The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-26
General Candy Treated to Advice
from Greedy Landowners.
III Indian Bureau Informed that the Com
mission Ii an Expensive Bhnder."
Odeneal Not Likely TO Agree with the
oily ongued Orator"

VAN BRExER's RANCH. March IA, 1873.
me M0doc question Is still puzzling the Indian
Bureau at Washington, and from the present as
pect Of afYairs they viii probably succeed in run
ming up bill bordering upon couple ofmillions
before their peace policy IL successfully carried
History credits the late President Lincoln with a
little common sense, found in o remark made by
him to Secretary Stanton when General Grant took
command OF the army in the late rebellion-t e.,
'That we bad been commanding the army long
enough, and 1t would perhaps be better to let
Grant see what he could do" The good judgment
displayed in that remark was plainly exemplned
by the record of current events, and II the Indian
Bureau were to take the matter into consideration
they would see that the cheapest and most
expeditions method of settling the dtfnculty
would be to hand over their authority to
General Candy, an ofcer whose years Of experience
among Indians, coupled with mis- actual presence
on the ground and an army to back him up, would
enable him to treat more successfully with the IA
dian, who has more respect for the force Of arms
than for promises which experience has taught him
are only too often made to be broken.
HOW THE PEACE COMMISSION WAS APPOINTED.
We nave just had the painful experience Of the
Cficacy Of o Peace Commission acting under the
authority Of the Indian Bureau, and their labors
have formed ut subject for the laughter of
the citizens Of California and oregon. The
history Of this Peace Commission may be
told In a few words The Modoc trouble
broke out, and Mr.. A. B. Meacham, the
late Superintendent OF Indian Affairs in
Oregon, happened to be in washington at the
time. This gentleman is gifted orator; as
described by contemporary, 'words fell from his
silvery tongue like peas rolling or hot patter,n
and he has for long time felt deeply aggrieved at
his removal from Office and the substitution OF Mr..
Odeneal in his place. This war was perfect god
send to this Mcawber politician, and selling the
opportunity, he HE'D forthwith to Secretary Deano,
and exploded one Of those shells of oratcry, scat
tering pellets OF peace in every direction. The
Secretary forthwith appointed peace commits
sion to arrange these Modoc troubles, in which Mr..
Aeacham was TO act In conjunction with Mr..
Odeneea and the Rev. Mr.. Wilbur, OF Oregon. This,
however, did not SUIT Mr.. Meachanl as, perhaps in
dreams OF the future, he had seen q picture
in which q war that broke out through the
mismanagement Of the present superintendent was
settled by the late superintendent happy ter
mination Of affairs which resulted in the reinstat-
ing Of the late superintendent in full power,
adorned by wreath Of laurels. The silvery-
tongued orator, therefore, hied once more to the
Secretary, and once more his dulcet tones charmed
the ear OF Mr.. Delano, and the names OF Odeneal
and Wilbur were struck out and Jesse Apologize
and Samuel Case substituted in their place. Every
thing satisfactorily arranged, Meacham started for
the Aodoc country, and arrived at Dorrs' ranch
like cOnqueror come to deliver an oppressed
people. He had no doubt Of the success Of his mis-
sion, as he could easily manage the rest Of the
Commission. Sam Case was an old friend he could
be relied on, and as for Uncle Jesse Applegate
there could be no difficulty there, as Meacham
knew Uncle Jesse and his partner another man by
the name Of Jesse) had little interest in certain
swamp lands In which ne might be able to lend
assistance.
THE PEACEMAKERs AT WAR.
The Peace Commission established their head
quarters at Fairchild's Ranch, and in two days
after their first meeting Meacham's face wore the
expression OF q much-abused man. 1t soon leaked
out that the Commission were at loggerheads,
as both Uncle Jesse and the old friend Sam ex-
pressed different ideas on he Modoc question to
those propagated by the Oily-tOngued Meacham.
His eloquence was wasted upon these two Ore
gonians, who only listened and laughed m their
sleeve; in fact, one of them openly stated that the
Peace Commission was q mere humbuG, used
simply as cloak to cover the attack OF Meacham
against OdeneaL
THE COMMISSION AN ExPzNSIyE RLuNpER."
Under existing circumstances 1t may be natu-
rally Inferred that the Peace Commission proved
stupendous humbng, or, as more explicitly termed
by Mr.. Jesse APPLICABLE ian expensive blunder''
General Candy, however, fortunately arrived, and
his suggestions were accepted by the Commission,
and would probably have resulted In the surrender
OF the Indians If the latter had not been scared by
the statement OF O man named Blair, a pardoned
convict residing in Oregon, who told them he had
warrant to hang nine OF them when they came in
and gave themselves up. These Indians have
cause to be afraid Of treachery as some years back
Ben Wright murdered iorty-seven OF their tribe at
peace feast; therefore such q statement totally
destroyed the negotiations OF weeks, and the work
will have to begin again.
APrLEGATE AND CASE RESIGN. t.n
During the past week Messrs Jesse Apologize
and Samuel Case both resigned their positions on
me Peace Commission and returned to their re-
spective avocatons Mr. Meachan, however de
termined not to give up so soon, and remained o
commission OF enc 1t Fairchild's.
Before leaving Mr.. Jesse Applegate sent the fol.
lowing characteristic letter to Mr. Clum at Wash.
ington, as q minority report
APPLEaATEs MINORITY REPORT TO THE INDIAN
BUREAU.
HEADQUARTERS PEACE CORNERSTONE
FAIRCHILDs RANCH, Cal, Marcn, 1879.
Hen H. B. CLUM, Acting Commissioner of Indian
SIR-Tne Commission appointed to examine into
the causes and bring to conclusion the Modoc
war having concluded Its labOrs submit the follow
ing as its ma, rcpsrt to wit:. a..
satisfaction OF Captain Jacks band OF Modocs with
the provisions and execution OF the treaty OF
October 14, 1894 and refusal to abide thereby. To
what ext ent wrongs Justified resistance, the Com
mission aving no power judicialy to investigate,
cannot say.
Second The immediate cause of hostities was
resistance, 10y the Indians to military coercion.
Unconditional surrender OF the Indians,
and TIE tr al ana punishment OF the guilty by the
tory TO the whites and better example to the
Indians THAN more cement conditions.