238 T. W. DAVENTORT. while he was firm of purpose he was too kindly disposed to enjoy antagonizing his fellow citizens. Hence he was pleased to explain the reasons for his actions, and he generally had the best of the argument in support of his views. With the Will- 'amette people it was more a matter of feeling than of reason ; the tomahawk and scalping knife were before their eyes, and they would not be persuaded that their immunity from those terrible instruments of warfare was more effectually secured when the wielders of them should be taken from their native haunts and placed under the immediate supervision of those whom they would destroy. The tribes at the Siletz were in- habitants of Southern Oregon, a country abounding in topo- graphical conditions most favorable for the Indians' style of warfare, and of ready escape when pursued a country closely interspersed with rocky hills, canyons, crags, little valleys and almost inaccessible fastnesses where a few secretive foes might successfully resist and decimate the many, however brave and resourceful. Palmer contended that those bands of Indians, though few of numbers, must be moved away from such advantages into a region unknown to them, and where spontaneous nature did not provide so much for their sub- sistence. General Joseph Lane was of the same opinion, and in truth, sagacious people everywhere, as well as the white people of Southern Oregon, the principal sufferers, were unanimous in sustaining Palmer's decision to move them. It required a fight, in which he and General Lane participated, before they were willing to go. The work of Palmer stands out in favorable contrast to the official doings of those who succeeded him, but his services, valuable as they were, did not save him from dismissal by the Federal authorities. Conspiring politicians, assisted by local clamor, no doubt effected it. A few jealous or fearful souls were heard to say that Palmer thought more of an Indian than he did of a white man. Probably he thought oftener of an Indian than of a white man, while engaged in solving the problems connected with the business in hand, but that an Jlndian stood nearer and dearer to him, as the quoted accusa-
