The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-25 00:00:00

THE INDIAN QUESTION.

From the foundation of the Government to the present
the management of tho original inhabitants of this con-
tinent—the Indians—has ben a subject of embarrassment
and expense, and has been attended with continuous rob-
beries, murders, and wars. From my own experience
upon the frontiers and in Indian countries, I do not hold
either the legislation or the conduct of the whites who
come most in contact with the Indian blameless for these
hostilities. The past, however, cannot be undone, and the
question must be met as we now find it. .1 have attempted
a new policy toward these wards of the nation (they can-
not be regarded in any other light than as wards) with
fair results, so far as tried, and which, I hope, will be at-
. .

tended ultitnately with great success. Tlie 'Society of
Friends is well known as having succeeded in living in
peace with the Indians in the early settlement of
Pennsylvania, while their white neighbours of other sects
in other sections were constantly embroiled. They are
also known for their opposition to all strife, violence, and
war, and are generally noted for their strict integrity and
fair dealings. These considerations induced me to give
the management of a few reservations of Indians to them,
and to throw the burden of selection of agents upon the
Society itself. Tho result has proved most satisfactory.
It will be found more fully set forth in the report of the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. For Superintendents
and Indian Agents not on the reservations, officers
of the army were selected. The reasons for this were
numerous. Where Indian Agents are sent, there or near
there troops must be sent also. The agent and the com-
mander of troops are independent of each other, and are
subject to orders from different departments of the Go-
vernment. The army officer holds a position for life; the
agent one at the will of the President. The former is per-
sonally interested in living in harmony with the Indian,
and in the establishment of permanent peace, to tie end
that some portion of his life may be epent within the
limits of civilized society. The latter has no such per-
sonal interest. Another reason is an economk one ; and
still another, the hold which the Government has upon
a life offices to secure a faithful discharge of duties in
carrying out a given policy. The building of railroads
and the access thereby given to all the agricultural and
mineral regions of the country is rapidly bringing civil-
ized settlements into contact with all the tribes of In-
dians. No matter what ought to be the relations between
such settlements and the aborigines, the fact is they do
not harmonize well, and one or the other has to give way

in the end. A systt3m which looks to the extinction Of
race is too horrible for a nation to adopt without entailing
upon itself the wrath of all Christendom and engendering
in the citizen a disregard for human life and the rights of
others dangerous to society; I see no substitute for such a
system except in placing all the Indians on large reserva-
tions as rapidly as can be done, and giving them absolute
protection there as soon as they are fitted for it. They
should be induced to take their lands in severally, and set
up territorial government for their own protection. For
full details on this subject, I call your special attention to
the report of the Secretary of the Interior and the Com-
missioner of Indian Affairs.