Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-24
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
How Colonel E. u. Baker was Elected
Senator. IS Told by a Participant.

Senator, As Told by Participant.
[Inyo Registerl
In the years from 1853 to 1857 | was en-
gagged in mining in Josephine county, Ore
eon. and was in the midst of what will be
remembered by old residents as the Rogue
River Indian War, in which General 10
seph Lane was for time in command of
volunteers. And the available United
States troops on the coast were also in the
field.
The war ragged for two or three years, and
victory was as often achieved by the In
dians as by the troops. In the meantime
all isolated mining camps were compelled
to build stockades for protection, and
ranchers left their houses and gathered at
central points for the same purpose.
After three or four years of exciting war
fare our troops succeeded in capturing Cap
tain 10, the Napoleon of the Indians, and
sent him to Alcatraz for confinement His
capture soon brought the war to q close,
and started an army of claimants for sery-
ices and supplies furnished the troops dur
ing the war. The troops, both regular and
volunteer, issued what they denominated
war scrip }" in payment for supplies all
over the country. The aggregate of this
scrip amounted to between three and four
millions of dollars. and was denounced as
gigantic swindle.
Finally, Congress appointed q commits
sion of army officers to visit the localities
where the scrip was held and determine
what portion Of it ought to be paid. These
officers fulfilled the duties of their appoint
ment-allowed such claims Us they found
legitimate; cut down those found to be eX-
orbitant, aud still the claims against the
Government amounted TO near three mil
lions OF dollars. Scarcely man engaged
in business from Portland TO the California
line but had more or less of this war scrip
Merchants III the interior were forced to
supply food and forage TO the troops and
volunteers for their own protection and
in many instances the entire stock of the
traders at the mines was so used.
After the commission had made their re-
port Senator Lane asked for an appropria-
ton to pay these claims for four successive
years. but was each time met with the
claim that the thing was a swindle. In the
course of my business | had accumulated a
few hundred dollars of this scrip and made
up my mind that we should never get our
pay until we could concentrate the debt
with a right to get the subject and its JUS
tice fairly before Congress. | made an ar
rangement with Riggs & Co, bankers in
Washington, who at that time were looked
upon as the Government bankers, to APP
name, for what | could find of the scrip,
they agreeing TO pay to owners the amount
collected upon it less 10 per cent. / agreed
with Riggs & Co. to give them II per cent,
and TO use the balance OF the 10 per cent,
or as much of it rs was necessary. to pro-
cure an appropriation for is payment.
commenced gathering it in San Fran
cisco, where found upwards of hundred
thousand dollars among the wholesale deal
ers who had taken it from their country
customers. | then went to Crescent City,
TO Jacksonville, and through Rogue River
valley; l went through the Umpqua and
Willamette valleys, finding more or less
in every town, and by the time | arrived at
Salem l had secured over million dollars.
On my arrival at Salem | found the Legis-
lature in session, and were in joint con-
vention balloting for United States Senator
Colonel f. D Baker, who, six months be-
fore, had taken up his residence at Salem
for the possible chance that he might be
elected, was being voted for by the Repub-
leans and was short of but one vote of his
election. After a dead lock of some DAYS,
postpOnement for week was agreed
upon. | had in the meantime made the
acquaintance of a member whose resi-
dence was in a county about hfty miles
from Salem, and through which / had
Just passed, and where / had found a
large amount of scrip. / asked him if he
did not know he was injuring his constitu-
enEs by opposing the election OF Colonel
Baker, He answered that he personally
would be glad to see the Colonel elected,
bat he had promised his constituents never
to vote for Black Republican unless in
structed bg them to do so. In the after
noon mounted my pony and rode back to
e ant n
induced them TO call mass meeting in
reference TO war scrip. A large number of
business men and farmers came together,
and / laid before them the suicidal policy
of allowing Oregon TO be uurepresented in
the United States Senate; that but single
vote, which they could control, would send
there one OF the brightest intellects on the
Pacific coast, and whose influence would
insure the payment of our just claims.
The result was the passage of a resolution
instructiDg their member to vote for Col
onel Baker
Armed with this resolution, | returned
to Salem, and at the next meeting OF the
Convention Colonel Baker was daily elected.
went on to Washington in company with
Colonel Baker, and was in the Senate
chamber when he made his first speech.
It was in answer TO Judah p. Benjamin,
WHO was iile F-ICe2t Va TIC COAeAi- " DSAA
the Colonel arose quite perceptible sur-
prise was manifest on the faces of old SEN
asors at the audacity OF the new Senator
in attempting to reply to Benjamin. He,
however, had spoken but few words be-
fore papers were cast aside, conversation
ceased, and every eye and ear was turned
to the Senator from Oregon, and the Sen
ate chamber became 30 still you might
have heard the fall of pin. No one Hs5
looking for statesman from that far-0f
State, but he so annihilated the sophistries
OF hIr. Benjamin that the Senators by their
votes fully sustained him--and from that
time Colonel Bakers influence was perfect
| ly recognized.
at the proper time he introduced bill
to pay our claims, and after his clear ard
lucid statement Of their business. the bill
became law and we got our money.
. SHERMAN STEyEEs.
Lone Pine, Cal, July. 1880.