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Dart to Spalding, 1 March 1851, in United States, Office of Indian Affairs,
Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-1880, National Archives Microcopy 234, Roll 607 (excerpt), NADP Document D7.
[Page 1]
Office of Superintendent of Indian Affairs
Oregon City, 1st March 1851
Dear Sir
The great number of persons leaving Oregon for the gold mines and passing through (as they will have to do) the Umpqua and Rogues river country renders it necessary for me to call your attention to the following instructions.
I wish you with as little delay as possible, to take the most favorable position on the Umpqua, to see those on their way to the mines, and urge upon them
the necessity of not molesting the Indians on the Rogues river or elsewhere, but on the contrary, treat them kindly. I am well persuaded that most of the difficulties with these Indians might have been avoided, had a more conciliatory course been pursued on the part of the whites. I would also appeal to the whites residing in the vicinity of these Indians to exercise a little more forbearance – they should remember the great ignorance of the Red men and their many wrongs at the hands of our race. Our people profess to be governed by reason and law, while the Indian knows no other law than that of self will, retaliation and revenge – therefore you will I hope make great exertions to prevent that state of things transpiring in Oregon that has produced so much bloodshed and misery in Northern California.
I have previously informed you that I have requested the Government to order a sufficient number of troops to be stationed in the Umpqua and Rogues River to insure order and also compliance (so far as may be) with the laws.