Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-05-24

=" "'tn "eariy All the Ncz feTce Indians, who
have been residing on Salmon River. within
said county, who united in the bostlities com.
menced on the 18th Of June last. That he has
frequently heard Black Tail Eagle. Chotely
Mox- Mox. and Captain John, chiefs above
named and many of the Indians, saw that tbcv
would be willing to go on the Nez Perce reserya.
ton u there was mother agent there, often stat
ing that all they wanted was such a man as
James U Nei''. formerly agent: and thew often
iar'ner stated that they would never 90 on the
reservation while Monteith was there as agent.
but would fight first and depsnent further sny
tnat nc believes that Ind there been another
agent In charge of the Ncz Percc agency Tho
recent aostilities would not have occurred.
JOHN J. MANUEL.
Subscribed and sworn before me this septeml
Yer Sd, 1877. EC n r Morn,.,
auditor and Recorder, Idaho County, Idaho Ter.
rito,y.
| have been acquainted with both of
the atlantis for nearly sixteen years and
vouch for their or dibil'y aud say tina,
the statements made by them can be
corroborated by the mass Of settlers who
were familiar with the hostile Indians
before the outbreak. just prior TO Mr..
Woods having been called upon BY the
Indians sent by White Bird. now with
Sitting Bull. and who was always the
master.sprit ofthe hostile Nez Perces.
there bad been a council held at Ian
wal at which General Howard was pres
cnt, at which time thirty days was fixed
as the limit of time allowed to the nan
treaties to remove upon the reservation
Information was sent time and time
again by the settlers to both the mill.
tary authorities at Fort Lapwai and to
the agent that an outbreak was i,pmi.
nent and hourly expected; but SO little
regard had the agent for tie lives and
property OF the white citizens, or so
limited was his knowledge ofthe charac-
ter Of the Indians under his charge. and
SO slight his appreciation Of the leeti
mate results Of his own vicious admins.
trat'on, that while it was notorious to
the country that the disafected Indians
were no ding councils and performing
their military exercises daily Within u
short distance of the reservation. and
making very arrangement for the con
tl'ct, aud within twenty days Of the out
break, he, J. B. Monteith, by letter.
authorized the selling Of ammunition to
the Indians to enable them more effec-
tually 10 carry cut their heli>h designs.
While he Indians remain under the
control Of the Interior Department. with
the power 10 their hands to direct end
control actinn and call to their assist.
ance the military authorities to enforce
their edicts, y'us peace policy advocates
Will not tolerate movement bv the
Army or the officers thereof relative to
the indians,,except upon their recon
nendation, or until hos'ilities have ac
tually commenced. This is s,r,kin.ly
illustrated in the Inauguration of the
Nez Perez war. After the murder or
mortal wounding OF twenty settlers. and
over three weeks from the commence
ment OF the military exercises and pre
para'ions above referred to. and at the
time at the disastrous battle Of White
Bird Greek there were but seventy hos
tile Nez Perces embarked in the con.
flict. Had not the military been re
strained under the present divided aud
inefficient system, the first note If dan
ger and preparation would have b, en-
responded to, and by a simple show of
force the whole Nez Perez war and its
train Of evils been arerted by checking
in the bud the hostile movement before
it assumed force.
This divided authority is always a
source OF weakness and ine.ficiency.
The agent under the present system is
never ready 10 admir- that he has been !.
failure and that real danger exists until
the blow is struck with its harvest Of
death and devastation. Transfer the
control Of the Indian Bureau 81 the
War department. You will then have
no divided responsibility. There will be
no delays in taking necessary steps to
restrain anticipated outbreaks, aud a |
feeling OF comparative security will at
once be inaugurated on the frontiers.
The interests Of humanity. economy,
efficient public service. permanent ad
vanccment OF the Indians ia civiliza
tion. and an early disposition Of the
whole vexed Indian question by render
ing them self-sustaining, demands the
passage of the bill under consideration.
On motion Of Mr.. Fem, Cat ten
o'clock P. Nd the House adjourned.
TIE END. 1