The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-15
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
U,Do,t al the Cosnn,Issioner of Indian Affairs.
war DEPARTMENT,
ENC Inlian Aalirs, Noyember 30, is.

NH luI If he publc service the details OF which TO
considerable extent will be found IN The accompanying
reports and statements OF lhe supernenien's' agents
,rl snbageus OF the department, and other persons
1peTeI with il: some OF which are OF peculiar inter-
sf and all worth OF perusa-iurnlshlng as they DO
The latest AMI most authentic information respecting The
condition and prospects OF the remnants OF an interesting
sgp who once held uUdspatei sway over the territory
ne now occupy, but who have gradually melted away
before the advance of civilization, OF 10 broken groups
baen swept westward 5y the pressure and rapid extension
nj n more intelligent and enterpusing race.
While 10 all. the tate OF the rel man has thus Tar
baeD Ike unsatisfactory and painful IL has with many
been a scarce of much Misrepresentation and unjust ma
tonal reproach. Apathy barbarsn, and heathenlsm
must give way 10 energy, civilization, and Chts anity-
and the lnan OF thus conaneht has oee2 displaced ~
the European but this mas Deeu attended with Huch
los oil oppression and injustice than has generally been
represented and believed IL in the rapid spread OF our
rIn,atiol and sway, with all their advantages and
blessings 10 ourselves and to others, injury has been IN
Acted upon the bafbarous and heather people we have
displaced we, nation, alone 10 be held up to re-
rroarh Tor such Fesult Where, the contest of civ
eaton with baTharsm, since the commencement OF time,
has 1t been less the than with rs And where have
sare been more general ana perseyerng efforts accord
7g 10 our means and opportunities, than those made by
MS 10 extend TO the conquered all the superior resources
and ADVANTAGES enjoyed By the conquerors Ot the mag
nuie and extent Of those efforts but little comparatively
is generally known
welded the savage habits, CUSTOMS and preluces IN
which he has been reared and trained II Is seldom the
rase that the full blood Indian of hemisphere
in immediate Iuxtapo-ltion with a white population,
be brought farther within the pale OF civilization than 10
adopt iIs vices; under the corrupting influences Of
whch-too INDECENT to labor, and too weak to resist
he soon sinks into misery and despair The nequalitl
of his position in all that dgny ard respect is
too yaring and the contest he has TO make with the
superior race with which he is brought INTO contact,
all the avenues and prosperity IN lie, too
unequal hope Tor better result The COLLISION IS TO
him a POSITIVE evil lie Is unprepared, and in all
specs untitled for and he necessarily soon sinks under
and pershes. Il must be recoliected, too that our
white population has rapidly increased and extended
and, with widening contact, constantly pressed upon
the Indian occupants OF territory necessary for the accom-
notation Of our own people thus engendenng preIilces
and creating difficulties which have occasionally led 10
strife and Observation-Disclosures between different races
under such crcumstances-in which the weaker party
must suffer Hence II is to natural and unavoidable
causes easily understood and appreciated rather than 10
wul neglect deliberate oppression and wrong that
we must in great measure, attribute the rapid decline and
disappearance of Indian population. Cannot this sad
anu depressing tendency OF things be checked and the s
be al east measura5ly repaired by better results IA the
future Il is believed they and, indeed, It has to
been done already by the wise and beneicen
system OF pahcy put in operation some years since, and
which, steadily carried out, viii soon give to our
whole Indian system very different and much more
favorable aspect.
The policy already begun and relied on to accom-
pLsh objects momentous and so desirable 10
every Christian and phIlanthroplst, is rapidly
as II can safely and ludciousy be done, to coll
oniZe our Indian tribes beyond the reach, Tor some
years, OF our white populaton-conRlng each within
small district OF country, that. the game decreases
and becomes scarce the adults viii gradually be COM
PEELED TO resort TO agriculture and other kinds OF labor TO
obtain a subsistence, in which AID may be afforded and
facilities furnished them out OF the means obtained by
the sale of Their former possessions. II establish, al
the time, ludlcous and wel-devised system
OF mannallabor schools for tine education OF the youth
OF both leersthe males in practical agriculture
and the necessary and useful mechanic arts and
the females in the different branches OF hOgsewery, IN
Guiding spinning and weaving; and these Schools like
those already successful operation, to be in charge OF
the excellent and missionary societies of the differ
Christian denominations of the country, and to be
conducted, and the children taught, by efficient, eXempa
~ and devoted men and women, selected, with the APP
probation OF the department by those societies. thai
physical intellectual, moral, and religious education will
all be impaired together.
The strongest prOpenstes of Indians nature his
desire for ami his love Of the chase. These lead
nm display TACT Judgment, and energy, and to endure
great hadshs, pvatnn, and suffering but IN all other
respects he no!ent and inert, physically and mentally
unless for display IN council when he not
unirequenty exhibits great astueness and rude eo
quence evneng ordinary degree OF intellect But
anything like labor dstaseful, and utterly repugnan
to his feelings and natural preudces. He considers It
degradation. His subsistence and dress are obtained
Principally by means OF the chase and If this resource
insufficient, and il be necessary to cultivate the
earth or to manufacture materials for dress il has TO be
done The women, who their "hewers OF wood and
drawers Of water" Nothing induce HIM TO resort to
LABOR, unless compelled do by a stern necessity
and only then that there any ground to work upon
Tor cvllzing and Outstanding him But little II any
good impression be made upon hlm these respects,
lOng he is able freely large and crafty
Als predominant lnclnaons Nor can these be sub
due IN any other way than by the mode OF colonization
10 which reference has been made. When compelled 10
lace the necessities OF lie, and to resort TO labor
lor a maintenance, he in very snort time becomes
changed being and IS then willing, and frequently eager,
70 receive information and instruction all that may ad
hun Improving his condition. II IS al this stage that
ne heas 20 perceive and appreciate the advantages pos
sessed by the white man, and 10 desire also To enjoy
them, and II lar advanced in life for mental insiruc
ton himself he asks that may be provided for ms chill
dTen Such the experience the OF several OF tho
tribes long since coonized who few years ago
mere nomads and hunters and when settled IN their
new countries opposed TO labor, and To anything
axe schools missionaries; but who now DESTROYS
di both The latter for the benefit OF their children and
themselves and becoming prosperous and happy from
support for themselves and their families by the cutva
uon OF the so ami other modes OF labor The most
marked change, however, when this transition takes
p the condition OF the females. She who had
been The drudge and the save then begins 70 assume her
position equal and her labor stransierTsd from
he feiu 10 her househod-io the OF her family and
children. This great change IN disposition and condition
has taken place, 10 greater less extent, IN all the
ubes that have been removed aid permanently settled
west OF the Mississippi Il Is true that portions OF some
OF them enjoyed considerable degree OF civilization be-
lore they tTanspanied but, pnor TO that event,
they retrograting all respects while now, they
ana others who nave been cOon2et and confined within
reasonable and liked limits rapidly advancing IN m
egence and morality and in all the means and elements
o national and lndiv aaa prosperity that before many
years, II sacredly observe all obligations towards
them, they wall have reached point at which they will
be able 70 compete with a white population. and to sus-
tam themselves under any probable circumstances OF con
tact or connection with IT, II tins great end IS 10 be
oomplshed. however, material changes will soon have
TO be made IN the position OF OF the smaller tribes
on the frontier so as have ample outlet for our
white population to spread and pass towards and be
yOnd the Rocky mountains else, only will they be