The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-11
THE RED MEN OF AMERICA.
Annual Report or the ComInissioner OF
Indian Affairs
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, Nov 80, 1919


Among the border tribes and others with whom |
we have defined and fixed relations, and maintain |
any mime dlate and regular intercourse, great |
degree Of peace and tranquility has prevailed as
during The same length of time Al any former Pc !
riod They have generally conducted themselves
peacefully towards our cItlzens and towards eacn
other This circumstance speaks well for the vlgl
lance ana dcuVIty at our agents, and OF the mill-
taIy stationed IN the Indian country; and attests !
the good effects OF the policy pursued by the go
VeInment, IN promptly represslng any sympioms OF
outbreak and compelling trbes committing outrdges
upon Others To make ample and suitable reparation
Tor The injury lar as, under present crcums-
fences. these objects can be ACCOMPLISHED. Nor
must we overlook the influence of the good eX-
ample Of OF our more civilized aud orderly
Tribes, and the happy effects OF the exerIIons OF
many excellent persons, whO animated by Il truly
Phllanthtoplc and christian sprlt. have voluntarily
banished themselves beyond the confines OF cIyllI-
ZaUon, ana all IT'S comforts and advantages, and
gone 10 labor zeaousy and disluterestedly for the
temporal and spiritual welfare of unfortunate
aud semi. harbarous people Both, doubtless, have.
IN some degree, aided In securing so considerable
result.
There is a portion Of the Seminole tribe OF Ia
dams who did not emigrate with, aud have never
joined the brethren west The Mississippi river;
they having been permitted 10 rem ain IN Florida
under arrangement made IN 1872 by Gen Worth,
then commanding the troops employed 10 subdue
and remove tins Tribe, which lad for some time
been III state of hnsthy. This arrangement was
intended 10 be, aud Was OF a temporary character
only and could not have been otherwise, as the
moval ofIhe Indians required by positive treaty
supnlatlons, which was the duty OF the executive
Ia earned INTO effect. They could not be IN
duced 10 remove voluntarily. and being limited
number il WAS easy Tor them, from the nature of the
country, 10 eude the troops so that their forcible
removal could probably have been effected only by
the continued employment of a large amount of mi
hary force al great expense, and after conslde rabe
delay, during which they would have continued TO
keep the irOnuer citizens in state OF constant
alarm and danger. To put end to this unplea-
FAINT state OF things, II seems 10 have been deemed
best TO enter INTO amlcable arrangement tor
Their remaining, for The time being, condition of
their retiring 10 and residing wIlhIn a district of
country designated for the purpose, the southern
portion of the peninsula Of Fonda, on the Gulf
eide, and abstainng from hostilitles acts of
DoSaIce against our citizens. The further to pro-
VIDE against collisions between them and the
whites. a strip of land twenty miles wide,
land off and reserved, upon which it was the nten-
ton that neither should settle. These arrange
ments were all made through military, in whose
charge the Indians have been ever since; this de-
partnltnt having had no agent over them, except
for short period during the present year, one hav-
lpg been appointed IN consequence OF an appca-
tion from the proper quarter 10 relieve the military
of he duty Before, however the agent could
reach the country of the Indians and commune ale
with them, a small number, without any well as
ceTtdInt cause, again broke out into hostilitles,
and committed several murders, and destroyed the
properly Of some OF our citizens. AT the time OF
these unfortunate occurrences, this department
was engaged In making plan for the emigration of
these adams, who had no right TO remain perma-
be permitted Ia do so, without preventing the set
element OF val liable portion Of the State of Flo
rida. and lncurri0g the risk of collision between
them and the whites who were settling In their
neghboThood And, considering their own future
welfare and best interests, the sooner they were
removed and Prominently settled with their
brethren In the West, the better. With the view
OF convincing them OF this fact, and OF using
all possible means 10 induce them 10 emigrate
ptaceably-snd thus to avoid the expense AID pos
sble bloodshed OF a resort to cocrcIve measures
II was determined 10 offer a gratulty 10 each lndi-
yIdual who would do so, and 10 send TO them de-
legatlon OF the western Semnoles-who had ma
infested much and commendabe interest on the
subject OF Their removal, and offered the services
OF Ia suitable number OF their most intelligent men
Tor The purpose-to satisfy them of the superiori-
~ ct Their position west, land the advantages of en-
lgraIi"n. THIS plan was accordingly adopted, to
be CARED out under the supervision of the Indian
ag' nj and the military. as will be seen from the
accompany letter OF instructions issued by your
self and the honorable Secretary of War Jointly,
marked A On further consideration, however, il
beng believed that, under the changed state Of
hngs, The service of the Indian agent could be
OF very liitle If any use, and that all the measures,
OF whatever character, necessary effect the re-
moval Of the lndlans, could best be conducted by
The military alone, the appointment OF the agent
was revoked on the 2Sth of September last. The
eKtIre control having thus reverted back to the mi
htary. that department will no doubt report the
sui OF the measures adopted Tor The removal OF the
Indians, 20 tar as put IN operation, well TO
state hat has been done towards furnishing those
concerned IN the outrages referred 10, and TO pre-
the Indians may remain IN Florida. | may add,
however, that. according to the latest Information
there seems lobe fair prospect OF eilectng their
emigration peaceahly at an early day, IN which
the services Of the delegation of their western
brethren, sent BY this department, wm no doubt
prove m no lnconsldersble degree instrumental.
In the eaily part of the seassn a serious out
break took place the part Of some Of the Indians
M Texas, who, before they could be checked, "a
vaged an extensive frontier along the RIO Grande,
NEARLY down To- the Gulf coast, committing num-
be q
aud children, and destroying and carrying Oft
c'nrittrablr amount of property. THIS occur
renee was wholly unexpected, aud. 50 tar as
known. without any sufficient cause. other tban
The restless and predatory character of the Indians
Our only agent that quarter had exerted himself
with energy aud succrss IN settling slight difficult
urs which had previously CURED. aud n keep
mg th'm quiet and peaceablr; and from his re-
porte there was every reason 10 believe that they
would continue 80 Disposed The prCp-r m-a.
sure wtTe taken by the military, with their usual
promlu'ude, Ia extend pretr ction % the settle
nehis, ana to prevent recurrence Of the Outrage.
The lnoians were soon driven back into their own
country, and, under The saluiary effect at chastI.e-
m'nt Iniiiced ON some portions of them, have
siuct remained quiet and peace able. Tue ca
nsIches. who are the largest, and generally the
nnst ifothssOnle OF the tribes and who ARE sup ]
pss'd tn have been principally concerned m the /
outhftsk, have recently. on the occasion Of filling
the vacancy occasiosed by the death of their .
principal Chtet. win the fail concurrence OF F.
thtir new Chiti. manifested their sense of toe
tolN aud tfmeIiiy M being guilty Of acts that II
would bring them INTO collision with The govern
ni'It; 80 such a course was always followed by .
s'Netc punishment. aud would eventually terml- u
Hatc 90 her dtstruCuCR. The new chief himself, /
Huu smother individual, came IN as delegates to .
The 90 mmsudlhy officer Of the troops m Texas. to
lnI'iu mn ~ Their determination To abstain from
hp.u. tee, Hru, Hs Ter az possible to prevent any
~. b'ts 81 their tuhe irCm committing deprcds
u'ns upon uui citizens.
Ttass, "a coming into the Union. retained control
ahd .nfisuiriicn over al her public domain, so
thti none ot ihr laws regulations of unr Indian
s,ttsui ase 90 force within her limits Tn. de-
pIim' ~ has, thsrsiOre power 10 prevent intru-
Siuus INTO the country occupied hy the ladians. or
auN tHce az intercourse with ihrm. oi however
improper O. character they may be. or however
ht'N o. tArnt irfluu-v on The part 81 the l1dilnS
and r"lh.lous Htd difficulties between them and
ON L-----.- Nor ~ m amlnnLl-nh ~ -nnnnrAn. |