The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-28

regulations adopted by of your predecessors some
Years since, they found to be detective; being
sufficiently specific requiring that and precau.
non requisite on the part of the agents and subagents
New perfect regulations were, therefore, pre-.
pared and recently adopted by you copy OF which is
annexed, (marked b.
All the agents OF the department concur in the opinion
that the law passed at the last session OF Congress
adding the punishment OF Imprisonment to the fine for
merly imposed for introducing disposing of miox.
eating liquors the Indian country, and max ing Indians
competent witnesses IN trials for such Offences will be
productive of much good Its effects have already been
sensiby felt but this great evil be very mate
rally diminished until there is Legislation on the
part of the States adjacent to the Indian country to pre-
vent the traffic ardent spirits along their borders,
which In some places said to be lined with dram.
shops, TO which the Indians resort and whence the per
nicious article is taken into the Indian country in
of frequent bros and disturbances, and sometimes of
murders, which may day lead TO very serious con.
sequences, involving the tranquility of the frontier and
the lives of citizens residing on it, Not only
good morals and the dictates of humanity, but duty
towards their frontier population, would seem TO call
loudly upon the States referred to- for some stringent
and effective for the suppression of the evil
With the view OF calling the attention of the proper
authorities OF those States to the subject you addressed
them earnest letter on the 18th OF July last copy of
which is annexed, (marked D. to which a reply has
been received only from the governor of Arkansas, also
annexed (marked Ed copy OF the regulations issued
for carrying the law into effect (marked c. is likewise
Provision having been made for that purpose at the
last session of Congress- the department appointed
special agent TO visit the Cumanches and other wild tribes
in Texas From his reports 1t will be seen that the most
friendly understanding continues exist between those
Indians and the United States. Nearly all the tribes, parties
to the treaty of 1916 recently assembled in council
when the agent (Na Neighbors) distributed among them
the valuable presents which were promised by that trea
y During the council, they gave renewed assurances
OF their determination TO observe the several shpuaons
OF the treaty, TO refrain from committing depredatons,
and to live peace and amty with the people and gov
eminent OF the United States.
In my report of last year called your attention TO the
nth Ia he
character of their relation to the general government
Texas coming INTO the Unon expressly reserved the
right to, and exclusive jurisdiction over, all the
and inappropriate lands lying within her limits She
has accordingly disposed of large tracts situated in those
sections of the State where the Indians have long been
accustomed 10 hunt and which they have therefore al
ways considered belonging to themselves. The pur
chasers of these tracts have recently been engaged in
surveying and marking their boundaries, with view to
the introduction and settlement upon them OF white
population. This has been done without first obtaining
the consent OF the lndans and if thus persisted in will
IS feared become the means OF nerrupng those peace
ful relations which now so happily exist among these
numerous and savage tribes. This subject is one that
must necessarily commend itself to the attention and
serious consideration of the proper authorities.
The unprotected and greatly exposed condition OF our
fellow citizens in Oregon, will doubt attract
merits the attention and early consideration of Congress
The peculiar stpuatons under which that territory was
long occupied have been termnated but the interests
and influences which in the meantime grew up, are very
far from being removed Many persons owing allegiance
to foreign powers whose interests and feelings are verse
to the extension in that quarter of rghu authority
still residing within the acknowledged jurisdiction OF
the United States The number of Indians Oregon has
been estimated at about thirty thousand souls Their
the United States must be extremely limited whilst their
principal trade continues TO be carried with the sub
lects OF o1egn governments Inc various bands resd
of attude and Upper California, south OF the 42d, af
ford ready and convenient means of reaching these In
dams, by persons nlmcal to the United States and OF ex
citing among them feelings OF dissatisfaction and hostility
towards our citizens
Under these circumstances the department soon after
the adjournment of Congress- assumed the responsibility
of appointing OF citizens Oregon whose stand
ing and efficiency well certified, subagent for the
various tribes within that territory He was instructed
to visit the different hands, to counsel with and disabuse
their minds of any injurious impressions that may have
been made upon them, and to endeavor by suitable pres
ents and by every other proper means within his power
to establish and maintain peaceful and friendly relations
between them and the citizens OF the United States. No
report, however. other intelligence from this officer
has yet been received by the department
The reports OF the superintendent and agents exhibit
in detail the state of affairs among the various tribes
up to this me and give indication of their prospects
for the future The strongest feelings by which Indian
in his uncvized state is actuated being passion for
and desire of revenge for injuries either suffered or fan
ced it is matter of surprise that collisions and blood
shed do not more frequently occur among our more re-
and whom it is difficult to exercise any control
With the exception of the few cases of difficulty already
noticed however, tranquility has generally prevailed and
continues to prevail among the different tribes, and be-
tween them and frontier population; and whilst there
much stated in the reports to depore in relation to the
effects of the of ardent spirits by the Indians furnish
ed TO them by persons acluaed only by heartess and
unhalowed desire of gain, and which greatly embar
rasses the government in carrying out the benevolent
policy adopted for their moral and social elevation, there
the other hand many gratifying evidences of real
and substantial Improvement in their condition and pros
pects
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
w. MEDILL,
Commissioner Indian Affairs.
Hon w. L. Marcy,
Secretary of War,