Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-31
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

Report by Mr. Sogthard Chairman Of tie Com
Mittee 20 ,chich ,Cas referred so much OF the Pre-
SiGeHtS Message as relates to indiaii 1F6il,S
accompanied ,Dith Il bill for establishing trading
houses 5cith tie Indian tribes sc. &c. Made IN
the House Of Representatives., January 22d.
ISIS, and, Tith The bill, committed tn u commit
tee Of the iChOie House on MonddyRe
The committee 10 whom was referred so
much of the Presidents message as relates TO
Indian affairs, report: That the capital appro-
prIated for prosecution of indian trade was, liz
1909, augmented from 200, 900 to 10000 dol
lars which sum, by succeeding acts, has been
continued down to this period of the capital
thus appropriated, 100000 dollars have been
drawn from the treasury, and actively employ
ed under direction of the superintendent OF
Indian supplies. Under the various laws en-
acted for the support and encouragement of
Indian trade, eight factories trading posts
have been established at the following points ::
/. Fort Mitchell, Georgia.
z. ChickaSaw Bluffs, Mississippi Territory
3. Fort Confederation, Oh the Tombigby ri
ver
A. Fort Usage, on the Missouri river, near
the mouth of the Usage.
5. Prairie du CHEN, on the Mississippi, near
the mouth of the Ouis COnsin river.
6. Ordered to Sulphur Fork, OH Red river,
formerly at Natcsitoches.
z. Green Bay, OH the Green Bay of Lake
Michigan, Illinois Territory.
.. Chicago, Lake Michigan.
The committee deem il unnecessary to pre-
sent detailed view of the profits and loss of
each particular agency: submit, i'll relation to
the general establishment, that it has been
adventurous circumstances, originating in our
late beligerent stale, and not growing out IF
any defect III the organization or government
of the trade. From the first operation of this
trathc, up to December, 1909, IL sustained
loss of 5 1888 3G since that period the trade
has been more successful, II having Welded
proilt, OF the capital actually vested in the
merchandise. OF about $1,000 dollars annually,
a Earfn - inNS nj doll t.l.
accrued III consequence OF the capture of Sc
verai trading posts by the enemy during the
late war.
In this view of the. subject, the committee
have not embraced an item of 20 900, annually
dIsbnrsed at the treasury for the superinten-
daUt and his clerks, tile factories, &c and
which, when applied TO the concern. as neces-
sarlly II must be IN making an estimate of pro-
fits aud loss, will absorb the profits arising
from the funds employed ia trade, and furnish
an annual charge against the establishment of
5000 dollars: thus annual loss, being sustained
by the treasury, pursuant to appropriations
for the pay of the superintendent and his assiS-
tants, IL loss to the government, bnt not to
the concern, in the diminutIOn of its capital,
which, under ali circumstances, remains sta.
tOnary.
The act passed goth of ApriI, 1916, giving TO
the President the discretionary power OF Ii
consug foreigners to "A participation in the
Indian trade, is less eXceptiOnabe in theory
than in practice with all the guards OF the
act, and precautions of the executive, il has
been found impraCticabIe, under dispensing
power, TO avoid the admission Of men of vicious
habits, whose conduct tends to interrupt the
peace and harmony of tie United States and
the Indian tribes; nor can such lie Introduced
while the door is left open to foreign traders:
either admit or exclude all. A system partial
i'm IFS character will, by lnhbitbg a worthy
applicant, do him injustice and, by permit
ting tic fraudulent SPECTATOR, the savage Tor
whom the provision IS made and the country
are wrUngcd. The executive must rely on
recommendations IN the exercise OF the power
deposited with him, and, no doubt, often de-
ceiyed IN the character of persons recommend.
eel 10 presidential patronage
The committee are apprscd, that the exClu.
sion OF foreigners viii be attended with mo
meDtary irritation, and temporary expense 10
the nation, as the inhibition wIildevOlvc Or the
government an obligation to increase its trading
posts aud augment Indian capital, 50 as 10 sup
ply the wants Of such tribes as are nnw Deepen
dcut OH foreign trade. The prosecution at this
policy will hc strongly aided by the additional
vgOr with which The system will inspire the
commercial enterprise OF the American citizen.
The committee has been unable 90 ascertain
with any degree Ofaccuracy The amount Ol capi-
tai employed by foreigners in this trade, cOnsc.
queutly IL is somewhat at 4 loss 90 suggest the
amount necessary tOiii the vacuum thai may DC
occdsiOned by the Withdrawing Of foreign capi.
tai but from the best lights which have been
the committee arc induced TO believe
that dollars in aditiOu to the prcSentap
having the auxiliary excrtions ct
individual euterprize aud aided bS u snperin.
tendence at 81. Louis, or some other suitable
place, could be amply sufficient to accomplish
what muse he desirable 10 the government, the
supply Of those dependent upon It's humanity,
upon terms advantageous 20 both.