Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-16

number of dofencoless families Of whites,
near Yreka, in that State Immediately the
Government Peace Commissioners started
in the pursuit Of The murdcrors They had
retired to the lava beds Of the mountains,
where they concealed themselves tiiectually
from tho commissioners From this retreat
Captain Jack aud bis braves would come
forth whenever it suited their convenience, to
palarcr with the agents Of the government
The terms Of the Indians seemed to be- so
far as thcy could be made out, entire i'm
munity from the consequences Of their muir
ders, and an enlargement Of their reservation
by some Of the finest plantations or farms in
California For three months the army
officers and two or three civilians, including
Methodist minister, have been haegling with
the murderers over these terms. The In
dians have been growing more imporious IN
their demands, aud the government has been
trying to make the best terms Il could in
the interests of rea"e
Last Thursday the Indians proposed an.
other conference, and Gen. Candy, accom-.
panied by Rev Mr.. Thomas, aud Mr. Meach-
am, aud Mr.. Dryer, Of the Peace Commits
sion went out one mile from the picke,s to
meet Capt. Jack aud Eve other Indians
They met at the place Of appointment, and
after a few minutes conversation, Jack drow
pistol aud shot Gen. Candy dead, and
the other Indians killed Mr.. Thomas, NOR.
tally wounded Meacham, and Dryer cs-
capped by his heels II of no use to waste
words in expressing our adherence Of the
treachery and the crime Of the Indians, nor
our sorrow at the slaughter Of the brave
men who were ruthlessly slain in carrying
out the instructions Of the government TO
exhaust all peaceable means in treating
with the hostile Indians. If the expression
of regret at the sacrifice would recall the
dead to life, or Of horror at the treachory
Of the Modocs would avail to punish them
we would give It freely
1t seems rather time for few honest
words to the Government We have more
than once stated our conviction that the In
dian policy Of the Government is a mis-.
taken one. So fast as the United States
takes possession Of its territory, it should os-
tablish its laws over the ludlau tribes. 1t
should not treat with them as if they were
independent nations, but it should allow
them the privilege Of locating udsetiling on
government territory according to the land
laws, aud then hold them amenablo TO the laws
Just like other citizens II then they per-
sist in roaming over the country, killing
peaeeablc settlers and burning their habita.
tions, instead Of sending out a Peace Com.
mission, send out Gen Sheridan with his
dogs Of war, and exierminate them from
the face Of the earth They should be
treated like any other murderers or pirates
or outlaws who make war against a peace.
able society aud attempt to destroy the cs.
tabIished order Of human life. Give them
first the opportunity to become civilized, by
settling on government land; then, if they
persist in remaining savagcs and making
war upon legal society, hunt and destroy
them as we should bears or wolves, or any
other noxious creatures They would moi
be long in learning on which side peace and
safety and their own best interests were tc
be found. A large portion Of them woull
be put into the process Of civilization ant
the rest Of them would be destroyed
Why should the Government have sought
this three months, to treat with this smal
band Of Modoc murderefs They woulC
not have been so careful with a ship loaC
Of pirates, or with nest Of cut-throats a
the Five Points in New York. They would
have followed them, caught them, trie,
them, hung them, and talked peace after
ward. What better is an Indian than an,
other man? What right has he when h
massacrcs men, outrages women aud tor
lures and brains children, to paaver o
three mouths with an United States Peac
Commission Does not such a course oul
invite a savage to renewed treachery an
bafbarity ? viii he not infer the weak
ness Of Government to punish his crime
from its attempts to cordone them |
is our deliberate judgment that this slaugh
ter Of one of our best and bravest general
and of the members Of the Peace Commi.
sion is due altogether to the mistaken polio
of the Government. We have no peac
commissioners with the negroes, none wit
the ku klux, none with the assassins Of Ne,
York and Brooklyn, We do not send our be.
D men to reason with them, and impiore theI
: to stay at home and repress their thirst fc
blood. II we did, We might naturally loo
to have them suffer the same fate that hl
met Gen Candy
1t is a wrong idea that the Indians a,
quire rights in the soil by hunting an
roaming over it. Wherever they settle O
r the soil, establish villages aud live by az
riculture, they have rights which the 90,
; eminent would be bound to maintain
: Why, then, should baud of Indian bun
ers, who have no special interest in an
4 portion Of the soil, be treated with I
if they were the lords Of the soil ? VIII,
| need is there of purchase where there is i
, ownership? The only way to civlize Ii
/ Indians is for tho government to say
them> are through with reservation
. and agencies and treaties, aud all tn
method of dealing with Indians as if the
were distinct and separate race or nj
/. ton, and now we mean to treat them as
] do all others who live on our territor
Each Indian may have right to a quart,
section OF land, Of his own selection, if |
e will settle on it aud cultivate it. Ill
i will not thus come under the order and la
+ of established and civilized society, the COZ
= sequences will be on his own head.