Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-18

beg leave TO refer you TO the accompanying port OF
the officer In charge of the Bureau Indian AIars for
statement oil The operations and condition Of that
branch OF the public service
Among the southern and sou,hU esisrn Indians, no
eVe mas occurred 10 disturb the relations existing he.
tween them and the United States. The settled policy of
Tue Government 10 Induce the Indians move beyond
Tie limits OF the respective States and Tcrorie where
TINS can he done upon reasonable and with their
consent has been steadily kept iu s.w. The objects ana
necessity OF that policy clearly stated in the Mes
s'ge Of the President 0f the United States I, Convrs =,
December ., 1925 that ! take the liberty al i,s.;
your attention To those remark. S
Ia ihe Practice OF European States" cay. .iI.n,
Adams, "l"icre our evolution, they (hs Iii,u.N 81
been considered - children, he govcrnc, a, tenant,
at '''re'ion TO he d'po>sess-d occasion may reo
~ hunters TO I've indcmnitvd, 5y trifng CONGO c,
iSo'a' h0" me ground, upon which their game was
sxpSed In changing the system il would see, =. il
io contemplate" OF the consequences OF the change
hau nor oeen taken We have FAR more suce
IN the acquisition Of their lands than in inpay 10
the PRINCIPLES, or inspiring them with the spirit of cyil
zaion but in approp'iating 10 ourselves their hunn,
grounds We have brought upon ourselves the oh
OF providing them with subsistence and when we ~.
had the good fortune teaching Them the art Of Ell
nlzauon, ami the doctrines of christianity have un,y
pec'edy ound them forming in the midst of ours.Iyss
communities claiming TO be ndep cnlcnt of ours and ri
VSs o sovereignty within the territories the me mbers
OF me Uoon This state OF things requires that remedy
sh"'i" Ice p1tied-a remedy which, while il shall d., INK:
tice to the unfortunate children of nature may .ecus ~
e hsNer o our conf Iteration their rights OF sovereign
y anu o soil As the oulline of project 10 thai ofc,
arc recommended to the consideration of Congress"
iie some of our citizens" says General Porter IN,
the very able report here referred to- who are The a
Gates oil primitive "n iphle rights in their broad,
est extent, contend that these tribes are nicpendn,
Nauoh', and have the solo and exclusive right In M, ,ro
perry and government OF the territories they oc.n,,
o'hers consider them as tenants at will Ike H.
buffalo oil the prairies to be hunted from their counrv
ecver u may sn't our interest or convenience 10 take
possession "i IT, These views of their rights and l.,hr
es are equally sxtravagan and unjust; but the
~ mat the intermediate line has never been drawn hv
IL sn,,e", No'mng can be more clear to one " no
s marked the progress OF population improvement
and lsconvsrsant with the PRINCIPLES of human a.,i'
. ,nese Indians viii not be permitted TO hold the
.erVauonS, on which they live, within the States nv,
ioir present tenure, for any considerable peroJ n
aeed 'hey were not disturbed their possessions by ne
would nc Impossible for them long 10 subsist a. ~ 49,
nave heretofore done, by the chase AZ their game il Io
ny so much diminished render it frequently
~ 70 furnish them with provisions i'm order I'm So 80
s"'"on' IN 'heIr present destitute aud dcporahIe
con'ilo' and which is constantly growing moro hnii
wou seem TO be not only the right, but the ,uty Of the
,""eh'' 70 take them under its paernaI care and n
eNyroise overtleir persons aud properiy tho <,I,
ana Guties oil guardianship, e"''
, ne most proninen' feature in the present poIcv n,
@ GVer'men rs connected with these people |. 10 he
found III IT Efforts that are max no 10 rcpoyn ri, - " "
son' 'e nmh| OF he States AND organized territories
very ex'"' sive 'ract Of country, lying 10 The was,
ana orh OF the kansas Territory has sieIv - 90,
HFar, Tor 'he coloniZs'ion Of the i,dan."
Lei SUCH OF the cmisrA'ng Indians az chinese r. ron,
uhu" ~ heretofore devoe themselves 10 tho 49, -;
country where their tolls will he atnpIv ,ew,,d.d "
those WHO are VIII ng cultivate the srIs If iv;I;
" ou l"'o colony, consisting OF distinct tri,e, ~
communities, but Pla ed contiguous 10 each o.her
Gonnssed ey general laws hch shall reach the whole
i'm dyil
ais ~ seve'ay be held by the same tenures NV c
"" h'u GUS Win perhaps temporary and who o.
l., tni ' ." .,e power OF alienation. Assist hem
- "'g coue 81 laws adapted state of cyili, on
IN regard to such indians sh. sill remain villain
w. .S 'I 'ef'i ores, aud refuse to emigrae let an
'A"E'"" be made vi b The proper autboriti.s of Tic
"'"', Ia witch they are 'tHnss Which bov vonIJ mot al
wise be able w. to az @'T much =, 1 Sr parGn"g OUT to
ii5n shat be amply sufficient Tor agricultural purpo.e,
Set apart tract proportion d 20 the hummer o
man 20 rem M IN comm'n rrIgo, and subject them
lD4l la M naS IL.
% IN" remainder cf the servaon be paid fur nv ,hos
no mold the paramount hi, such prices 49, shall
rerm d. IN rternce to the which Indians are accus
20 maze OF ~ reasonable, and the proceeds be APP
Piled 'cr the benefit OF those oil the tribe no emoras az
70 eu eS'a"'i'"meht III tie colony or be divided be-
tween Hose who emgrate and those no remain as JUS
lice may require"
TO The views herein presented Of the condition Of the
Indians oil he prspecisw hch them and OF the on
" eci n'remedy in their power seek or in that OF the
Government TO ply take the liberty of adding nv own
testimonial founded an intimate uierror,e 20 nj hon,
OF eighteen years bo personal aud official under every
variety oil crcus ancrS in peace and war; aud in very
lrmoe regions os ell within own ret lelnen,s
ne principles 'aii down IN these suhs antaI
~ the same as those which regulate tie Cos crnm.
In sl' heir transactions with the Indians hen the oues-
ton ut their permanent abshnen or removal b. o.ht
nnner h-cu>sio 20 Tar a' poets the engr Sing In
htns his will clearly appear 10y reieresce to The n.uc
uon- Of the Commissioners engaged in the adjust.
mes oil al the unset led with tue great
plan NJ colnnz ttioD. - -
with r"esrd however, those Indians who refuse 10
remove, has pedient for tie Govern
mNn'' ny sown ac', either 10 parI ion them the
lana necessary tor their support decide upon the con-
sieTaon to be allowed for the edue and TO direct its an
popritlon ms, 50 lar Regards the General Jvern-
n"h mas been, aud continues 10 be- the subject OF CON
Ven'Ional arrangement, IN which the parties by mutual
'cusNon am compromise al Opin at Satisac-
Wry resu IN 'he'e arrangements. where The parties
desire it, all qnae tracts ct land fee with ..eDoorrv
ana wholesome restraints" upon the right 10 sell arc
cured 10 All vino desire REMAIN hat Is of
guafhans ip IL however founded upon lust and init
maze knowledge oil Indian character oue acquainted
vi ms cha dcter will question need not now inquire
""ener practical resort TO tie principles resulting ON
VIII ever become necessary. II il should no doubt
eFrry "rrahgtm which justice aud LuDaiy call lor
will be Lberdily made.
In your message 10 Tie Senate Of Feb e. 1890 81. II
explained your VI, US Of the question Of jurisdiction over
tie Indian tlbes living within the respective states and
IeFlOHe' ana stated that ia your opinion, and in the
words 81 the above report. they subject 10 the m,I.
hcipai laws oil The State in which they reside, in all
cases where such laws were extended over them.
lhe progress OF events since 1925 has confirmed i'll
confirmation wanting, the correctness of these pr.
ePle aud their adaptation the actual and prospective
condition OF the Indians The circle Of civilization aud
Improvement has extended, various tribes have rs
red OF are retiring before IT, Tie experience Of the
Ior years which have interviewed, does not furnish one
cOhsoliOIy hope, tat tie insulated bands WHO Lays re-
served ana occupy tracts surrounded by settlements
can permanently retain those positions, prosper There
are moral, political, and py sical causes all i'm operation
which cannot he controlled and which forbid such an
peelaon And, Ia fact, the whole history Of our inter
course "th our primitive people teaches no one lesson
more important tidn This; aud IL will be fortunate for their
property ahd Tor our responsibility, IN practical ap
phcaion both parties should become satisfied that the sys
tenn provided by the act Of May o. 1890 offers the only
rhn1n prospect OF durable aud happy esihence for the
inlin' few individuals, almost always half breeds
WInf al. 4