Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-01-08
Petition for Reimbursem


A petition, circulated and generally signed
throughout the county, will shortly be sent be-
low. The petition sets out in forcible language
the facts relating to Indian depredations in this
county for several years past, and what the peo-
pie of this county have done In self defense
against the red-skipned marauders. Trinity
county has suffered much from this cause but it
is hardly worth while TO attempt to compute the
amount in dollars and cents. The volunteer ex-
peditions organized here for following and des-
troying the murderous savages, who at times
descended "like wolves on the fold,' taking life
and destroying property, always effectually sue
ceeded in finding and annihiating the particular
objects OF pursuit. The pay or hopes of reward
was not the inducement which sent these men
forth. The savage murder of a friend or the
wanton destruction of the property Of a neigh
Dor stirred them to go out at personal expense,
and generally at great inconvenience, partly to
avenge the one, inlict summary punishment for
the other and partly to make example of the
offenders that would deter Others 1t is for SER
vices of this character and rendered under these
circumstances that the petition referred to asks
the Legislature Of this State to appropriate two
thousand dollars by way Of reimbursement OF
the expenses of the hostlities the people of this
county have been compelled to wage with hos
tile Dggers. The petitioners could hardly have
been more modest or reasonable in their de.
mands. The amount asked for will not begin
to repay the actual expense to say nothing of
the loss of property occasoned by pnndering
abOrgines. Without intending any slur, we as
sent that the same result, if attained at all by
regular soldiers, would have cost at least one
hundred thousand dollars. The reasons readily
suggest themselves. The volunteers are not en-
listed for pay and enter upon the campaign
through choice They are inhamed with feel
ings of resentment and hatred and feel indiyid
ually and personally interested They have an
object in view which they desire to accomplish,
and the sooner the better. In addition, they are
accustomed to the mountains and familiar with
the county and are not embarrassed by dependence
upon red-tape management, Taking everything
into consideration it is but seldom that claim
is laid before the Legislature in which the par
ticular facts so strongly recommend 1t to their
favor. 1t is a case in which the situation COM
PEELED the outlay, and it is an expenditure that
should not be placed on a few. AS matter oi
necessity these expeditions were organized and
provided for by those whose lives and property
were in imminent danger. AS a matter of JUS
tice they should not bear the burden alone
The only authority that can afford relief is the
Legislature, and we believe they will be at leas,
just, if not dispos ed to be generous.
The RED RIvERITEs.-The insurgents of this
district in British North America have declared
their independence. They have formed n pro-
visional government and issued declaration in
which they say:
We do declare and proclaim in the Of the people o
Rupers Land and the Northwest Territory that have
tablished provisional government and hold il to be the only
lawful authority now IN existence IN Knperts Land which
claims the obedience and respect Of the people Meanwhile
hold ourselves in readne TO enter into such negotiations
with the Canadian government be favorable to the
good government and the prosperity Of this people In
port O this relying the protection of Divine
Providence, mutually pledge ourselves oath with
lives our fortunes and our sacred honor to each other
The press correspondence states that they Of
fer to treat with Canada on terms such as the
Canadian government will not be like to assent
to. The real programme Of the leaders is far
more radical one, but as the English-speaking
portion of the population have as yet no delega-
ton in the council they do not want to an-
nounce it until the cooperation and unity of the
whole settlement has been secured, after which
they will make bold strike for independence.
CASE involving State and Federal jurisdic-
ton has arisen in Alabama. The State law lev