reservations in Oregon. Il is &
fact vel knO@n, ard I hope my COLLEAGUES vii
not eontrovcrt this assertion, that the Indian
Agents in Oregon, with hardly an exception. upor
salary Of 81 800 year, manage IN three or fOui
years to become immensely rich. . 8 s.
far as an acquainted With the facts generally i
does happen that IN some way or otter, the In
dian Agents, notwithstanding their salaries ap
out Of the use Of the public funds"
In his reply Senator Nesmith tool
Williams squarely to task for his r.is
statements IN regard to Indian reser
vations on this coast, accused him o
never having visited them and o
knowing nothing about them and saic
that his twenty-five military posts a
each of the reservations had fzzlet
down to a telegraphic dispatch;" tha
so far as Pecplating upon governmen
funds went, it was In the nature o
things for military officers to do tina
same thing.
After the adoption of this sys
TEN It seems impossible that Judg
Williams should hurry to Wash
ington to procure itsreyocal so far as
applied to number OF reservations i
Oregon. Yet he did so. It was ba,
enough that he should assume a knowl
edge about reservations that he di,
not possess; that he should suffer hi
yeracity to be impeached, but it
worse that the Senator should stultif
himself by procuring a partial reyo
cal Of the order.
IF Judge Williams was satisfied tina
''the Military Department ought t
have the charge of Indian affairs" a
he stated in the speech quoted, VIII
did he, and hou, induce the Depart
ment to reinstate Meachem, BafoIlei
and Simpson? If, in the mutations {
time, his mind has undergone chang
in respect Of this question, then VIII
did he not seek the retention of Barr
hart, Smith, Wilbur and other civi
ians? In the first place, Judge Wi
lia1ns knew that these agents e.
know it is the case in Oregon" wa
his lalguage) manage to amass larg
fortunes out of the use of the publ
funds. Are the men returned excer
tions to the rule? Are Capt. job
Smith and Bro. Wilbur particular
objectionable to the first and para
mount reason stated? Are these tn
persons whom the Senator has lee
watching from his boyhood? The az
tua5 reasons for Williams course ar
neither creaitabIe to ase Senator no