Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-07-10
THE MODOCS.
The War ia used by Wrongful Acts j..
White Men.

The War Ia used by Wrongful Acts Ut
White Men.
The following letter from a member
from California explains itself, and
puts quite a new phase on the NIoloc
war:
LAVA BEDS, June II, 1873.
10 tic Hon. e. Dctano, Secretary Of
the Interior:
DEAR SIR: Tho Modoc war is over.
The MotlOc tribe, except five or six, are
captive. Capt. Jack and several of his
confcticrates will soon be tried by court
martial for the murder of Gen. Candy
and the Peace Commissioners. There
can be but ono verdict or result in the
conviction and execution of all those
participating in the murder of the set
tiers and Peace Commissioners. have
spent several days in the lava beds and
country adjoining. Thereby I have
investigated, so far as I could, the
causes of n war between the whites and
Modocs, and from careful investiga.
ton can arrive but at one conclusion,
viz: That the war was caused by the
wrongful acts Of bad white men. In
the first place it is charged by respon.
sible parties that the Indians were
compelled to slaughter their horses for
food ut the klamath reservation.
When they hal no more horses to
slaughter, they were forced by hunger
to seek their fishing ground on the
Lost River, tract of land set apart
for them by Hon. E. Steele, late
Superintendent of Indian Affairs for
California. The land is valuable.
Spectators desired it and sought to
have the Indians removed. The In.
dians say there WAS but one of two
deaths left them, either by starvation
on the reservation, or speedier death
by bullets in tho lava beds. They
chose the latter. I am in favor Of
hanging those who participated in the
murder of the Peace Commissioners OF
settlers, but humanity and justice de-
mands an investigation of the war and
it's causes from its first inception. Let
us have both sides of the question.
Let us have the sworn statements OF
the Indians, which viii, am credibly
informed be corroborated by the
testimony of responsible white men.
You have authority to order it and
direct that the testimony OF all those
who arc likely to be convicted and ex-
ecuted he taken.
1 regret to have to say it, but I be-
llcve there never was 4 time since the
organization of the government that
there was SO much corruption and
swindling, not only of the government
aud the people, but of the Indians, as
there is being practiced on the Indian
reservations on this coast. Mr.. Meach.
am and Mr.. Steele managed affairs to
the satisfaction of the people aud the
Indians: regret they have not been
retained as superintendent. do moi
know who is to blame, nor do accuse
any particular agent of corruption, but
we know that many have been perpet
ual, and before launching these Indian
chiefs into eternity, let their testimony
he taken, let the guilty parties bt
found. We have lost many valuable
officers aud men in the war, and JUS
tice demands if any person or person.
be guilty Of melting tho Modocs to- wal
he, or they, should be punished. Ian
willing, if you can delegate to me au
thority, to aid and assist in the inves
! tigati0n of all causes or charges which
may or can be brought out before
court martial, as tho representative O
the people Immediately concerned, ant
who have suffered most by reason o
the war, l feel that justice demands ,
thorough investigation, and if can i,
any way serve the Government ant
people in aiding or assisting the inves
tigation, command my services.
By telegraph at Fort Jones.
Very respectfully signed,
J. X. LUTrRELL,
Member Sd Congressional Dist. Cal.