OCR Text |
Show COMMISSIPNEB OF INDIAN AFFAIBS. 15 seems to be magnified into undue importance, and the most barbarous outlawry follows on both sides. - Recent reports show that sudden general ill feeling has been aroused amonc some of the Indians in the Territories of Washington and oreg&, and apprehensions are expressed by the agents employed in northern California that a general war in those Territories will reu-der it difficult to preserve the peace with the Indians upon the borders, who are represented to be extremely warlike in disposition. The superintendent, in submitting a report fromL. G. Whipple, who has charge of the Indians on the Klamath river, where a reservation has been proposed, and referring to this subject states that, owing to the unusual deficiency of fish this season, on which they have relied for subsistence, and the contagious influence of war news, "the dangers of war in that region" will be materially increased. The system of military reservations for Indian self support appears to promise well for the interests of the Indians of California. There have been great difficulties to encounter, and it is believed nnnecessa-rily large expenditures incurred in inaugurating the system. But where it has been tried, or partially so, the results have been such as to promise permanent benefits to the aboriginal people of that section of the confederacy. Recent intelligence has been received from John Cain, esq., agent for the Indians in Washington Territory, giving an account of the murder of Sub-agent Bolen by the Yakima Indians, and the assem-bling of a large body of Indians on the east side of the Columbia river. By reference to an article published in the Oregon Weekly Times of the 6th ultimo, together with a letter in connexion there-with from Superintendent Palmer of the Oregon superintendency, it will be perceived that the only tribes manifesting hostility to the whites are the Yakimas and Clickitats, and in the opinion of Superin-tendent Palmer those warlike demonstrations can be checked by prompt and energetic action on the part of the troops under command of Major Haller, in the event of their achieving a victory over these Indians in the first engagement. He remarks that the Indians of Oregon have not co-operated with those two hostile tribes in the Ter-ritory of Washington, and he apprehends no danger of a general outbreak, pres~~mintgh at Major Haller's command will meet with satisfactory success in quieting the Yakirnas and Clickitats, and thereby staying the further progress of hostile movements in the Yakima country. The circumstances surrounding the Indian tribes are so different from what they were when the laws now in force for the regulation of trade and intercourse with them were enacted, that they may be regarded as almost entirely inapplicable. Legislation adapted to the present condition of things is demanded. And authority should be obtained from Congress for compiling the laws now extant, referring directly, indirectly or remotely to our Indian affairs. The necessity for such compilation must, it seems to me, be apparent. There are bands of strolling Indians in several of the western States and Territories, who are severed from the tribes to which they belong. They are in indigent circumstances, and depend for subaisb |