and ill a note to the Secretary of War commented on it warmly in contrast with the expressions of the chairman of the peace commission. Sherman, however, was not so sanguine. He rephed to Canby's telegram that it was manifestly desired by all in authority that the peace .measures should succeed and counselled patience, "But should these peaceful measures fail, and should the Modocs presume too far on the forbearance of the government and again resort to deceit and treachery, I trust you will make such use of the military force that no other Indian tribe will imitate their example, and that no reservation for them will be necessary except graves among their chosen lava beds "
At this time Meacham would willingly have seen the peace commission dissolved, and more than once had signified his readiness to make his final report at Washington. The peace commission was extremely unpopular in his own state, and was likely to ruin his chances for any future political preferment. Subservient as it had been from the first to the advice of the military, by order of the government it occupied a position antagonistic to peace, as it did, by the terms offered by the military, to the authorities of Oregon and the sense of the people. All the other commissioners had resigned and gone home. The delays caused by the commission in the operations of the military forces were likely to defeat the object for which they were assembled, as with the approach of spring the Modocs would escape into the mountains, where no number of troops could hope to capture them, and whence they could descend in small parties to steal and murder at will. The stock-raisers in the vicinity of the lava beds complained that their cattle and sheep were lassoed not only by the Indians, who killed all they needed, but by the army teamsters and soldiers also, who took fresh meat when they desired, thinking they might as well have it as the Indians. The time was at hand for putting in crops, but no
