Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-04

consideration ana Gccp anxiety W uSttI!ht ch
the most eligible and practical mode OF providing Tor
their government Many projects for the better CO.
yernment and civilization Of the Indians nave been
presented 10 Congress, and one OF them partially
acted upon. The refusal Of some Of the tribes 10
assent 10 its provisions uccasoncd It's failure, winch
IS scarcely to be regretted \ confederation Of dis
similar tribes, majority of them utterly harbaroES
n;cat have been DANGEROUS, and certainty "o"id
have been productive 81 mech confusion. ! lie c%-
pcricmcc however o! the las sumner, con"nces me
that something must speedily be done 10 prevent thc
Indians assembled vcs. or the Mississippi f:o destroy
in% cGcI uih.r. We haze lately sccn council c"!m-
posed Of the most c:iiI%cd pot:on OF tDc, %:'"sr
ioag residence among the whites had, was hoped
taught them in the clements Of srigovcrnmcnt and
the iirSt principles of religion and Justice, assembled TO-
gcthcr 10 license the most airocious crimes, and send
ine forth from lis bosom gang Of Gcspcradocs 10 muir
der their pcaccaElc and nocnd!ng brethren; an order
winch executed with circumstances OF savage bar
barity. The motive for this cruel deed 10 iHt!ct
vengeance upon those who signed the treaty Of New
Ecioia in lc&J. \ decree has since gone
forth, cutawnr others who have, III Ike man
ner, offended tlr party power, and they are con-
dcmncd % lie hunted down and DESTROYED like wild
beasts. Treaty stpua;ions call for the ncrSr
cnce of the Government in all such eases; bat some
permanent provision IS required TO prevent -ccur-
renee Of similar excuses. Tribunals N the country
for the prompt trial and punishment cf crimes would,
perhaps prove the most efficient method of restraining
these people from trcachcrousv numbering each other
The fear Of rctrIbutIan might prevent yrant chief
tain from sending forth assassns to wreak his ven
geance upon those who refuse to humble themselves
before him, and the certainty of punishment deter them
from executing such orders. Such tribunals would
contribute most essentially 10 amcorate the condition
and to civlze the Indians BY preventing unprnciplcd
mon from introducing atncng them spurious liquors
and gambling tables, and otherwise seeking to take
advantage Of vices thcy themselves have omcnted
The exploring party 70 which i alluded in my last
yearsrepor has, during the last summer, visited and
examined with great the grca. valley Of the river
Jagues and that oltne SIaycnnes which discharges is
waters into the Red river Of the North, as likewise
the rich and fertile table land which separates these
two valleys. Their researches extend to Devils lake
situate between the 18th and 4gth degrees Of North
latitude, which found to &c between forty and for
tT-fye miles long, and in places, half that width;
it's shores well wooded, ard its waters, which are as salt
as those OF the and bound in fish, ncrspcrscd
with numerous islands, likewise covered with wood
These physical characters common 10 several other
smaller lakes ;ia found in this region OF country
where salt is abundant Shat n many places il clio-
resces ON The surface Of the earth From Devils Lake
the party proceeded East 70 the great valley Of the
North Red river, making reconnaissance OF the streams
which tn into j: OF the Weste-a side. This with tao