Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-14
Oaicery of the line and staff have been required


Officers Of the line and staff have been required
II ncrtorm duties al several places "he!c uesruJ
inr epidemic has prevailed. SeVcrai nav 40
victims TO it, Their position was as pelnUao CON.
that Of The officers who have mins'eu III uln nho
Dct viii, the enemy. The ian''ii.S VI ~ rs rce
have been stricken down by this ihsiu,Su. 10
have in my opinion, as just claim 10 sne car
and aid Of The government as The taln'iies VI su.
os have fallen in I,a.,le, or died "f WOUNDS feceIv
ed while in The dissharse OF their duly; anu ..
] commend Thai CONGRESS should be requested 10
! make the same provision for them. t.. Adm
! nIly cnncur in The suggestion oil tue a"'u,
tant General that the pension la" shouii " ~ ~
modiii I'd as 10 place The widows ana cHliulen VI
the officers aud soldiers OF The rtSulaF army w
the same favorable footing as lhcse oi .ie "':un-
ieers The former have equal Claims ~ '"e JUS.
lice OF The country; and upon Ibis account aS
vel. a. nm, n considerations OF sound Policy, the
distinction should be obiteraled, and Inc iloeLa'
and iusr provisions, now applicable alone 10 'he
latter. should be enjoyed alike by both. ),
A most important and difficult part OF Inc uu'
lies deyoved upon his department ISL manage
menI Of our Indian Affairs. Orr relations with
The tribes are yearly extending, and, in many re-
specls. assuming more interesting CHARACTER
! For a full account Of our relations ana trahssc'
lions with them during The past year, lesPec'lul,
| y refer you to The report OF The commissioner o.
| Indian Affairs.
The wise policy Of separating The Indians re-
siding in states and organized Territories, from
continuity To- and inerIningling with The while
population, and of settling them in quiet home,
removed as far as practicable from The reach oil
! influences So rernicious TO their weli-beine has
been steadily pursued, and generally with favora-
| Bile results. Some embarrassmcnis have arisen
in the remova! of The Chocaws, but lhey nave
been 10 a great extent overcome; and arrange
mrn,S are in progress which promise success 10
that undertaking. a very satisfactory account
OF the various measures which have been pur-
sued 10 carry ont This policy oil removal, VIII DC
found in The Commissioners report.
Two treaties will soon be laid before you,
which have been negotiate with different bands
OF the Cbippewas OF the Upper Mississippi and
Lake Superior, for portion oil their lands west
OF that river A part Of this large tract is In
tended for the WinnebsgUes, now ready loremove
and surrender their possessions IN Iowa. and Inc
remainder is held in reserve Tor any other tribes
YET remaining east OF the Mississippi, who may
prefer northern location.
The Sioux and Chippewas have long been enc.
mics, and hostile collisions between them are oil
frequent occurrence. By inerposing, as is now
proposed, other tribes between them, their long
cherished teuds, il is hoped, will subside, and that
ire offrequen, Indian disturbances.
Among those tribes with which we have trea-
ties, or near which cur agents reside, tranquility
has generally prevailed. The only exceptions
known are the oulrages committed by parties OF
The Sioux-one upon The Winnebagoes, which
by our interference, was amicably adjusted; and
The others upon the Omahas, the Oloes, and the
friendly Pawnees. Proper measures have been
taken 10 punish The aggressors, and 10 prevent
the repetition of such occurrences.
The depredaiions upon The trains on the Santa
Fe route have been, it is believed, commilteo
principally, il not entirely, BY Indians with whom
we have hitherto had but liue or no intercourse,
and who can, therefore, only be controlled, and
their mischievous propcnsities repressed, ny
military force. For This purpose, such 1orce
has been sent into that region with instructions
10 chasse The offenders, and procure, as far as
practicable, The restoration OF The plundered pro-
perry.
The anomalous condition OF our relations with
the Indians in Texas embarrasses The action OF
the department in relation TO them. The laws re-
yulaling intercourse with Indian tribes do Hotex-
tend over Texas A special agent was, however,
appointed al the close of the last session OF Con-
aress, 10 visit The several bands in that Sale, 10
counsel with them, and 10 distribute such presents
in goods as were deemed most useful and best
calculated 10 conciiiate their coed. vii and 10 in.
spire confidence in the friendly disposition Of the
United States towards Them. This proceeding
has been attended with success; but il is desired
tina, Congress, al The approaching session, should
place our relations with these Indians on more
permanent basis.
A difficulty has arisen among the Slockbridge
Indians 10 Wisconsin, occasioned principally by
The legislation OF Congress, which canno, br over
come without further legislation. The necessity
for the further action OF Congress on the subject
is clearly presented in the Commissioners report.
II will be perceived by that report, Ina, very
spe ial attention has bern given during the past
year 10 The important subject OF education among
The Indians. Additional schools on the new sys-
m-combining manual labor with rudimenlal
instruclion-have been established, and arrange.
mens made for others among saroral OF the lilies.
To extend this system as TAR as practicable, II
has been found necessary 10 employ all The funds
al The dispo> al OF the department. some portion OF
which has been heretofore applied 10 educate
few boys at different seminaries in the Siates.--
The mode how adopted for applying The funds
nrovided for education is deemed altogether pre-
ferable, and promises the most highly beneficial
results.
For information in regard TO many olheriimpor-
tant concerns and interesting matters connected
with our Indian relations too numerous for even
a brief notice in this communica ion-l respect
tuyinyiic your attention 10 the Commissioners
report.
have The honor TO be, very respectfully, your
obedent servant,
w. L. MARCY,
Secretary OF War.
T..