The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-13

from whom the call at the council pIoeeeuet Nonu
leopard their whole property The farms, the stock. and
they possess and the large annuliies they
from the United States for the graiihcauon oil
commencing war which they could not be ignorant
terminate in their utter destruction IL appears,
from subsequent information that the Cherokees hold
an annual council for the purpose Of legislation and that
Ia order 10 revive ancient association Of the tribes,
formed for the preservation OF peace among themselves.
they invited in 1887, The Creeks, Senecss and others,
TO meet them, and ia 1885, renewed their invitations,
and extended them 10 distant nations. They APP
piled, ia instances, TO the United States officers
to write letters Of invitation, aud their request
piled with; and where the wampum sent, that SYM
Dol contained red beads other warike tokens
Notwithslanding however, the pesceful appearances
which characterized these preminaries, some Of the
northern tribes, suspected the object of the conn
Gil to be hostile 10 the whites and refused 10 attend
the opinion might naturally have been entertained
by the officers Of Government at distant posts but IL
would have been imprudent TO have acted upon such
suspicious To preserve influence over the Indians
we must abstain from all unnecessary interference in
THEN local affairs To disturb their councils or to at
tempt TO their proceedings by armed force,
might excite unfrendy feelings and tend 10 produce
the very evil the Government is anxious 10 avoid Nor
could such interpositon have led TO the discovery
Of the designs ofihe council II the views Of that body
had been hostile and the occasion Of the representatives
OF so many tribes being assembled had been deemed
fitting one to consult on wsrke measures those
situations would have been secret and the presence Of
our troops would have only led them to conceal their
designs still more deeply.
Since this event the Department has again been
called upon BY the Commanding General of the
Western division OF The Army 10 furnish additional
troops 10 guard the Southwestern frontier from APP
| pretended attacks from the Indians inhabtng Tex
as circumstances having led 10 the belief that these
Indians had been excited by the Mexican authorities
TO attack the Texans This call increased the vigil
lance OF the Department and inquiries were iDsitn-
ted which did not elicit any information that would
| have justified me in recommending such draught of
militia as was proposed to aid the regular force
that frontier. The Indians within the territory Of
the United States have been warned that they will
not be permitted 10 take part in any contest between
Mexico and Texas or to pass into the territory Of
the latter with hostile intent and that the amount of
their annuities will be stopped If they dsobey this
order without prejudice TO other measures which
! will be taken TO enforce It's observance
Upon the first receipt of the intelligence of the
appearance ofthe small pox among the tribes the
Missouri river, supplies OF money and vaccine mat
ter were literally furnished, the employment of
| physicians was authorized, and instructions given
for the immediate and thorough vaccination oil the
Indians The report, thus far, do not show saiiSac
torily TO what extent this duty has been performed
The subject Of our Indian affairs, confessedy the
| most difficult and complicated under the supervis-
ion OF the Department. being the last year entirely
new tome forebore 10 suggest any changes in their
| management; but subsequent experience and re-
Election have convinced me that the present system
is defective and that the evils which spring from
will not be remedied by the measures heretofore re-
commended, nor by the bill which, al the last session
Of Congress- received the sanction of branch of
the Legislature. II Is unnecessary, however, to dis
cuss the detects or merits Of this bill, because the
preliminary condition of its being carried into exc
cution--the previous consent Of the trbeS-cannot
be complied with. The Chocktaws and Cherokees
| have expressed their unwingness 10 enter into the
confederation, or TO adopt the form of government
! the bill proposes If even the most insignificant
changes in The settled forms Of government require
to be considered with great care, how much more
cautious ought we TO be in any attempts TO introduce
those forms among people who have hitherto lived
with scarcely any knowledge of them Iwnuld re-
commend, as the first step, that the tribes should be
| encouraged 10 adopt a system Of Se-gOvernment
l adapted 10 their wants and condition. with which
there should be little interference on our part as
possible; and that their chiefs be invited to attend
an annual council, at which the agents of Govern
meni and the commanding officer Of The nearest sta
/ ton should be present In this manner The Govern
ment would exercise saluiary influence over them,
become acquainted with their wants, and heal their
differences with each other. II appears to me- like
wise, that the Indian agents should not be attached
TO any one tribe, experience proves that they be-
come so identified with those whose peculiar nte-
rests are confined TO their care they imbibe their
prejudices and espouse their quarrels. II ought 10
be- in the power Of Government TO change their resi-
depce from Time TO time, and by assembling them
once ayear in general council with the chiefs Of all
the tribes they will understand and seek 10 promote
the general interests of the red men,
would recommend that the system hitherto pursued
Tor the education Of the Indians by which alone their
civilization can be effected be changed AT present,
geher useless to him when he returns to his home in
the western wIlds. He read, write, and cipher,
and IN his native village there books read
writings, required, and bu, the most simple ac-
counts kept such reckoned on the iagcrs and
noticed on stick He has acquired no knowledge
which be usefuy applied for his own benefit, for
that Of his people: and he has forgotten how to trap
and hunt. As a matter OF course, then, he and his
questions despised and the half educated savage
too often becomes proAigate and vagahond Tho re-
medy for this evil appears to he the introduction
of manual labor schools, where the lnuan at the same
time that he receives the rudnents Of education and
taught the Christian faith will acquire some knowledge
Of farming and of the useful arts, which will secure
him the admiration and gratitude Of his countrymen
his return among them, and enable him only
der them the most essential services but to teach them,
by his example the vast advantage to be derived from
knowledge, and induce them TO become a civilized COM
muny.
The important interests involved in the proper
administration of Indian affairs and the great dis
lance of the theatre OF their management from the
supervisory power at Washington, require, in my
opinion that there should be attached 10 the office
o. the Commissioner, an inspector, charged 10 visit,
from time TO time, the stations of the dSbursing Off
GERS and Indian agents, inspect their books examine
into their proceedings, view the condition Of the
different tribes, and furnish such a report
will enable the Department TO correct abuses, TO I'M
derstand and provide tor the wants of the Indians
and, generally, 10 extend over The whole matter
more complete supervision than has heretofore been
found practicable. BY such means, in conjunction
with more liberal policy towards the interpreters
who exercise great influence over the Indians; BY
proper attention To the Chiefs through whom alone
the people can be approached, and who ought, by
every TAR means, TO be conciliated and attached to
the United States; and by the cooperation Of the
traders, whom have always found ready to lend
their aid 10 The Government, reasonable hopes may
be entertained of extending the blessings and advan-
tages OF Christianity and civilization TO the Indian