_____________ NOTICES_____________
Ancestors Can Tell Us About Terrorism
submitted by Frank. Simmons
Fair Play
What Cheer House, San Francisco, Aug. 12,1856
Editors True Californian:
In reading the papers brought by the last steamer from Oregon, I could not
but remark the great injustice done to two worthy officials of the general
government, as well as to those of our citizens who sympathize with their views.
One paper declares that the dismission of Gen. Palmer from the Indian
Superintendency is “good news to the people of Oregon, for he had done them
more harm than the Indians, by his falsehoods and aspersions.”
Another paper represents the people of Oregon as having been between two
fires, “the Indians on one side and Gen. Wool on the other.”
These are serious charges, and as there is not to my knowledge any writer in
Oregon or California who has written a word in explanation or defence, and as I
have lived in the midst of the scenes of war in Southern Oregon from its
commencement, I desire to make the following statements. I make them as the
result of earnest observation of the parties concerned, and of deep, deliberate
conviction of their truth. I am prepared to say that the reports of Gen. Palmer, in
regard to the origin of the war, are not falsehoods, are not aspersions, but true to
the letter.
interests, they had but one alternative, to combine for self-protection or be cut off
like helpless brutes.
I speak more particularly of Southern Oregon, when I say that for months
previous to the open outbreak, the chiefs had complained again and again of their
grievances. They asked most piteously, “Why do the Bostons want to shoot us?”
“We do not want war, but peace and protection.” On one occasion, when
assembled at Fort Lane, they desired the document upon which the treaty was
written, might be read aloud, and, as sentence after sentence was uttered, they
appealed to those present, and repeatedly asked, “Have we not kept that - have
we not kept that?” and so on to the end of every article. At the same time, whites
were shooting them with impunity whenever they had an opportunity. So many
were cut off in this way, that old Chief John refused to make treaty, because,
(said he), “I had more men killed during peace than war” and yet, when in
retaliation, a white man was killed, it was published abroad as savage outrage,
for which they ought to be exterminated. And scores of men, in the summer of
’55, went from Northern California, openly declaring their intention to make war
upon the Indians, on their way to the new mines in Northern Oregon.
But the sub-agents and the civil authorities assumed as though the Indians
only were guilty, and they alone should be “chastised” (i.e. killed), and the
Governor forthwith called the people to arms, and thus the law and peace-loving
citizens, being surrounded and overwhelmed with the horrors of war, were obliged
to participate, as a matter of self-defence. Under these circumstances, is it any
wonder that General Wool should demur at engaging the National forces in a war
against a people pleading for mercy and protection; in a war brought about by
blacklegs and rowdies. For, let it be known, there was no time during the winter,
but the Indians were anxious for peace, and could they have had assurance of
protection, gladly would they have made treaty; but the volunteers threatened a
general massacre, if treaty was made; they protracted the war for months, on
prentence that the Indians must be whipped.
It is morally certain that if Governor Curry (and I believe the same may be
said of Gov. Stevens and the Northern war) had exercised his legitimate functions
in the preservation of peace, instead of going out and beyond his sphere for other
purposes, there would have been no Southern Oregon war, and all this misery,
blood, and treasure might have been saved. The very idea of soldiers, who engage
in warfare with honorable motives of patriotism and defence of country, to be
degraded in the perpetration of a destructive war, without necessity; a war with
no noble object in view; in which success was no profit, and victory no honor, is
repulsive and humiliating in the extreme.
And Gen. Wool deserves, and will ultimately receive full credit for the manner
in which he has at once maintained his own dignity and the National honor.
Respectfully yours,
John Beeson
And, morever, his action in collecting the scattered tribes upon the reserve,
for which he was so bitterly opposed, was in accordance with honor, with the
highest dictates of humanity, and official duty. And as he performed this service
under a high sence of conscious right, and benevolent impulses in the face of
popular prejudice, of threatening and danger, he deserves honor and esteem for
his heroism and integrity, instead of dismission and calumny. And I am assured
this assertion will be sustained by hundreds of intelligent citizens whose views
he has carried out, but whose sentiments have not been abroad through the Press.
And as to the veteran Major General Wool, what is his fault, that there should
be such torrents of denunciation and not a word from any quarter in his defence.
The legislative House of Oregon and the Governor of the territory have done
their utmost to dishonor him before the nation by representations of defective
judgment, and inefficiency in the station he holds; a multitude of men whose
pecuniary interests are at stake, headed by a Press united against him. Surely
against such a power, and in the absence of any supporting aid, a man, under
ordinary circumstances, would be crushed to death. But as the General is sustained
apparently without help, I propose to show the reason. Doubtless his age, his
patriotism, his tried skill and courage, weighs well in his favor; but these altogether
could not sustain him against the overwhelming force of numbers, provided they
had sufficient reason for their charge. But the fact is, they have nothing to stand
upon that will bear the light of reason and truth, and the Governors and others,
who are justly responsible, may well tremble in view of what history may someday
expose to public gaze in relation to the origin and conduct to the present war.
I do not wish, Messrs. Editors, to spin out a long letter of details; it is enough
to say that intelligent men, whose knowledge of facts entitles their testimony to
respect, declare the war to be unnecessary, and therefore unjust; that it was
commenced by the cruel aggressions and robbery of the Indians by the same
class of men who get into office by perjury and fraud, in order the more easily to
Beeson to True Californian, 12 August 1856, in United States, Office of
rob their fellows. The Indians were treated in such a manner, by these men, and Indian Affairs, Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-1880,
having no press, no pleaders, and no “Vigilance Committees” to guard their National Archives Microcopy 234, Roll 609, NADP Document D40.
April 2002
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