Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-06-07
DAILY GAZETTE.
From the JournaI Of Commerce.
WHAT TO DO WITH CAPTAIN JACK.


"How to catch Captain Jack ?" has beeu the
great question for some time past. Now that he
has been caught, or rather has surrendered him /
self, the Washington authorities begin to be
troubled with the qaery--"What shall be done
With Captain Jack 2" The first question was |
hard to answer, and we do not think 1t would
have been answered at all but for tho extraordi-
nary tact and energy of General Davis, who has
proved himself emphatlcally the man for closing
out ugly Indian wars But the second question
strikes us as perfectly easy OF response. Captain
Jack and his fellows while they fought the gov
eminent according to the rules Of ordinary war
fare, arms in hand on both Sides were entitled 10
be treated as prisoners of war on capture or Civ
\ Ing up. But when they murdered tieneral Candy
and DR.. Thomas at peace council hOstilties
having been suspended in the government camp
and the victims going to their fate unprotected
and unsuspectlng, then the wretches who slew
them made themselves clearly liable to the penal
ties of wlllful murder. This ruling would only
apply, OF course, to Captain Jack aud his imme-
date accOmPlices in that act of trcaohery II
these murderers are to be spared and sent on re-
serVations and feasted and clothed to oblige a
morbid sentiment of compassion and carry out o
mistaken peace policy (mistaken in its extension
to them) then VIC shall regret that they were ever
taken alive. 1t would have been better that quar-
ter had been refused them, as 1t often is in more
civilized wars In extreme circumstances, and that
they had been killed on sight. DETERMINATION
OF the whole Modoc tribe" was the order sent
from Washington on the reception of the news
VI the Aufoefas we could not cOnScleut1OuSly
sustain that. But wa do think that death Ia the
award fairly earned by Capt. Jack and the actual
aSsassins among hts band. II the government
has any doubts abOut what should be tho suitable
penalty for these crimes 1t should then relieve 1t
self from all embarrassment by turning over thu
murderers to the civil power in Oregon or Cali
tornla. In each of those States Captain jack
band committed numerous deliberate murders be
fore the government troops were sent againt
them At List River, Oregon, they murdere'
about twenty aettlora in NOVpDnhar iagt mat nriO
10 establishing themselves In the Lava Beds AM
are now under indictment in Oregon courts, AM
the oregon Governor demands their rendition 4
him to be tried and punished. If Oregon get
4 hold Of them they will be justly hanged, and tha
Is precisely what the murderers deserve. Person
who qHlOble for prccedents can find one in tn
case OF the government surrender Of Satanta an
Big Tree to the State of Texas II these null
derers were white outlaws there would be no dis
pute over the pTOpTiety of hanging them. Thoug
they are Indians, they have long lived In pToxin
lty TO white settles; they have received protectio
from Federal and State governments they Al
half civilized, and they know white mems law
and white mems justice perfectly we'll they al
amenable on all scores, so far as we can judg
to the statutes Of the land. If il Is said thu
should be spared as a matter Of policy, then v
most cnergetiealy protest II policy u to ha'
any Weightln the decision, 1t goes on the side
hanging. As we declared at tue very outset
the movement against the ModOcs, the Cover
msnt made fatal error In parading its stroI
bands before the ModOc castles aud then n
using force, but only peace measures. The mi
taTy should have been called Into play till the ID
efforts for peace had failed and then the MOdo
should haFetben laken with rush, as they mig
have been bat for The puerie Ndling Of I
Commissioners and the vaeillating orders frC
Washington which left poor Gen. Candy with
hands tied, That wretchet business has cost
precious 1lves, and came near kihdling an lndl
war all oyer the Territore. From this last
lamity We are now In the way Of escaping throu
the decisive saccess of General Davis.