Inter Pocala & History of California (Various Pages) (33 pages)

ae ie Fi ; } ¢ 48S, : dy ij j t} a 484 EXTERMINATION OF THE INDIANS. tion of land within the range of each contracting group, thus forming a dozen reservations, with suggestions for .more, and offering to all who would settle therein a certain amount of rations and _presents, for 1851-2, till more definite arrangements could be made. the futility of resisting terms offered at the point of the bayonet, and accepted the restricted occupation with the sugar-coating of provisions. Only the first treaties were arranged by the commissioners jointly. By April they tired of the mutual ' supervision prompted by a natural jealousy. Hach hed out; between Yuba and Bear rivers a piece 12 miles square wae serene in Colusa 3 miles by 15 along the east bank of the Saerunents, on the Sutter claim; by the Chico treaty a reservation in the foothills nor of Feather river, 6 miles by 20; by the Cottonwood treaty, 35 alles eo at the head of the Sacramento valley, between Shasta, Nevada, an “i ranges. The Sacramento valley treaties were arranged by WM Lec eae By June 1851, Agent Johnston reported about 1,000 In ans on t Lee tion between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne; 800 on the Tuolumne and Mer re 1,800 or 2,000 on the Chowchilla-Kaweah. Trading licenses Mi ang within these reservations, on the Stanislaus, to Dent & Co. for #1, rs ; a the Tuolumne, to G. Belt for $1,000; on the Chowchilla, to Savage 0. Ms $1,200. On the Sacramento reservation three were issued by W ae Ty ‘ See Sen. Doc., 4, 230, as above. Agent Johnston undertook to aides ; on and Marks $12,000 damages for dispossessing them of their hote' ‘, pnd land, and trading post on the Merced; but the chief agent, McKee, who one of the few honest agents of the government, reported against it. Jd., 10911. He had set out for his northern allotment in Aug., escorted by some bad men under Wessells, and with a drove of cattle for vanquishing Indian sal tite and obstinacy. Numerous attendants for the pack trains, ern fey ; = engaged at heavy wages. Marchin, through Sonoma he reached Clear ae and there effected a treaty Aug. 20th, with eight tribes of about 1,000 sou! setting aside the lake valley as a reservation, To the same hag bed assigned four Russian river tribes, numbering somewhat over ne ane with whom a treaty was signed Aug. 22d. He passed through he 1e er region, which from Fort Ross to Mud river was estimated to con sid e souls, whom he proposed to settle at the mouth of Eel river, and a x i and 12th, made a treaty with the Indians of lower Klamath an Ate y rivers, for whom a reservation was proposed near the junction of these rivers. On Nov. 4th, the Scott valley treaty was concluded with the upree Klamath, Shasta, and Scott River natives, numbering 3,000 souls 7 a and 7 rancherfas, respectively; to these were added 1,000 Upper rinity River Indians, the whole 4,000 to be assigned to Scott’s valley. For agi of tribes and chiefs, varying estimates of number and other Vigo e eng McKee’s reports in U. S. Gov. Doc., spec. sess. 1854, Sen. Doc., 4, 136-228, 239; /d., cong. 34, sess. 1, H. Ex. Doc., 2, ii. pt iii, 498 et seq.; Id., pone: 34, sess. 3, doc. 76, ii. 59-68; S. 7. Morning Post, Sep. 1, 1851. ao her record of commissioners’ movements in Wozencroft, 1 et seq.; Hayes ee ii. 118, iv. 13-14, v. 94-7; Sac. Transcript, Feb.-Apr., 1851; Pac. News, aii Ap., 1851; Cal. Courier, id.; Alta Cal., Jan.-July, Sep, 9, 13, Dec. 29, ; ete.; Placer Times and Transcript, Nov, 15, 1851, ete, A large proportion of the tribes recognized . DRIVEN TO DESPERATION. 485 longed to figure by himself as arbitrator over the destiny of peoples, attended by an imposing escort of soldiers, and with a no mean power among settlers in offering protection, disposing of lands and dispensing contracts. In the latter lay a golden means of en. richment that could not well be gained in company. And so on the 1st of May the commissioners agreed to act separately, Barbour retaining by lot San Joaquin valley, with southern California added, Wozencraft taking the Sacramento valley, and McKee all north of this and west of the Coast range above latitude 40°.” The Indians could not be blamed for becoming restive under the cumulative injuries now openly fostered by the government itself in the mismanagement and No sooner had they turned their faces to the respective allotments than each entered into heavy contracts for the supply of provisions, mostl beef, . in which different collusions were made for ividing equably their benefit between the government and the Indians, commissioners and distributing agents. In one instance it was proved that only two thirds of a contract had been delivered; in another, that choice lots were sold at high rates to the miners. Similar prices were exacted from the Indians in different directions, for the supposed presents and rations of a aternal government; spoiled flour was utilized, and as thick or double blankets must interfere with the free movements of the natives when sent to hunt their rations in the forest, thinner material was considerately provided for them, or the agent applied his shears with such calculations ‘as to turn most of the fabric to better advantage in other quarters. The tact and skill with which these managers could make available one means for several urposes shone equally resplendent in demonstrating their own disinterestedness in these transactions. ‘Lhe government, however, could not be made to reconcile figures with purity of motives; and in accordance with an act creating a superintendent of Indian affairs for California, E. F, Beale was, in the spring of 1852, entrusted with the inanagement. . He endorsed the policy so far pursued with assignment of reservations and provisions, but condemned the wasteful and gross mismanagement under .which an indebtedness of nearly $809,000 had been formed within little more than a year. One result was the resignation or suspension of the agents and the revision of their contracts, involving reduced and deferred payments, It was declared unwise to reject the treaties, for this would undoubtedly lead to bloody and ruinous wars. Unfortunately the selection of reservations was in itself injudicious, scattered as they were in so many localities, frequently cutting into the midst of mineral belts, and occupying much valuable land coveted by settlers. Strong objections were accordingly made before congress under legislative auspices, and the treaties were rejected, chiefly on the ground that under the acquisition of California from Mexico the natives had no right to the soil, and consequently no claims upon the United States government. Nevertheless, an appropriation of $100,000 was made for preserving peace with dispossessed Indians till other permanent arrangements could Ba made.

ae ie Fi ; } ¢ 48S, : dy ij j t} a 484 EXTERMINATION OF THE INDIANS. tion of land within the range of each contracting group, thus forming a dozen reservations, with suggestions for .more, and offering to all who would settle therein a certain amount of rations and _presents, for 1851-2, till more definite arrangements could be made. the futility of resisting terms offered at the point of the bayonet, and accepted the restricted occupation with the sugar-coating of provisions. Only the first treaties were arranged by the commissioners jointly. By April they tired of the mutual ' supervision prompted by a natural jealousy. Hach hed out; between Yuba and Bear rivers a piece 12 miles square wae serene in Colusa 3 miles by 15 along the east bank of the Saerunents, on the Sutter claim; by the Chico treaty a reservation in the foothills nor of Feather river, 6 miles by 20; by the Cottonwood treaty, 35 alles eo at the head of the Sacramento valley, between Shasta, Nevada, an “i ranges. The Sacramento valley treaties were arranged by WM Lec eae By June 1851, Agent Johnston reported about 1,000 In ans on t Lee tion between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne; 800 on the Tuolumne and Mer re 1,800 or 2,000 on the Chowchilla-Kaweah. Trading licenses Mi ang within these reservations, on the Stanislaus, to Dent & Co. for #1, rs ; a the Tuolumne, to G. Belt for $1,000; on the Chowchilla, to Savage 0. Ms $1,200. On the Sacramento reservation three were issued by W ae Ty ‘ See Sen. Doc., 4, 230, as above. Agent Johnston undertook to aides ; on and Marks $12,000 damages for dispossessing them of their hote' ‘, pnd land, and trading post on the Merced; but the chief agent, McKee, who one of the few honest agents of the government, reported against it. Jd., 10911. He had set out for his northern allotment in Aug., escorted by some bad men under Wessells, and with a drove of cattle for vanquishing Indian sal tite and obstinacy. Numerous attendants for the pack trains, ern fey ; = engaged at heavy wages. Marchin, through Sonoma he reached Clear ae and there effected a treaty Aug. 20th, with eight tribes of about 1,000 sou! setting aside the lake valley as a reservation, To the same hag bed assigned four Russian river tribes, numbering somewhat over ne ane with whom a treaty was signed Aug. 22d. He passed through he 1e er region, which from Fort Ross to Mud river was estimated to con sid e souls, whom he proposed to settle at the mouth of Eel river, and a x i and 12th, made a treaty with the Indians of lower Klamath an Ate y rivers, for whom a reservation was proposed near the junction of these rivers. On Nov. 4th, the Scott valley treaty was concluded with the upree Klamath, Shasta, and Scott River natives, numbering 3,000 souls 7 a and 7 rancherfas, respectively; to these were added 1,000 Upper rinity River Indians, the whole 4,000 to be assigned to Scott’s valley. For agi

of tribes and chiefs, varying estimates of number and other Vigo e eng McKee’s reports in U. S. Gov. Doc., spec. sess. 1854, Sen. Doc., 4, 136-228, 239; /d., cong. 34, sess. 1, H. Ex. Doc., 2, ii. pt iii, 498 et seq.; Id., pone: 34, sess. 3, doc. 76, ii. 59-68; S. 7. Morning Post, Sep. 1, 1851. ao her record of commissioners’ movements in Wozencroft, 1 et seq.; Hayes ee ii. 118, iv. 13-14, v. 94-7; Sac. Transcript, Feb.-Apr., 1851; Pac. News, aii Ap., 1851; Cal. Courier, id.; Alta Cal., Jan.-July, Sep, 9, 13, Dec. 29, ; ete.; Placer Times and Transcript, Nov, 15, 1851, ete, A large proportion of the tribes recognized . DRIVEN TO DESPERATION. 485 longed to figure by himself as arbitrator over the destiny of peoples, attended by an imposing escort of soldiers, and with a no mean power among settlers in offering protection, disposing of lands and dispensing contracts. In the latter lay a golden means of en. richment that could not well be gained in company. And so on the 1st of May the commissioners agreed to act separately, Barbour retaining by lot San Joaquin valley, with southern California added, Wozencraft taking the Sacramento valley, and McKee all north of this and west of the Coast range above latitude 40°.” The Indians could not be blamed for becoming restive under the cumulative injuries now openly fostered by the government itself in the mismanagement and No sooner had they turned their faces to the respective allotments than each entered into heavy contracts for the supply of provisions, mostl beef, . in which different collusions were made for ividing equably their benefit between the government and the Indians, commissioners and distributing agents. In one instance it was proved that only two thirds of a contract had been delivered; in another, that choice lots were sold at high rates to the miners. Similar prices were exacted from the Indians in different directions, for the supposed presents and rations of a aternal government; spoiled flour was utilized, and as thick or double blankets must interfere with the free movements of the natives when sent to hunt their rations in the forest, thinner material was considerately provided for them, or the agent applied his shears with such calculations ‘as to turn most of the fabric to better advantage in other quarters. The tact and skill with which these managers could make available one means for several urposes shone equally resplendent in demonstrating their own disinterestedness in these transactions. ‘Lhe government, however, could not be made to reconcile figures with purity of motives; and in accordance with an act creating a superintendent of Indian affairs for California, E. F, Beale was, in the spring of 1852, entrusted with the inanagement. . He endorsed the policy so far pursued with assignment of reservations and provisions, but condemned the wasteful and gross mismanagement under .which an indebtedness of nearly $809,000 had been formed within little more than a year. One result was the resignation or suspension of the agents and the revision of their contracts, involving reduced and deferred payments, It was declared unwise to reject the treaties, for this would undoubtedly lead to bloody and ruinous wars. Unfortunately the selection of reservations was in itself injudicious, scattered as they were in so many localities, frequently cutting into the midst of mineral belts, and occupying much valuable land coveted by settlers. Strong objections were accordingly made before congress under legislative auspices, and the treaties were rejected, chiefly on the ground that under the acquisition of California from Mexico the natives had no right to the soil, and consequently no claims upon the United States government. Nevertheless, an appropriation of $100,000 was made for preserving peace with dispossessed Indians till other permanent arrangements could Ba made.