Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-03-14
Our Washington Letter.

Our Washington Letter.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF TIE STANDARD.
Discussion of the Modoc War Claims-Scnator
Mitchelrs Case-Sioux Hostilitics - The
Chinese Question st. James Mission Land
Claim-FOrt Steilacoom Observation-Disclosures
Flats-Tmber Landslide Indian Supern-
tendency-Reappointment of Marshal Kear-
ney-Washington Territory in Report of
Bureau of Statistics.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10Th, 1874.
Representative Nesmith made good
fight last Friday in the House, on his
bill for the appointment of Commission
ers to ascertain the losses sustained by
citizens of Southern Oregon and North
ern California by reason of Indian dep
repations in 1872 and 1873. The dis
cussion brought up the whole history of
the Modoc war. Mr.. Shanks, of Indiana,
member of the Committee on Indian
Affairs, who very foolishly seems to i'm
agine it is his bounden duty to champi-
on the side of the Indian under all
circumstances, attempted to show that
Captain Jack was was in the right, and
was urged to war by the outrageous
crimes perpetrated by the whites on his
people; that the Modocs were peaceable
until the treacherous murder of the
father of Captain Jack, with several of
his band by Ben. Wright and his
party, some twenty years or more ago.
This position was refuted by both the
Oregon members, and Mr.. Luttrell, of
California, who showed that the Modocs
had always been skulking, murderous
band, waylaying peaceful emigrants
and killing defenceless settlers when
ever they had an opportunity. The
debate, at one time, became almost per-
sonal between Messrs. Nesmith, and
Shanks, but the latter got very much
the worst of it, as the representative of
the frontier men knew how unjustly his
people had been attacked, and warmly
INDICATED them of the charges made
against them. But all this did not
overcome the tide of prejudice raised
against the extreme Western people by
the Eastern, so-called, humanitarians
Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, and members
from the New England States, said that
the creation of Board of Commission
ers, committed Congress to pay the
losses which they would find had been
sustained by the settlers, and on the
score of economy, which has become
the demagogue cry of the House, the
bill was voted down. On q motion of
Mr.. Garfield, to strike out the enact
ing clause, it was carried by 1O5 yeas
to IS nays, 80 members being either
absent or not voting.
The same bill, however, is pending
in the Senate, having been introduced
by Senator Mitchell, who made speech
on Thursday in favor of its passage,
so there is still a chance for it. Very
singular to say, Mr.. Meacham, one of
the Modoc Peace Commissioners and
late Superintendent of Indian Affairs
for Oregon, at conference meeting of
the Board of Indian Commissioners
held recently at the Arlington Hotel, in
Washington City, testified that "the
wrong doings of the Modocs were caused
by wicked white men," Senator Mitch
ell quoted this remark and said that
when he or any other man makes the
assertion that any white man, either
good or bad, ever did any act or thing
which would in the slightest degree pal
late, much less justify, the unprovoked
murder by the Modocs of some twenty
of Oregon's best and most peaceful cit
liens, in the most cowardly and brutal
manner, ending with the assassination
of the Peace Commissioners, then he
protested, in the name of the truth of
history read and known by all men,
against the injustice of this assertion;
and when peace conference composed
of Peace Commissioners will give aud
fence and sanction to such sentiments,
then he confessed to feeling of dis
trust as to their qualifications for the
high Office they hold, and he regarded
with serious apprehensions as to its
final results, policy shaped and con-
trolled by such sentiments" Ore
gonians here seem to think that what
prompts Mr.. Meacham to thus defame
the people of his own State is that he
is after come high appointment in the
Indian department, and thinks that as
the board of Indian Peace Commission.
ers are all powerful in the distribution
of this patronage, this is the best way
to recommend himself to their favor.
SENATOR MrrCHELL's CASE.
| Senator Kelly, yesterday, presented