Greed & Plunder on the Oregon Trail
Radical Revulson and a Plea for The Indians in 1858 Oregon Territory
We recently acquired for stock a superb example of Beeson’s A Plea for the Indians… published in New York City, in 1858.
John Beeson, Oregon missionary, was a sympathizer of the plight of the native Americans in the Far West. After the experiences from his overland journey between 1853 and 1856, John Beeson became an advocate for the rights of those native Americans whom’s rights were being abused and trampled upon as the Oregon Trail opened up, and gold discoveries were made in Oregon and California. This scarce pamphlet lays out the world of the Oregon Territory as Beeson saw it in 1858. It’s not a pretty sight.
Beeson left Illinois in March of 1853. Via the Humboldt Route, he arrived at Rogue River in southern Oregon in September of 1853. Beeson’s arrival coincided just as the hostilities of the Rogue River War were subsiding. He later returned to New York, by way of Panama, in 1856.
Beeson’s actual account of his overland journey to California and the Oregon Territory within A Plea for the Indians… is quickly told by Beeson, but as Streeter notes:
“This pamphlet’s value lies not in its account of an overland journey, which takes only a few pages, but in the description of the harsh treatment of the Indians by the emigrants, and in giving the Indian point of view of the Indian War of 1855–6 in Oregon. The publication during the Indian War in one of the New York papers of a letter of Beeson’s telling of the wrongs inflicted on the Indians got back to Oregon and infuriated the military party. They made the situation so hot for Beeson that his life was threatened and he had to flee to California. Beeson speaks highly of Joel Palmer and General Wool.”
Here, in this third edition, in answer to his critics, Beeson trebles his reply:
A Plea “was not written to please the fancy, to gain honor or wealth, nor even merely to get up a benevolent effort in behalf of the Indians. The object was rather to speak from their stand-point, and to make public those hidden yet real reasons why they are perishing before (what is called) the march of civilization. As there are now clearer views of Religion — of human relations, needs and capacities, than were known when Railroads were not in use, and Telegraphs were unthought of, I had hoped to indicate measures more consonant with this age of progress, and by truthful adaptation to nature, at once put a stop to Indian Massacres and Border Wars.”
As Streeter noted, because of his pro-native American stance, Beeson had to temporarily leave Oregon, and fled to California to avoid bodily harm. Examples of descriptors from Beeson’s early chapters — alone — will suggest the radical tone of his publication; good reasons to make a hasty exit
Unjust demand of the Whites — The treacherous Assault — Indian Retaliation — Best means of extending Christianity and Civilization — Squatter Sovereigns — Hunting spirit develops into Murder — Destruction, Timidity, and Grateful Character of the Indians…Slanderous Stories against the Indian — His Right to be heard — Degrading names applied to the Race, and the results — Titles of Dignity — Atrocious Murder, and abuse of the Remains of an Indian — Slaughter of Indians by California Traders — Policy of conciliating Indians — Vengeance on the Emigrants — Revenge a Point of Conscience… — Unjust Retaliation of the Whites Retort of the Indians… — Misrepresentations of Indian Character and Claims — Abuse of them a ground of Public Suffrage — Emigrants attracted by a Prospect of Gain — Circumstances tending to develop the War — Forced Seizure of Indian Women — Sale and Purchase of them — Indian Murders and Executions — No account of Murdered Indians — Revolting Sentiments — Abuse of Freedom the most dangerous and destructive Despotism
Curiously, the rear wrapper contains lengthy text under the heading “Caution to the Sick.” Here, Beeson suggests a medical regime of bath-taking for native Americans, and even suggests that smallpox could possibly be cured by a dip in the water. Beeson also presents himself as an anti-vaccine adherent: “Even the well-meant practice of vaccination is now known to be a tremendous evil, inasmuch as it transmits scrofula and its horrors to those who were previously free from its taint.”
Beeson protests vehemently against patent medicines as well:
Mineral poisons and vile excrescence of animals, insects and reptiles, such as the musk and the skunk, and the virus of the rattlesnake and the spider. And what is strange, these poisonous matters are approved of as remedies for diseases in man, in proportion as they are known to produce diseases in brutes, hence that which will occasion convulsions and death in a well dog, is used to produce harmony and health in a sick man! No wonder that the Indians who bathe, get well; while those who took such things, died.
This is an exceedingly attractive copy of this scarce pamphlet, rare in this condition, and you can find it for sale here on our website if it strikes your fancy.
What We Are Talking About — John Beeson. A Plea for the Indians; with Facts and Features of the Late War in Oregon. New York: Published by John Beeson, 1858. Third Edition. [i]-viii, [9]-143, [144, advert]pp. Large 12mo. Original printed wrappers. Early name of C. H. Plummer to head of front wrapper. Traces of slight foxing; lovely copy; near fine. [3725374]
Ref. Field 107. Graff 233 (1857 ed., –“The work refers to the Rogue River affair.”)Wagner-Camp 284:4. Howes B-314. Mintz 28. Streeter Sale 3376. Sabin 4360. Smith709. Cowan, p15. Jones 1364 (1857 edition.)
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