The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-03-07
nonE or rnE SAME nrnrsY.


Editor Democrat.
One of the leading and distinguish
ing features Of the Republican party
is, that, the laws of a State, civil or
criminal, and the Jurisdiction of State
Courts in criminal rs well as in civil
cases, can only exist and be exercised
in snbordination to federal authority.
It was but recently called the at.
tention Of the readers of the DEMO.
Graf TO this political hercsy in the
case of Louisiana, where the two Leg.
islatures had agreed to organize
Legislature out of such material
among those claiming seats in the
one or the other, "as aconld proue
acceptable TO the federal administra.
tion.p Now, Mr.. Jesse Applegate, a
high peace Commissioners to treat
with the Modoc Indians, steps in and
coolly informs the Governor OF the
State of Oregon, "that the power which
created this Commission is the one TO
which the citizens of both California
and Oregon look for protection and
redress * = EITHER State mention.
ed having no right whatever to inter-
ferc in the matter"
In the abstract, the above PROPOSE
ton may be true, but not in the sense
in which Mr.. Applegatc applies it, nor
is it applicable in the case to which he
refers. Gov. Grover in his communion
ton to the Peace Commission shows
two valid and lawful reasons tor (as
Mr.. Applegate chooses to call it), his
interference; first, that certain Indi-
ans of the band this Commission was
to treat with, had, upon Oregon soil,
murdered while ut their homes and
peacefully engaged in their usual avo-
cations several citizens of the State oil
Oregon; second, that the Indians
title to the lands now songht to be re-
occupied by this band of Indians was
long since cxtinguished by the author
ity of the United States in It's treaty
with these Indians; and that subse-
quently the federal Government has,
by its well arranged public land poll
cy, thrown this particulr section OF
coent:y open 10 settlement and occI-
patton Ly the citizens of Oregon, or
those who desire TO beeame such
Here vested rights have accrued o the
citizen under and by authority of law,
and within the Jurisdiction OF the
State OF Oregon. In effect, Mr. Ap-
plega;e informs the Governor that,
for these offences against the common
law as well a. our criminal code,-the
staying of our citizens in cold blood =
the federal Government, not the
mnrdercrs. is answerab!c; aud If i; is
the good pleasure Of the government
through the instrumentality Of this
Peace Commission for the sake OF
peace, TO assign TO this band OF out
laws the re-occnpancy of those lands
now occupied and improved by our
citizens, it is legitimate protection"
10 our citizens, and the Governor has
no right to interfere and our laws
have no jurisdiction in the premises.
| apprehend that our executive and
our Judiciary will not feel intimidated
at the contents of this "open letter"
of Mr. Applegate TO the Governor.
and If do not mistake the tone Of the
Oregon press, / think the Governors
communication is not regarded as
"hasty,' but timely. Not so Mr.
Applegate. He loses no time; he
makes haste to inform the country of
his opinions as to the rights of the
Chief Executive of the State TO exc
cute the laws of the State.
i do not, Mr.. Editor, desire to pre-
judge this "Peace Commission" /
trust their acts in the premises will be
in strict consonance with former treat
les with the band of Indians of which
there seems TO be remnant; that.
the murderers will be banded over to
the civil authorities for trial, and that
the federal authorities will not, as Mr..
Applegate seems TO think it lawfully
may, choose to hold itself-in its own
way, and in its own good time-an-
swerable to the State of Oregon for
the crime of murder, or to condone
the crime for which these Indians have
already been indicted.
BLUE MOUNTAIN.
ALBANY, March 4, 1873.
LETTER FROM PHILIP Low.
TANGENT, March 3, 1872.