The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-15

One Of the greatest evils connected with the Indian
trade heretofore, was the reckless system OF national
credits which prevailed among the tribes receiving
lies from the government; and OF which those annutes
were the basis, When payable they generally alb
sobed By the debts due 10 The traders and unfequen
" large balances left alleged to be left unpaid
There generally little or nothing remaining for dis
trbuton among the individuals OF the tribe 10 aid
mem 10 supplying themselves with what requisite
Tor their maintenance and comfort during the winter or
where balances were left under the old sy stem OF pay
ing the annuites into the hands of the chiefs they and
their friends participated most largely If not exclusively,
IN them, as they had done in the credits which were
generally obtained ON the authority OF the chiefs The
al the Indians thus wronged and robbed of
their just rights while part N the very large annuities
received by many OF The tribes could be obtained for any
purposes Of general utility and benefit This corrupt and
runous system has been broken up by the adoption of
the per eaPa mode OF payment and the nhexibe deter
mInaOn OF the department to recognise further in
debtedness the part OF the Misunderstanding all
matters of account between them and white men as IN
dlvldua and private transactions, with which the gov
eminent would have nothing to do
When the instructions of August 3olh fSl7, "a copy
OF which accompanied my report OF last year, pre-
pared, directing The annnes 10 be distributed and pad
per cGpia conformity with the act OF March O. 1877,
II was believed that there were few if any debts which
could estInatey and properly be regarded Of
onal character-the liabilities beng incurred by nd
yiduaIs for their personal benefit or that OF their
families, But representations had been made thar
debts OF that description did exist which the mode
oil payment would prevent being hquidated by the chiefs
out OF the annuues, and thus wrong and injustice be
done to those to whom they owing. provided
in the instructions that all such claims might be trans
mitel 10 the department, order that the President
might be able 10 ascertain what should Justly be consid
cred being of national character and to decide what
should be pursued regard to them. There have
accordingly been submitted thirty three claims against
different tribes amounting the aggregate 90s o.
nearly the whole OF wbichviz Si57,6s4 22is against
the Pottawatomes the Mamies, and the Sacs and Foxes
tribes receiving annuues more than sufficient for their
actual wants. and who, for years, receiving them,
have paid large amounts for debts over and above the
O he st
years has been specially set apart and appropriated with
the consent OF the government, for Liabilities Of that char
acter urged against those three tribes II certainly
incredible how IN any just and proper system of trade,
such large balances could have accumulated against them
beyond the immense sums that have been paid and for
them.
Annexed (marked F. is schedule of the claims that
have been presented showing the result of preliminary
examination of them in this Office from which il will be-
perceived that Of them have heretofore been uv
considered and rejected both by the department and the
President, and not therefore, entitled reconsid
Grafton; that others are for alleged depredations commit
ted by the Indians, which cannot be included with ordi-
nary debt claims, because specific prescribed
regard to them by the 18th section of the act of June
30h, 1884, regulating trade and intercourse wnh the In
dams; while in is there satisfactory evidence that
the articles charged for were actually sold or fur
nished, or that the charges, which in many cases
extravagant, reasonable and just. II will
further be seci that Inc charges generally against
individual Indians and would therefore to be
individual and not national liabilities; and that there
is great diversity the amounts, that great
quality and injustice would result from their being paid
out OF the common funds AS the claims stand,
it is impossible make any safe decision regard 10
them short of rejecting the whole and, under the
cums,ances the best, and probably only practicable mode
of making any satisfactory and final disposition Of them,
would be for Congress TO authorize the appointment of
commissioners TO investigate them the spot, with pow
TO take testimony and examine witnesses, in order to
ascertain satisfactorily how far they should justly be
garded national individual liabilities, whether the
charges just and reasonable and all other facts and
which should be taken into consideration
IN making a final decision upon them
IA
and restrictions upon the crime of introducing spirit
uous liquors. into the Indian country, and traicng in
them with the Indians has been attended with the most
sauary and beneficial results though this great evil still
continues To exist TO frghtfui extent Some of the
civilized tribes perceiving s rUnous effects and
approaching the anxiety of the government to put stop
to IT, have themselves the most comnendable spirit,
passed laws upon the subject but can never
eFecualy be checked until the States adjoining the In
country forward and cooperate the general
effort against this unholy and niquous traffic. by pass
ing stringent laws restraining the evii-dspesed among
their cizeHs on the frontier from engaging in il with the
Indians II this were done, and authority given the
department 10 punish the Indians themselves in the
recommended in the report OF the superintendent at
81 Louis for their participation in IT, this moral pes
ence would soon be driven from the confines Of the In
dian country which would be followed by the dawn of
brighter day upon the condition and destiny of colo
nized Indians.
The general department of the more civilized tribes
during the year has been most commendabe and the
influence Of their good example upon their less advanced
and less fortunate brethren cannot but be sauary and
eraby improved their general temper and disposition
especially those with whom have treaty stpulaons.
and who receive annues from the United States which
they have been made 10 understand are liable for any
outrages injuries they commit, whether upon our own
citizens upon each other Occurrences Of this kind
have been less frequent during the past year than hereto
lore. But two OF any consequence known 10 have
aken place one attack By the Sioux on steamboat
On the upper Missouri river engaged in trading expedi-
ion, in which a white attached 10 the boat was
killed and the other an attack by the Iowas upon
party OF Pawnces in which some twelve Of the lat
ter slam and scalped The Indians alleged
that they Were inegaed 10 the first by white persons
their country supposed be rivals trade with those
whose goods were on board the boat A further report
in relation TO the which led to il is soon expected;
and when received the department will be better adj
yised the which should be adopted TO pun
sh the really guilty parties, and To prevent such ourages
IN future The attack Of the Iowas upon the pawnees
unprOvokci and wanton and their annnities were
directed be withheld until hey had made the most
reparahon Of which the admitted They
accordingly entered into agreement with the pawneeg
pay them eight hundred dollars out Of their present
years annuity which satisfactory; and both parties
bound themselves hereafter to submit all OF dispute
difficulty between them TO the President and 10 abide
Dy his decision.
The making Of the annutes Of tribe liable for such
acts OF misconduct has doubt restraining effect but
o itself not sufficient among the ess civilized Tribes.
Ihelr natural propensities warke, and success
~ war the principal and most ready mode af OBJ
tanning distinction and power and hence II - DIM
cult, and often impossible, for the chiefs and we'll
disposed of a tribe TO restrain the restless and
bilious from hostile aggressOns upon Indians OF other
tribes This can be done only by the prompt and vgor-
Gus pteruogition OF the government; and ~ strongly
by those whose Judgment and experience