The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-28

thhty-eight; of which one hundred and seyenty-one
were admitted twenty-five suspended for further infor-
nation and one hundred and fony-t rejected
The disposition Of these two classes OF claims and OF
few which had previously been admitted BY your two
immediate predecessors, but not consummated at the
time, enabled the department 10 transmit TO It's agent or
delivery to the Indian claimants hundred and four
teen pieces OF scrip, viz; two hundred and fifteen oI
heads OF families, hundred and fory-sx for chill
tren over, and two hundred and hyhree for those
der ten years Of age, al the date OF the treaty. This
scrip is Tor oneha OF the claims only In the aggregate
they amount to 256,SO0 of land equal in value, at
VI % per acre, To 1921 900, .....s H..
very large number OF claims for land purchased OF
reserves under the various treaties have been examined
and disposed OF during the past year All deeds and
other contracts proved TO have been honestly and fairly
made and the consideration shown 10 have been ade-
quate and actually paid, have been approved and trans
United TO the parties entitled, the General Land Office
as the case required some have been retained for fur
ther evidence, and the others rejected.
The final settlement Of the question Of jurisdiction and
the increasing importance OF that remote but interesting
country, Will render necessary to make some provision
Tor conducting relations with the Indian tribes west
OF the Rocky mountains, for whom there now no
agents OF any grade description sub-agent twill be
reeoleced was appointed some time since these
tnbes and, from personal observation aJd inquiry, obtain
such information would enable the department 10
suggest suitable for extending them the
benevolent and fostering care OF the government
His reports, extracts from which accompanied my last
annual communication developed the and other
advantages OF the country well the capacity and
general inclination OF the Indians to engage in the va
ous pursuits OF agriculture and the mechanic arts This
gentleman having returned last winter and the whole
subject having been laid before Congress- il not
deemed advisable TO continue service that ccum-
scrbed in its Objects and originally designed to be tenn
poraTy.
Some provision should also be made for the protection
and security oil our citizens and the maintenance oil
peaceful relations with the various tribes, within the
boundaries OF Texas. The necessity for some action OF
this kind is greatly increased by the events which
now transpiring on the borders OF that State.
These tribes are OF rowing and unstable disposition
and are probably among the most barbarous and least
civilized portions OF the Indian Their position and
present relations towards the general government
anomalous and not altogether Tree from embarrassment
and difficulty. The land which they occupy, well
most OF the other rights they enjoy, under the
troll and legislative authority OF the State, and il ques
onabe whether the intercourse act and other laws for
the government and regulation Of Indian affairs, be
extended TO these people without interfering with the
local jurisdiction OF Texas. The mschievous habits Of
these Indians, and the influence they exert among the
neGhborng tribes. well proper regard for the
security of citizens, who have already suffered
much from their predatory and maraudng excursions,
will commend this subject to the attention and early con-
sideration of Congress.
The cause OF education has received that attention
which its great importance would appear to demand Its
advantages and meorang influences beginning to be
seen and felt IN the forests and among the sayages as
well as among the more cultivated regions and enght
ened circles OF our country. The direction which
has recently been given TO the system, by combining
with letters knowledge of agriculture and the
mechanic arts, has opened a in the
progress OF Indian civilization. The preudices which
existed against schools, and which have hitherto
as an almost nSuperaDe barrier 10 the IN
telectua Improvement of the red man, fast giving
way before the evidences by which he is surrounded, in
the increased happiness and prosperity which every
where apparent to his view and many of the tribes
now pettoning for the establishment among them Of ns
uons, the introduction OF which they would have
opposed injurious to the character and interests other
the superintendent and teachers in the Indian country
but those that have TO hand give the most avora
Bile and gratifying accounts OF the condition OF the various
schools under their care.
The Choctaws manifesting most extraordinary
zeal In the advancement OF this great cause With lib
eraliy which is truly commendabe, and which, il is
hoped may soon be initiated by other tribes they have
set apart and agreed to apply $4,000 OF their annuity
money in addition to the 500 expressly provided by
to the education OF their youth They have already
among them three academies, besides several small
schools for boys and no less than five semnaries for the
der the immediate charge and management of the Pres
byttrar Baptist, and Methodist churches. Contribu-
tons also made from these societies, amounting in
the aggregate to about So 600 The Importance of these
institutions and the extent of their operations, will be
from the large amount which is thus annually
pended IN their management and support; All these
schools conducted the principle alluded to- of
bnng letters with manual labor and shown, by the
report of the experienced and efficient agent of the depart
ment as well as by those of the teachers, to be in
most fourlshing condition. The farms cultivated by the
boys said to have produced sufficient the past
year for the consumption of the schools The females
and the various duties OF The household and dairy in
addition to the usual and ordinary branches OF common
school education.
Arrangements in progress to establish two manual
labor schools among the Creeks at distant and suitable
points, and one among the Chickasaws who, initiating
the example, and to extent the beralty of the
Choctaws have set apart and appropriated by act of
Their council the sum of $4,000 to be annually applied
to its support. Arrangements also made, time
since for the establishment of manual labor school
among the Osages The buildings have been erected,
and the other improvements far completed to
render probable that the institution will be put into OPP
Grafton about the 1s of January. 1t has been placed un-
der the charge OF the Catholic Missionary Society al ST.
Louis. The manual labor school at Fort Leavenworth,
under the superinendency of the Methodist Episcopal
Society," and that OF the Friends in the agency, have
for which they respectively established The Choc
taw Academy in Kentucky, is reported to be in -four
shing and highly satisfactory condition and the pupils,
many OF whom are boys of much promise and influence
among their respective tribes, making great procien-
cy in the arts of civilization, and such literary aainments
as are deemed most essential to their future usefulness
The other schools from which reports have been
celved are also represented to be in prosperous cond
ton, and to be exerng happy and beneficial influence
in reforming the habits and improving the situation of the
Indians.
The general introduction of manual labor schools
among the Indians, and the purchase of such tools
and agricultural implements necessary for their
management and successful operation, will be attended
with much expense, and will require all the funds that
are in any way applicable to objects of education.
A portion of these funds has heretofore been APP
piled to the education of boys at literary instu-
tons in the various States, and even to the preparation of
some OF them for the practice OF the learned professionals
and although important advantages have thereby resulted
in the diffusion OF information among the different tribes
yet It is believed that the money be more bene
cally expended at the homes and in the midst of the In