The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-08-27
S0nE REASONS why JAMES 4. GARFIELD
OUGnr SOT TO REcgGvE TuE
ELECTORAL T0TE OF
OREGON.
DERRY. Polk Co, Oregon, /
July 10, 1880. {

Jniy ~, locu.
Editor Jacksonville Times
Ia 1873 / made canvass Of the
State for scat il the 43d Congress,
and in the Southern counties met many
persons who were sufferers blythe then
resent outbreak Of the Modoc IndianS.
Persons who had been iespoiled of their
property, and their friends, demanded
OF me thar, in the event Of my election.
l should try to procure fer them from
the q. s. Government some indemniii.
cation for the losses they had Sustained
at the hands Of the Indians. In a
speech which / made at Jacksonville I
pledged myself to do all in my power
for the relief Of those people, stated
thattheir claims for naturalization we're
meritorious and Just, and referred to
the acts Of Congress which recognized
that character Of claims, and stated that
upon general principles Of right and
justice that loyalty to the Government
and protection of the citizens were re-
eiprccal obligations and duties. sta
ted that the Government did not hold
che Indian tribes to be foreign nations
bat treated them ~ their wards and
protected them against any attempts Of
the. citizens TO hold them responsible,
legally or otherwise, for any wrongs
they might perpetrate. In pursuance
of this solemn pledge, Idid in few
days after taking my seat in Congress
introduce a bill to provide for ascertain-
ing the Iosses sustained by citizens oi
s;outhcrn Oregon aud Northern Califor-
MIA l,y reason Of the Indian depreda.
tions in lha years 1878. The bill
was referred to the Committee on In
dian Affairs, and after much labor ]
succeeded m obtaining from that com.
mittee a unanimously favorable report.
On the 18Th Of February, 1874, my
bill came before the House, and wal
under consideration in committee of the
whole. Mr., AverilI, a Republican
member from Minnesota, was Chairman
of the Committee on Indian Affairs
and as such had charge Of the bill, and
advocated its passage The debate il
too lengthy, perhaps, for you to pub
lisb. Suffice it to say, that / occupied
all Of the time that the rules Of ih'
House allowed me In advocating ii
passage. General John Peter Clue
Shanks, long haired specimen Of Re
publican humanity from Indiana, antsg
onized the bill, and uttered charge
against Ben Wright and other frontiers
men as the cause Of tie Modoc out
break, and in support Of his charge
quoted many Of Aleachsiiis lies. so
an extensions Of time To reply to ShaRkf
and the debate became warm and intel
esting. ] had read to the House
ssrong letter from Jesse Applegate i
favor of'the measure, and was abl
| supported by Alr. Averill and Nj
Towne, Republican member fror
+ Kansas, and Mr.. Luttrell from Califol
MIA. Near the close Of the debate Nj
! Garfield participated and spoke as 70
! lows:
Mn. GARFIELD should have n
objection at all to the appointmstit of
commission il tie commission and tn
work it might do would bring any res,
luton on which Congress would be iu
titled in giving relief. Suppose q coy
mission should be appointed and its .,
penses paid. and its report made, VIII,
: viii we do with its reportl These on
!. RACES and depFedations were committe
Q by one Of two classes of persons; eiths
9 9 by private robbers and murderers or b
J, public enemies. If by private mnrde
:. ers, then who in this House proposes /
!. adopt the principle that Congress sha
!, pay the damages inflicted
When Buffalo was burnt to ashes
3 the war ofal8l2 with Great Britain
tie case was laid before Congress, an