The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-19

Of horses owned by Joseph's band, be-
came every day source of greater trou-
bic, and those who watched affairs there
we're not much surprised when the recent
outbreak occurred. In 1874, the govern:
ment authorized commission composed
of citizens of Oregon to proceed to the
place and appraise the value of the lands
reduced to civilized use by the settlers,
and the improvements upon them, with
the view Of having them all removed
from the valley 80 as to restore 1t to the
indians. The commission performed the
appointed duty. They reported a total
of nearly 100 settlers, and an aggregate
valuation of less than 100000 for their
lands and improvements. No action was
taken on this report. The settlers re-
mained, and the Indians proceeded to
open threats against those they considered
lawless intruders.
Last year one of Joseph's band was
killed in the valley by aswhite man, and
after that it became only matter of
time and opportunity for the commence
ment Of hostilities. The tribe took the
violent death of this Indian very much
to heart, and although the chief dis
claimed any intention of resorting to re-
taliation, it was we'll understood he cher.
ished a design of revenge. The commits
sion sent last fall, with General Howard
at its head, to arrange all the difficulties
on the basis of an abandonment Of all
Joseph's claims to the valley, was a fail.
ure. The non.treaty Nez Perces stood
on their acknowledged right to the lands,
insisted on the retirement of the settlers,
and fatty declared they would not go on
q reservation. In all this business the
government has not been properly repre-
sented by its agents. There has been bad
faith toward the Indians. The payment
of the comparatively small sum men
toned above would have satisfied the
settlers, who would have relinquished the
valley to. the Indians. Had the govern
ment carried out the design of 1874, paid
the occupants for their crops and i'm
proyements, and secured Joseph in the
possession of the land he rightfully Owls,
the present serious trouble would not
have taken place. The amount of money
already spent in the transportation OF
troops to Salmon River and the further
OUTLAWS that will be necessary to suppress
the outbreak will be many times in ex-
cess of 500, 900, not to speak of the wide.
spread ruin and destruction of farms and
settlements and the heavy loss of life,
which is irreparable.
The present war threatens to be OF far
greater magnitude than that of the Mo
docs in 1878. Captain Jack had linn
tied field of operationS Joseph has, an
almost boundless area. The Modocs
were obliged to hide in the lava beds and
husband their resources carefully; the
non treaty Nez Perces can freely gOam
over vast expanse, knowing every inch
of the ground, and can capture supplies
as they require them. 1t was only requi-
site to completely surround the Modocs
and force them by hunger to surrender
the present outbreak in Idaho is entirely
different. And, as has been remarked,
while the Modocs were but handful and
hopeless ofaid, these savages are already
numerous and have success overa body
of regular troops and citizens. They are,
besides, animated with religious or
superstitious idea that they have the
power to rid their country on this occa-
sion once and forever Of pale faces, and
in military circles it is believed that un-
less the hostiles are speedily vanquished,
every day will bring to them, over their
broad field of war, allies and warriors
from other tribes, and all the renegade
sayages will hasten to join them.