New-York tribune., 1873-05-22
IN BEHALF OF 10.

| Indians:
| To ths EdffOr Of TAs Trtbune.
SIR; In presenting the wrongs of the red fzvo
only room for OF the Modocs. and indeed can
only present the leading facts in their case gather
from the public journals, and which We understand as
follows: The ModOc tfibe owned and occupied in 1851
strip country in Northern California Of about
long w 30 wide, composed OF rocky hills, fertile
valleys. lakes and small streams, swarming with fish,
| and with abundance OF all kinds Of game The tribe
was generally estimated at 1000 including women ana
children out OF which 800 were cassed as warriors
| They cultivated no lands, and yet tribe
| free from want. Although very brave people, Mr..
Cree tine Secretary OF the Board Of Indian Peace Com
misoners says, they not thevsh mischeyous,
and gave no trouble TO the people long they
allowed remain In peace. In 1852 the overland imm-
grants began to pass through their country, making
highway co Southern Oregon and the Modoes attacked
one OF these trains the border OF re Lake, aud
| sacred all but one man.
The citizens OF Yreka Immediately fitted out Capt.
BENJAMIN Wright aud % volunteers, who marched to
Bloody Point, 10 act in concert with similar force
der Capt Ross from Oregon, but the Indians retired
among the lava rocks, beyond the reach OF the voan
| te,rs and no more trains being expected that FAN,
Wright and Ross, to up their defeat and gain ap
plause. arranged for ce talk during which talk the
whites fel upon the ModOcs, treachcrousy numbering
s OF them including tho father OF tho present chief
ains Capt. Jack and sehonchin, which, is seen
Of Cen Candy and DR.. Thomas. The citizens OF Yreka
highly approved Of Capt. Wrghps treachery public
meeting, and the General Government rewarded him
with appointment as Indian Agent at Rogue River
where he was murdered by Enos Modoc chief out Of
revenge for the murder Of his tribe by Wright he
ultingly stated on the galOws.
In 1864 the Government entered into a treaty with
some Of the Modocs but which ratified and pro-
claimed until 1870 1t signed by chief and four
leading Modocs made drunk for the purpose, We
think we il stated ana the chief and sixty OF the
tribe adhered 10 the treaty, went TO the Klamath
vaton on barren mountains, which were visited with
frost every month the year, where they remain 20
this iay But Capt Jack and 253 Modocs refused
knowledge treaty, not having signed it, In 1869
Capt Jack and his band persuaded 70 20 TO the
Klamath reservation, but the Kamaths claimed owner
ship Land aud charged the MOdocs rent for ls Use
The Government agents broke the agreement by not
paying the $1,000 protecting them and, after three
months, ceased 10 give out rations The next night
Capt. Jack and his band, except those mentioned as
having accepted treaty marched back to their old
hunting grounds in the Lost River Country.
ORIGIN LATE OUTBREAK.
Although there were but few settlers, they demanded
their removal The local authorities first tried persua
sion but the Modocs, acting under legal advice refused
10 leave The authorities them aided by many farmers
hunters and thirty soldiers surprised Capt Jacks vii
Ia yes before daYbreak morning last December, and
in the melee four or five Indians killed Then came
Indian reprsas and war soldiers being killed Ia the
Lava Beds without their seeing an Indian.
Late in December the Peace Commission. consstingof
Messrs. Meacham Case. and Applegate, who although
ordered TO investigate The cause OF the war, reported
that they had offered the ModOcs general amnesty, but
omitted the investigation for OF authority II is
said that the true that they did not want 70
expose Applcgate's who was with the party that
killed the four OF five Modoo Indians in December last.
In March last another sot OF Peace Commissioners
was appointed consisting of Mr.. Dyer. Dr. Thomas and
Mr. A b. Meacham. with instruction 20 act in concert
with the military as far possible, who, with Gen. Sher
man, were sad 10 be in full accord with Gen Candy.
When the MJdocs had surrendered prisoners OF war;
they were TO handed to the oregon State author
ties where they already indicted FOR murder by
grand Jury Considerable negotiation and some peace
talk, followed which we found difficult to collect and st
moro difficult 10 comprehend ana reconcile or space TO
recte in our appeal understand substantially
follows:
First The Modoes 10 surrender prisoners OF
be handed over STATE authority TO oe tried for
murder. as Capt. Jack suspected IlaI thls was Gen
CauDys opinion up 10 the 7th or April Is evident from
his last communlcauon-to Cen Sherman anu OF tAAS
second. The Modocs wanted to'reman on small pOr
ton of their land, on Lost River aud gYe All the
rest IL the whites. but TINS vas refused nalhy De-
cause MessTs FdlIcd ana DJris Occupeu VWo ranches
ON tho same but Capt jacks statement, they had
fhi Rather snan TO go back TO the cold and barren
Klamath Reservation, tAey offered o. 20 10 Hot creek
od ON on one occasion that the Government would fix
on reservation after their surrender nj another me
that tney could not I've IN peace Will Dei|Aoor'hS
FoSTA: Rather than be banlshed from the graves OF
tber ANCESTOR always dearer than life 10 the Indians,
tney offered give whites all OF their SNARE VI Jhe
original MOdOc country Dslhg tDOul tWg3 g, iOi T I
dred square miles OF tue finest land IN southern Ca
fprnia II they allowed TO remain on ABOUT seventy
rr,, mile, M tLs uuospitabe aud barren lava beds
| Wnen this fOrOru privilege was denied then \" utH'
Ctnby aud the Commissioners, as Cen CanDy ADMITS IN
ms report to Shernan' xdP.au jazz A. 6s alInTcd a
! IN Ia ~ .
re,erva of hye or ten miles on HOT Creeh or Hslt
To the Commission oOlected on the EIOhu ma Ia % e
authorities would accede 10 such request O he
lltn April another Interview Oocufitu anu atO.l
IN IS said orders had been sent from WASHINGTON 10 grant
te ModOos' request, Il necessary, the commissioners
sun refused 90 alow them any reser' ~ 49, ~ G
country. Tnen followed the attack ana deA1h Vi Geh'
| CanDy and d. IhOmas
| CRUEL TERMS.
We have thus presented as We believe all the peril
nent facts necessary clear understanding OF the
cse and although pretty fair specimen OF D0rer SET
tier and Indian agent dealing with tho red men, YET ror
cruelty injustice, and buh-ing diplomacy. We doubt Il
W. mink the forrguing statements furnish sufficient
amount of evidence aud far nferences 10 prove mat
Capt Jack and hs band OF Modoc nave not DoAeu any
trcaty, ANA have never killed me WHITES eAo1P ~ m d
defense retailaOn Their Killing ol uol. S,.'5 @ "
d. Tnonas under dag Of truce was no leachet5 worse
| tbnu that Gems Jessup ana Taylor, wneh Ihe
semnoes hunted by DiOodh1uhus. nus alIiiH, i
tuey made prisoner OF their chief OsceOla uudet nag
o{ truce. Nor II worse thAh the maSsacfo Oh tlo
MOdOcs nv Capts. Wright aud Ross IN 80. no % M
nate the MOdUCs under such circumstances "ouu 'o
/ crime Nell ~ "a iailohhi uiaSLti'o'
| But il Is said that Indians, by their teachery ana
cruelty forfeited their right 10 existence a
la civihzed people. We that All wars, WhcluuE
amOue civilized people, are Waged, not ON she
e rus doing good for evil, bur ON the IRON rue OI
rendering evil for evil. That Wnat we call teachefy
Win them ret niattOu tor our ueachery 20 n'h;
Their practice OF destroying the women ana cnidIeh ol
hrr enemies timesOf proceeds from tue pupoao
Id prevent aggressiOns ana ls precisely our
method Of dispOsing OF the vicious ahlhaib tnhs VIC "0
id, nave forfeited their life by their asgresslOns.
Their motive ia executing criminals aG prlsonors ~
torurr IL would seem. has never been nleTstoou ~
. u.blc. and I'm, Ignorance has doubtless been one
r cause OF the prejudice. hatred and aggressions Oi
he Yhites 10 WOuld seem that only the rev VINO urc
t,i4r with the American Archaeology have discovered