Honey Lake Matters
August 16, 1857
The fact that a collision has taken place between the Settlers in Honey Lake Valley and the Washo Indians, is fully established. A committee from the Settlers appeared a day or two since, with a petition quite numerously signed, asking for aid from the Executive of California. But we do not see how the Executive can act in the premises, if Honey Lake, as claimed by some of these same petitioners, not long since, is without the limits of California. California can only interfere to protect her own citizens; those citizens may volunteer to assist their fellow men in distress.
An attempt was made by the authorities of Plumas County, in August last, to organize a township in Honey Lake. The Board of Supervisors did organize a township; appointed two Justices and two Constables, and appointed an election precinct. Upon learning what had been done, a majority of the Honey Lake Settlers convened and passed a series of resolutions, which were copied into this paper from the North Californian.
After appointing a committee to correspond with the authorities of Plumas, the meeting adopted the following resolve: On motion it was Resolved, That the citizens of the Valley attend the place of voting on the day of election and prevent the polls being opened. The last resolution was literally carried out, as we understood that an attempt was made to open the polls, which was defeated by those who attended the previous meeting. Judges of Election were elected, a magistrate was present to swear them in, but those who declared that Honey Lake Valley was not in California, prevented the polls from being opened by force of numbers. We believe the Assessor went over to make a list of property in the Valley, but the anti-Californians there soon made the Valley so uncomfortable for him that be deemed it prudent to leave without making any assessments. The Justices and Constables were also notified that their services were not required in that Valley.
Not the least curious part of the proceeding is the fact that Mr. Williams, who is the bearer of the petition to the Governor, appears, from the proceedings, to have been the man who offered the series of resolutions before the meeting held in Honey Lake Valley in August last, from which we have quoted.
Under these circumstances, the Governor ought not to furnish aid, unless the petitioners acknowledge themselves citizens of California, and willing to abide the laws of the State, and the jurisdiction of the officers of Plumas county.
If Honey Lake is in Plumas county, and that is where all the maps we have consulted place it, the application for aid should, have come from the authorities of that county. The petition states that the women and children had been removed to Indian Valley, which lies west of the summit of the Sierra Nevada, and which, the Honey Lake Settlers admit is within the limits of Plumas county. The Indians will not follow them into that Valley. But they seem very much disposed to drive the independent settlers, (who have appropriated a section of land each,) out of the Valley of Honey Lake.
