, 1875-12-25
Alaska TO he a County of our Territory

nj toii NAAAeci - !" 49,
on the 10Th instant he made a
powerful and effective argument
before the Senate Committee on
Territories. He argued that the
military rule had proved oppres-
sive; persons arrested for trial by
the California and Oregon Courts
had, for want of transportation,
and other reasons, been kept in
prison for months instead of FIVE
days as authorized by law; and
the requirement of the treaty that
all Russian-American citizens
should enjoy all the rights of 9TH
er citizens are still unfulflled.
He said there had been considera-
BILE immigration Of late for mining
purposes, and showed that his bill
would afford civil government at
very small expense, and stated
that it was recommended by Gen.
Howard, commanding the De-
partment. We also learn from
another source that the Depart
ment of the Interior is very favor
ably disposed towards this change,
as it viii materially aid the peace
policy toward the Indians of Alas
ka. -. ~ :. .~-
The report of Commissioner j.
q. Swan, made to the Indian Bu-
reau at Washington after his re-
turn from cruise in the Oliver
Wolcott, last summer, to Alaska,
shows that the presence of soldiers
among the coast tribes has pro-
duced no other than demoralizing
effects. Soldiers are not wanted,
as is most eonclusiVely shown in
British Columbia, where not sin
gle British soldier is stationed; ;
but the savages are kept in an
effective state of quetnde by the
British gun-boats, which regularly
visit the coast tribes, and are al
ways ready on any outbreak of the
Indians to promptly subdue them.
Alaskain a geographical point
of view is similarly situated with
British Columbia The approach
es are allq byGWater, and the nu-
merous and powerfnlIndian tribes
are all canoeuIndians, instead ysoi
horse Indians like thosegof the
plains. & A singleo revenue cutter
stationed in the wasersof Alaska,
FandJ the ocoasionab5fisit Of some
of the armed vessels which. are
kept grounding on their beef
bones at Mare Island would have
more effect in keeping order
among the savages than fifty regi.
ments of soldiers. ail5aa ai
At present, Alaska is under
military rule; an iron handed, par
tial rule; more oppressive to the
settlers than the Turk to the
Christian, or the Russian to the
Pole. By such policy all white
settlers are effectually excluded,
and the whole country of Alaska
Iis kept a bowling wilderness, fol
the benefit of powerful fur mo.
nopoly.
Senator Mitchell deserves the
thanks of every man on the
northwestern coast of North
American for his attempt to
place Alaska under a civil govern
ment, and, unless the influence ol
the ALASKA Commercial Company
is too powerful, his bill is soon tc
become a law, the military re.
moved, and Alaska thrown open
to settlers who will have induce.
ments offered them to go to that
region and develop its vast min
eral wealth. The military thus
far has been deadly Upas on the
improvement and settlement oI
Alaska. That policy has been
now fully tried, and, weighed III
the balance of eternal Justice, has
been found wanting in every par
ticular. If British Columbia
needs no soldiers, Alaska needs
none. We truak either that the
military may be removed, or else
so shorn of power for mischief that
they may be like the cat of the
fable, in very warm place with
her claws cut off. We Will keer
our readers advised of the progress
of Senator Mitcheii's hill