The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-15
THE DIFFICULTY IN WASHINGTON.
Attitude OF the Indian Board-Ignorance
of the Locality Of the Lava Beds-Mea-
ehnm's Appotntment-Appleg and

| neither at the War Department nor the Interior
do they seem to have any reliable information TO
the exact locality OF the ''seat OF war;" Whether
1t is north, south or west Of Rhett Tule Lake,
or whether the last is the proper name appears to
| be puzzle to both the military and civil authorizes
| What are termed lava beds extend on all sides OF
the lake. '.The country thus described" said an
Oregonian to your correspondent to-day, sis an
upheaval OF rocks, broken formation, the impas-
sibiity OF which can be well understood by all who
| nave ever an Ice gOrge-agged ends
sticking up In every direction, and over which men
attempting to scramble would be at the mercy OF
an enemy that might thus sheltered, be lying In
wait for them" The Board Of Indian Commits
siOners say that they had nothing to do with the
appointment OF the Peace Commissioners to the
Modo;s. From an Official source it Is ascertained
that when the news arrived here last Winter that
the ModOcs refused to return to the Klamath Reser
walton; had fired on the troops who peacea-
bly, attempted to remove them, ana alter
wards had repulsed the force under General
wheaton, who had been sent to compel
their obedience there existed an apprehension
here that this outbreak might result in extending
to other tribes, in
AN INDIAN WAR IN SOUTHERN OREGON
and Northern California How to avert this was
matter OF serious consideration. The administra-
ton was warmly in favor OF peace policy. 1t was
the humanitarian and popular side OF the question.
All through the country had grown up the belief
that the Indians had been badly treated that they
had been lied to in the promises which had been
made them, and swndled by thieving agents who
had made fortunes out OF the annuities Congress
had appropriated for their benefit. And
then to this feeling added that of the leading
army officers in Washington, who said. while we
are at the service Of the government and ready
always to do duty, II there Is any possible way
OF preventing an Indian war nobody will he better
pleased than ourselves. 1t Is war in which we
can gain no credit and are subject to great many
sneers. There Is neither honor nor promotion In
1t. If the troops make a forced march and surprise
the Indians, done by Custer at the Wichita,
II will be said that struck band Of peaceful In
dams, and II small party should happen to he
ambushed by the savages while going through
what might be deemed friendly country, why
1 then the officer in command would be denounced
as totally unfit for a commission. SO we want
| none Of It."
MEACHAMs OFFER TO DELANO.
| or course any scheme which would prevent such
| war would be welcomed. 1t happened when the
news OF this Indian difficulty arrived Mr. Meacham,
| a late Superintendent Of Indian Affairs, in
! Washington. lie had been removed from his posi-
| ton by Senator Corbett because he was opposed
to that individuals reelection as Senator. He
wanted to get back in his old place.
THIS trouble was Meacham's chance. Through
friends he represented to the Secretary OF the
Interior that he was the man to stop this difficulty
and that II he permitted to select his associates
he could bring the Modocs at once to terms Be-
eving his assertions Mr.. Delano at once appointed
him commissioner, to act In conjunction with those
whom he named, and gave him full power to bind
the Government TO the promises that, arriving
the ground, he might deem best alike for the inter
ests Of the settlers and the Indians When reports
came back the Secretary came to the conclusion
that he had made mistake; that SO far from
Meacham being the RICH. man for the place he
was just the wrong man.
The Indians said, ''You are the man who forced
us on the Klamath Reservation with our old enc
mics, and want nothing to do with you. You
promised houses TO live In and farms and schools
for children, that we should live like the whites
but when we went there we had to lie down on
the ground. We had no food TO eat, and we were
cold. There Is frost there all through the hot and
cold moons, Summer and Winter We have come
back to our old homes where there is fish In the
river and we can kill game. Here we can live.
There we will die"
APPLICABLE AND MEACHAM.
Applegate, an old and well known citizen OF
Oregon, who had been appointed one OF the asso
ciate Commissioners, at once saw the want OF con-
Meacham was connected with 1t, and after in
terview with the Indians forwarded his resignation
to the Secretary of the INTERIOR stating very ex-
plicitly that the personne, of the Commission was
obnoxious to the Indians, and, constituted,
/ could do no good Mr. Steele, another Commits
sioner, also withdrew. On the recommendation Of
Mr.. Sargent, then a member NOW Senator) from
California, the Rev. DR.. Thomas was appointed one
OF the Commissioners This gentleman, whose I'M
fortunate death will be regretted by many friends,
was a prominent clergyman Of the Methodist
Church. He was for many years the agent Of the
Methodist Book Concern" in San Francisco and
was considered the representative OF that Church
on the Pacific coast He was q man OF
considerable intellectual ability, and, though
earnest in what he thought was right, was
so mild and pleasant In his manner as to
be universally popular. The Secretary, feeling
some delcacy about the removal OF Meacham re-
quested General Candy to become one OF the Com
mssoners authorizing him to make any change
among the commissioners that ne might deem
necessary. This Of course evidenced
THE CONFIDENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL
CANDY.
Yet still it was hardly the thing to do. II looked
like shifting responsibility. With his amiabty OF
disposition, it was hardly to be expected that he
would exercise the harshness OF summarily dis
missing an associate appointed by the general
government. He believed the Indians would not
come to any terms, and the best way was to CON-
pei them by force to surrender, and then afterwards
to place them on preservation where they would be
out OF the way OF the settlers and be satisfied. 1t
is understood that he was opposed to returning
them to the Klamath Reservation, for the
reason that the Modocs and the Klamaths
had always been enemies, and II was not wise
policy to place them together. The Kamaths are
Oregon Indians, and assmlate with the Chinooks
and other Indians OF that country. The Modocs
are a branch OF the Pi.Utes, bands that roam
through Northern California, Nevada and Utah. 10
this ill-judged attempt OF forcing together old.
timed enemies which was the original cause OF the
trouble. II General Candy had been exclusively
assigned to the duty of settling this trouble II