The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-07
saornlng Star and Catholic MESSENGER.
NV oSIS.Ns SUNDAY. sEPTkMBER :, lbs,
Az Apology for Captain J.sz.

AN Apeie9y -S' II
Ysitor S,eenaa Journal:
In view Of the brutal murder OF Gen;
Canby and DIR. Thomas by capt. JACK
and his band of Modocs, and their ieai,u'
onslaught upon QUE troops during the snc-
ceeding hostilities, you will, no doubt,
consider it rashness on my part to Wite
an '' Apology for Captain j acE eut
succeed in proving that Captain Jeck
and his followers have done no.niHG Mo WIS;
brethren. am sure will be excused for
INV temerity. 1t may be we'll to state In
advance that am not writing IN pehan
of the Presidents Board OF Indian feace
Commissioners or other susceptlole mum
bugs, who believe. that the pardon OF the
Modoe would be tho browning sct OF the
President under his peace policy, so called. |
No my object is simply to show how the
Modocs have been treated, ano now SIM
lar murders, committed by trhifes, have gone
unpublished. Let hanging be uniform ior
ali such crimes, whether committed by
whites OF Indians.
Personally, "Captain Jack" was mo-
del of proprie.y, and would have been on
ornament to the Young Mems Christian
4 riass of LIQUOR, but, on the contrary, was
known to whip his men for so doing. He was
aman of pleasant appearance, and remaIka-
bic for his high toned and dignified manner.
He was always agreeable to his whlte
neishbors. aud feari .yo ss0c %, oe fsareS
and respected their Chief. Such was Cap,
tain jack prior to the massacre. we s1ai
now investigate the causes that leo 10
that act, and see if the whites have NOS
been at the bottom of that and all otheI
difficulties had with the Mcdocs.
In 1852, q notorious character, living IN
the Modoc country by suffsrance OF the In
dams, concocted the hellish design OF poi
soning the entire tribe. For this purpose
L.
invited all the Indians to be present rich
and poor, Young and old, he did not care
who his heart was warm to them for tbe!!
manv kindnesses to him, and they should
ali partake of the feast be had prepaI Cd
for them. His real design, however, be-
came partly known through his Interpreter,
and but comparatively few attended the
feaat of DEATH While gathered round the
festive board, and for fear poison would
mot do his work well and quickly, Wright
does secreted near by, and out Of AZ In,
dians present 40 were murdered in cold
blood Was the murder OF Gen. Candy
and DR.. Thomas a more cowardiy act than
Ahis. think youf The Modoc war Of that
wear followed, but the Indians never felt
3hat thew had fully avenged the massacre
of their friends, and las an Indian never for
gets q wrong, it was but reasonable e
suppose that their hearts could not be goot
towards the perfidious white man, ant
that they eagerly looked .h io5"a de. i0F tn
Catholic Missionary had, however, beef
amongst them in the meantime, and thei
hearts were set arighti 30 We find them il
tho year 1855 agreeing to remove to art
locate with the Shasta and other friendl,
Indians. While under the protection an;
escort of United States troops to their ne7
location, their then Chief, .'Bill" was sho
and instantly killed by white renegad
concealed in the brush! The Indians he
came greatly alarmed and resolved to g
on the war path, but the same inhuenc
that induced them to remove prevailed
and another war was prevented. How
ever, the Modocs were to be subjected t
further trials and forced into war,
possible. In isSs party tho Of n M9doe
Of trading furs, and were wsy-iai
on their way home, and several mu
dered and thrown into the river. No
outstanding all these aggTavations-
enough to dri i've very Quaker into lost
ity-the Modocs remained Peaceab!e, an
in 1864 We find set Of swindlels, in Il
garb of Government officials, negotiate
treaty with them, the object OF whit
was to wrest from the Indians their vel
best lands and cheat them generally, as
civilized when dealing with savages, wi
know Is little about what is written
the instrument as the ''highly intelligen
know about Christian morals. The frien
this treaty by the Senate, and so it W
considered a dead letter by the tribe, a
Of NO binding force, since not rattle
Hence they continued in the possession
their usual bunting grounds. to which tb
right had always been Recognized. I
LAID s-abbers and railroads speculate
assisted by their friends in Congress, VT
not Idle. however, and IN 1870 six ye
afsax the alleged execution Of the instrunt
By an marx on the part of the Indian
TIE treaty was ratified BIZ the Senate OF |
UHited States AID proclaimed by the Pr
ideur, II tie language OF tie SuPre
Cozlt, sc the supreme Law of
Land, The indians were allowed /
years TO TecoTer from the shock 3
accept tLe situation 50 in 1872
find positive order for their IemoT
ts military .foroE, u necessary. They p
tested against the outrage and repudiA;
the treaty, jack aud HE Sub chiefs aase
ing that they never had signed il, and {
not know its purpoTt- Says an old se:l
LID "a. LIKED in their conntrx for 4 o mar