The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1876-10-28
INDIAN COMMISSION.

tue appointment OF an-lndiAn COlnni9-
sioncr to adjust difficulties existing be
tween the whites and the Nez PerceS
who were mt. rartics to-tle treaty Of
1867, would seem TO attach more serious
consequences to these difficulties than
the facts seem to warrant, aud may lead
to the unjust inference, in the minds Of
the people at the East, that we here are
Just on the eve Of 4 general Indian war
with the Nez Perces.
Nothing would be farther from the
truth. Nineteen-twentie,h Of all the
the Nez Perces are at full peace with
the whites and could not be induced to
break that peace for any considerations
short Of full belief that War with the
whites would restore to them all their
original country without the loss Of any
OF their tribe or any Of their bands ct
horses and cattle, belief that cannot
be instilled into the minds Of any Of
their chiefs and head men.
Again none Of the present generation
of main body Of the Nee perces
possesses any tactics Of war. aud hence
they have no ability to 20 to war. and
still again most Of their wealthy aud in
fluential men prefer the pecuniary ad
vantage' which they enjoy by free
and uninterrupted trade and commerce
with the whites, to taking any Of the
hazards Of war with them. 1t is true
that a few of the Wallowas under
young Joseph hive at sundry times
been attempting a game "f bluff aud
scare upon the settlers who have re-.
Gently made settlements in the Wal
Iowa valley to gain some advantages in
regard to their ranges for stock and
fishing privileges. But we have yet
seen no evidences that Joseph himself
or any Of his men have ever SO much as
seriously entertained the purpose to go
to war with the whites. lie has, it ia
true plead the non signing of the treaty
by his father, as u reason why his band
do not desire to 20 and reside upon the
reservation. But this has only been "a
technical plea with him, and 81 long as
it answered the purpose t. induce the
Government to permit him and his bard
TO remain off the reservation, he has
freely used this plea.
The facts are the Nez Perces at the
time Of the treaty were one nation and
under one general council of chiefs and
head men. and all but few Of their
chiefs were signers Of the Treaty and
by their own laws. the minority were
bound by the decision and acts of the
majority, and they all at first so re
garded their situations; and had the
Government acted promptly and re
'iu red all the Nez Pc ces to 90 upon
the reservation according to the terms
If the treaty. they would have gone
and that would have save all the diff
Guilty that las since arisen with Joseph
anil his band.
But during the l,ny neglect Of the
Senate to ratity the treaty, aud the still
longer delay Of the executive officers of
the Government; to enforce its provis-
ions aud require the Indians 20 90 upon
the reservation, joseph has been per-
saaded by interested men to think, that
because his father never in person signed
the treaty, therefore he was not bound
to obey its provisions, and hence upon
the adv,,t Of white settl, rs into the
particular valley he and his band occu
pies, he has interposed his objections
nd uttered his threats. t. scare them
away. Had he meant or intended war
upon the whites he never would h I'VE
suffered those settlers to get foot hold
in his valley.
IT, now. send a new co omission and
make q new treaty with Joseph il q
farce, and only identifying the head of
every Indian family living off the reser
Walton 70 the position of u merchandising