Collection: Directories and Documents > Tanis Thorne Native Californian & Nisenan Collection

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Title: The Indian Question [California] Collection Type: Directories and Documents Collection Name: Tanis Thorne Native Californian & Nisenan Collection # of Pages: 17 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-09-03 14:17:53 OCR Software Version #: tesseract 5.4.1 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 05:53:15 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 05:53:15

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f \gi ¢ , 80 University of California Publications in History [Vou. 16 Early Indian disturbances—Reports of Indian depredations and calls for military aid were not infrequent occurrences even during the period of military occupation. Colonel Mason and General Riley, finding themselves powerless to prevent disturbances on such an extendedfrontier, adopted the policy of issuing ° arms and ammunition to the Americans who were exposed to Indian attacks, and told them to fight the Indians themselves.® General Riley recommended that the army on the coast be increased and that forts be built. He also suggested the advisability of placing the Indians in districts over which the United States government should retain exclusive jurisdiction, or that the government relinquish to California the control of the Indians.* In 1850 three federal commissioners were appointed to negotiate treaties with the Indians in California. Policy of the state authorities —Collisions between Indians and whites were becoming more frequent. The settlers on the borderland called for military protection but Governor Burnett advised each district to defend itself against the Indians. On two oceasions he deviated from his policy and ordered out a portion of the state militia against the Indians. These two expeditions were unsuccessful from a military point of view and they involved the state in a debt of $149,199.91." , The frequent calls for aid induced Governor Burnett to recommend to the legislature the adoption of some effective measures against the Indians. He believed that this ‘‘war of extermination will continue to be waged between the races until the Indian race becomes extinct,’’ and that it was beyond the wisdom of man to avert the ‘‘inevitable destiny of this race.’’* 8H. Ex. Doc. 17, 31 Cong., 1 Sesa., 556, 557, 642, 645, 682, 936 (578). In August, 1848, there were about six hundred and sixty officers and men in California. But the whole army of the United States in 1849-50 aggregated 12,927 members. Bancroft, California, VII, 450; H. Ex. Doe. 17, 31 Cong., 1 Seas., 948 (578). 4 Sen. Ex. Doc. 52, 31 Cong., 1 Sess., 43, 56-57, 74 (561). 5 California, Sen. Jour., 1851, 16-18, 603-5, 734-35. @ California, Sen. Jour., 1851, 14-15. C 1927) Ellison: California and the Nation 81 His successor, Governor McDougal, was even more alarmed. He recommended the adoption of an energetic policy as the only expedient way to avert a protracted struggle. He was confident that ultimately the federal government would take over the duty, but for the present he believed California must rely upon her own arm for protection.’ A few days later he addressed letters to General Smith, commander of the United States forces on the Pacifie Coast, and to the Indian commissioners, stating that a general Indian war threatened California. The former he asked to send military aid; the latter he requested to repair to the scene of hostilities as soon as possible and attempt to reestablish friendly relations with the Indians.’ He also instructed Colonel Johnson of the state militia to proceed to the Mariposa district, investigate the situation, and take the measures necessary to deal ‘‘judiciously’’ with it. He emphasized strongly that the great object should be to effect a peace with the least bloodshed and at the least expense.° —_ To protect the mining districts, the legislature passed an act eat px eamnemert ee . . authorizing the treasurer of the state ‘‘to negotiate a loan upon the faith and credit of the State for the purpose of defraying the expenses which have been or may be incurred in suppressing Indian hostilities in this State, in the absence of adequate provision being made by the General Government.’’® The state authorities were confident that the general government would, as T Ebid., 601-2. Governor McDougal came to California in 1849, from Indiana. 8 California, Sen. Jour., 1851, 670-71, 676, 677. 9 Ibid., 672-75; Assembly Jour., 1470, California, Sen. Jour., 1851, 734-35 (Report of the adjutant general). 10 California, Statutes, 1851, 520-21. The act of March 7, 1851, prescribing the amount of compensation to officers and men allowed to each major $15 a day; to each captain, $12 a day; to each lieutenant, $10 a day; to each sergeant, $7 a day; to each private, $5 a day, ete. (California Statutes, 1851, 489-91).