George Wright to William P. Dole, March 31, 1862

Hon. WILLIAM P. DOLE, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City, D. C.:

SIR: I have perused with great care and much interest the pamphlet of Dr. Elijah White, embracing “testimonials and records, together with arguments in favor of special action for our Indian tribes.” I fully concur in the reflections of Doctor White, as well as his suggestions as to “what can and should be done.” I have served for nearly ten years on the Pacific Coast, and for six years past I have been in Oregon and Washington Territory, personally engaged in all the Indian wars during that period. My position and duties brought me in contact and made me acquainted with most of the chiefs, headmen, and tribes in that country, and my previous service of three years in Northern California and Southern Oregon enables me to speak understandingly on the subject of our Indian relations. A fruitful cause of our Indian wars has been the encroachment of the white people on their lands before the Indian title had been extinguished, and when treaties have been made for the purchase of Indian lands our people have at once proceeded to occupy them and dispossess the Indians before the treaties had ever been ratified. Such acts had, of course, a tendency to create a hostile feeling against the white people. Indians cannot understand how it is that one party to a bargain can avail themselves at once of all its benefits, while they themselves are left to await the ratification and tardy fulfillment of its stipulations by the Government at Washington. The foregoing remarks are specially applicable to the treaties with the Nez Percés and various other tribes made at Walla Walla in June, 1855, ratified some four years afterward, and as yet only very partially executed on our part. For ten years past the system of managing our Indian affairs on this coast has been a miserable failure. Vast sums of money have been appropriated by Congress and expended, but I have yet to see that any corresponding benefit has resulted from it, either to the Indians or the Government. Whatever plan may be adopted for the future, ıt should be of a permanent character, and the principal superintendents and officers should not be removed with every incoming administration. I have but a limited acquaintance with Doctor White, but from the numerous testimonials in his favor, coming from amongst the most distinguished gentlemen of our country, taken in connection with his long residence in this country, and the zeal and devotion with which he has heretofore served the Government, points him out as eminently fitted for the position of general supervisor over all the Indians in this department.

Very respectfully, I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant,