Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-24

sc. A college education for fey, while the
body of the nation is left inignorance, has been
proved BY the experience Of more than two hun
bred years, TO be most Improbable experiment;
and besides because there's no other way OF divid-
ing equally the large fund for education which is
now accommodating in many tribes, except by es.ao-
fishing common schools in every village. The fund
for this purpose is too great to be given up TO a
few who choose to administer upon it. presume
that it is equal at present to more than two hun
dred thousand dollars, and constantly increasing.
Charities among white people are liable to be abused
and among ignorant and careless Indians much more
so. A plan of education and accountability should
be established by law. The supernteAdents and
agents should be charged with it's execution. FIRE.
quent rigo: Gus, and personal examinations, should
be had over the scholars and teachers, regular re-
ports made to the Government, liberal pay given
to the teachers at the end of each quarter and after
each examination; but large sums ought not 10 be
put into their hands, to be used at discretion.
5lh. Give TO the tribes the idea of submission to
the authority of civil government For this pur-
pose, az many of the tribes, or of the scattering
bands, possible, understanding one language,
collected near each other, over which competent
agent should be placed. with full power Of conduct
ing the executive part of government, to be
submitted to and adopted by the Indians, subject
TO such changes as may be recommended and APP
proved by the President. 1t is believed that the
executive agent, by his authority, will prevent the
Indians from killing another for the chief place,
and keep the inferior officers (who should be In
dians) within the bounds OF their duty, and decide
those differences, by his influence or authority,
which are nov decided by the rifle and tomahawk.
Some of the chiefs, who wish to be head men
themselves, might object to this but the body OF the
tribes would approve 1t, when they understood 1t,
and there would be stations enough under the agent
to try the abilities and satisfy the ambition OF the
different con,ending chiefs. A general govern
ment over the whole might be necessary and pro-
pers
9th. The presence Of agents, clothed with the
authority of the United States, would probably be
sufficient TO prevent the chiefs from killing one
another, and to prevent different tribes from at
lacking each other, committing depreda,ions
upon the white people; but, to make sure OF this,
show Of troops is necessary, and some s.nilitary
posts ought 10 be established along the on,ier OF
white settlements, and all the nation should be
made responsible out Of their annuites, for the de-
predations which any of it's people should
commit either on the whites or on Indians of other
tribes.
7ih. The permanent annui,;es ought 10 be COM
muted for limited ones; such change would be
beneficial to both the United States and the Indians
1t would free the Treasury from what would other
wise remain everlasting charge upon it, and
which, in the lapse of century, would amount 10
an enormous sum, as might readily be shown by
looking TO the annually increasing amount for the
Indian Department, which exceeds seven thousand
dollars for the present year, Of which about one
fourth 10 paid in annui,ies. In century the ag-
gresate paid in annuities may be equal to fourth
OF the present national debt, without counting the
probable increase. 1t would be better for the In
dams to receive large sum in short time, than
TO be receiving small one forever. The largest
annuity which we pay affords but few dollars
per head when divided among the tribe, and con-
| tribute nothing ofmuch Importance to the amount
OF their property, and II Is property alone that
can keep up the pride of Indian, and make him
ashamed of drunkenness, begging, lying and steal
ing. II IL property which has raised the character
of the southern tribes Roads and travellers through
their country, large annuites, and large sums for
land from the United States, and large presents TO
Chiefs, have enabled them to acquire SLAVES, cattle
hogs and horses, and 'Iese have enabled them TO
live Independently, and TO cultivate their minds,
and keep up their pride, while those, even of the
Southern Indians, who have no property, as l am
informed, in the lowest state Of moral and men,
tai degradation. An Indian will not work while
in his uncu,ivated state; that is considered dis
grace. The period of danger to him is that in
which he ceases to be hunter, from the extinction
OF game, and before he gets the means of living
from the produce Of focks and agriculture. In
this transit from the hunter to the farming state
he degenerates from proud and independent saw
age to the condition OF a beggar, dnunkard and
thief, neglectng his family, suffering for food and
clothes, and living the life of mere animal. To
counteract the dangers of this transit, property in
cattle, hogs and horses, is Indispensable, and to
furnish these, the permanent annuities should be
commuted into gross sum, payable in equal an
nual parts, for moderate term of years. and the
women and children upon whom the labor of cul-
ivating the ground devolves, should be assisted in
making fences, TO which their own means and
strength are inadequate; also in planting orchards,
and instructed in raising cotton, and in spinning
and weaving it into cloth, and making il up into
garments. Small mills should be built, and mil
Ter provided, to save the women from the labor OF
pounding the corn; useful mechanics employed TO
make their ploughs, carts, wheels hoes, axes, &c.
and for the purpose Of teaching the young Indians
how TO use and make them.
. Most OF those provisions have found incorpo-
rated in your letter TO the Committee, and the
adoption of others herein suggested now recon-
mend, and, if enacted into law, anticipate the
commencement Of new era Of prosperity in the
condition OF people who have strong claims upon
the justice and generosity of this Government.
have the honor TO be,
Your obedient servant.
WILLIAM CLARK,
Supt Indian 96airS.
Hon. JAMES BARBoUR,