New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-21
CAUSES OF THE OUTBREAK.
TIERs-JOsEpH's AVERSION TO RESERVATION
LIMITs-HIsrORY OF NEGOTIATIONS.

TREATY OBLIGATIONS VIOLATED BY WHITE SET
TLERs-JOsEPH's AVERSION TO RESERVATION
LIMITs-HIsTORY OF NEGOTIATIONS.
JBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, June 20.-RepOrts and CORE
spondence on file in the Indian Bureau throw abundant
light upon the cause OF the Indian III Idaho II is
the old story Of aggression by the whites lands which
the savages believed to be by right their hunting
grounds; OF unayming efforts by the Government to in
duce rowing bands TO live upon reservation OF threats
10 employ force, and OF sudden and Ievengeful
outbreak on the part OF tine Indians, attended
by horrible massacres of settlers and their
families The end will be it always is-interfereucc
by the troops and few skirmshes battles in which
the soldiers will be the vctors. followed by the submits
sion of the Indians The hostile savaScs belong chiefly
to the Perces tribe. inhabiting northern Idaho In
1855 an reservation set apart for these
Indians lying chiefly in Idaho but partly IN Oregon and
Washington 1t was unnecessarily large and when
white settlers began TO make their way up the Snake
River Valley from Oregon and began taking pos
session Of the fertile lands along the Snake
and ITS tributaries, the Government determined
to contract the reservations and by treaty with the
Indians established what is known the Fort Lapwai
Reservation nearly i'm the center of the old one. IL lies
along the Clearwater River and is about 30 miles long
by 20 wide Most OF the Nez Perccs voluntarily
upon the reservation. but there several bands
which refused abandon their rowing life The largest
Of these bands commanded by Young Joseph remained
in the II gon between the Snake River and the Grand
Ronde River, known as the WalOwa Val
ley, and lying in tie State of Oregon,
and claimed that valley their own unceded
territory insisting that they did not take part III the
council that formed the treaty. In 1873 the valley
set apart by order for Indian occupation hut
Joseph and ms band showed 10 inclination to remain
there and wandered over the adjacent country. The
land was fertile settlers in, and few sections
were regularly surveyed. In 1873 the order was
voked This provoked joseph, who insisted that the
whites had 10 right there aud land belonged to him.
Difficulties arose and were aggravated by the murder by
white men Of one OF JOseph's band
I'm February last Agent MOnteth in charge Of tie Nez
Perces induced Joseph 20 come in ami have another
talk He promised 70 settle all his followers on good
farms. ana TO supply them with seed and agricultural
indictments Joscph replied: II have been taking with
the whites for many years about the land question: and
il il strange they cannot understand The country
they claim belonged my father, and when he died it
was given 10 me and my people. viii not leave II I'M
less am comntllcd to-" The agent gave Joseph until
April / to come on 10 the reservation peaceably.
Nothing more was done until the Sd of May, when
Joseph with part Of his rowing band came III AGAIN ana
held another conference With the agent ana win Gen
Howard who had command of the troops IN that REGION
with headquarters at lewiston Mr. Montieth told the
Indians that talss were at an end ana tney must
whether they 20 the reservation or compel the
Government force them there with the troops Gen.
Howard concurred with what the agent said The next
day White Bird and other chiefs Of smaller bands ar
rived. one chief named Foowbarhoo'eou was quite
violent IN his appeals TO the other chiefs TO dlssade
them from settling the reservation II Was seen mat
nothing could he done unless ne was senced 20 ne was
arrested and put IN the guardhOuse After tnat ne ne
gotations progressed satisfactorily and the indians
finally agreed TO TO the reservation On The ON VI