The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-31 00:00:00

THE INDIAN TRIBES.

Pacific relations continue to exist with the various
Indian tribes, and most of them manifest a strong
friendship for the United States. Some depredations
were committed during the past year upon our trains
transporting supplies for the army on the road be-
tween the western border of Missouri and Santa Fe.
These depredations, which are supposed to have been
committed by bands from the region of New Mexico,
have been arrested by the presence of a military force
ordered out for that purpose. Some outrages have
been perpetrated by a portion of the north-western
bands upon the weaker and comparatively defenceless
neighbouring tribes. Prompt measures were taken to
prevent such occurrences in future.
Between 1,000 and 2,000 Indians, belonging to
several tribes, have been removed during the year
from the east of the Mississippi to the country al-
lotted to them west of that river as their permanent
home ; and arrangements have been made for others
to follow.

Since the treaty of 1846 with the Cherokees, the
feuds among them appear to have subsided, and they
have become more united and contented than they
have been for many years past. The Commissioners
appointed in pursuance of the Act of June 27, 1846,
to settle claims arising under the treaty of 1835-36
with that tribe, have executed their duties, and
and after a patient investigation and a full and fair
examination of all the cases brought before them,
closed their labours in the month of July last. This
is the fourth Board of Commissioners which has been
organized under this treaty. Ample opportunity has
been afforded to all those interested to bring forward
their claims. No doubt is entertained that impartial
justice has been done by the late Board, and that all
valid claims embraced by the treaty have been con-
sidered and allowed. This result and the final settle-
ment to be made with this tribe under the treaty of
1846, which will be completed and laid before you
(luring your session, will adjust all questions of con-
troversy between iem and the United States, and
produce a state of relations with them simple, well-
defined, and satisfactory.
Under the discretionary authority conferred by the
Act of the 3d of March last, the annuities due to the
various tribes have been paid during the present year
to the heads of families instead of to their chiefs, or
such persons as they might designate, as required by
the laws previously existing. This mode of payment
has given general satisfaction to the great body of
the Indians. Justice has been done to them, and
they are grateful to the Government for it. A few
chiefs and interested persons may object to this mode
of payment, but it is believed to be the only mode of
preventing fraud and imposition from being practised
upon the great body of common Indians, constituting
a majority of all the tribes.
' It is gratifying to perceive that a number of the
tribes have recently manifested an increased interest
in the establishment of schools among them, and are
making rapid advances in agriculture—some of them
producing a sufficient quantity of food for their sup-
port, and in some cases a surplus to dispose of to their
neighbours. The comforts by which those who have
received even a very limited education, and have en-
gaged in agriculture, are surrounded, tend gradually
to draw off their less civilized brethren, from the pre-
carious means of subsistance by the chase, to habits of
labour and civilization.