CAUSES OF INDIAN WARS. 8 1 



fore merely observe that we think there is little doubt 

 that most of the troubles between the U.S. Govern- 

 ment and its Indian wards may be set down as 

 generally resulting- from these two principal reasons: 

 (i) the non-performance of treaties, and (2) the illegal 

 and aggressive acts of many of the white settlers. 



On the other hand it would be absurd to suppose 

 that the whites could view with equanimity the pros- 

 pects of Indian raids upon their homes and families, 

 even though these were ostensibly made in retaliation 

 for notorious wrongs nor would it be easy for us, in 

 any mere words to convey, within reasonable limits, 

 any adequate idea of the frequency, the extent, or 

 atrocious barbarity of the outrages from which almost 

 every part of the western frontier has suffered in turn, 

 at the hands of the various Indian tribes; and in 

 which unfortunately it was for the most part innocent 

 persons who suffered for the misdeeds of others; for 

 the Indian code of retaliation was by no means to seek 

 out and punish the evil-doer; but revenge was taken 

 upon the first unhappy white whom they might chance 

 to meet, regardless of whether he or she had done 

 anything to them or not. That being so, it can surprise 

 no one that a pitiless war of races arose, where no 

 quarter was either asked or granted on either side. 

 How many innocent people of all ages and sexes were 

 slain while crossing the prairies by the overland route 

 to California, during the prevalence of the gold excite- 

 ment for instance, will probably never be known; but 

 the numbers must be something enormous. Thus so 

 lately as 1866, before the troops which formerly 

 guarded the frontier had returned after the conclusion 

 of the civil war, we are told that according to the 



VOL. n. 6 



