The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-07

be taught as day scholars, and the benefits of
practical education be thus more widely ditiused.
The only considerable number of Indians who
have retained any portion OF their original pos
sessions and survived the perils OF immediate con-
tact with the white population, fast thickening
around them, are those remaining in the State OF
New York, comprising mere remnant OF the
once numerous and powerful lroquos, or ''Six Ma
tons" After rapidly diminishing for many years,
they seem at length 10 have reached the lowest
point in their declining fortunes Having been
placed by the humane legislation OF the State, in
situation similar to that OF our colonized tribes they
present the interesting spectacle OF once barbar-
Gus people IN state OF rapid transition to cvlza-
ton and prosperity striking indication oil their
progress is the important change they have made
in their civil poty. Impressed with the disad-
vantages Of their ancient and irresponsible oil
garchlcal form of government, and its tendency TO
retard their advancement, majority succeeded.
in 1913, in effectng entire revolution. Having
formally assembled in Convention, they adopted
republican constitution, and their government and
affairs now well conducted, on principles sim
liar TO those on which ours are administered.
There are STILL howcycr, individuals among them
who, from their connexon with the old system, arc
opposed the order of things but, as the OBJ
ject of these malcontens Id to regain their lost
power, rather than promote the public good, no
encouragement has been given to them, either by
the State of New York or the General Govern
ment.
II ia much to be regretted that appropriation
was made at the last session of Congress for nego
tiating treaties with the wild tribes of the great
Western prairies. These Indians have ling held
undispued possession of this extensive region and
regarding il as their ewn they consider themselves
emitted to compensation, not only for the right Of
way through their territory, but for the great and
I'M urious destruction Of game, grass, and timber,
committed by our troops and emigrants. They
| have hitherto been kept quiet and peaceable by
iterated promises that the Government won act
] generously towards them and considerations OF
| economy, justice, and humanity require that these
| promises should be promptly fulfilled. They would
| a btlesa he cnptepted with n moderate re-
Enumeration, which should be made in goods. stock
| animals, agricultural implements, and other use-
| fu articles.
| As further measure for securing the friendship
and good conduct of these Indians, it is earnestly
| recommended that delegation of their principal
| and most influential men be brought in, for the
purpose of visiting some of our larger cities and
more denscly popu!a ted portions Of country. These
delegates would thus be impressed with idea OF
the great superiority of our strength which, bein e
impaired to their people, would has powerful
and most salutary influence upon them.
Our information in regard to the Indians in Ore
gon and California Is extremely limited, but the
deficiency, it is hoped, will shortly be supplied by
| the agents and commissioners provided for at the
last session of Congress. Copies of the instructions
given to these officers herewith submitted, to-
| gcther with report from General Lane, late gov
| crnor and acting superintendent OF Indian affairs
in Oregon, cont tanning the latest official informa-
ton in possession of the office respecting the In
dams in that far distant region, and received too
late TO accompany the annual report of last year.
| After the three agents authorized by Congress
for the Indians in California were appointed il was
| found that appropriation had been made for
their salaries and the necessary expenses of their
| agencies. Their functions agents were there
fore suspcnded; but, as there was an appropriation
for negotiating treaties with the Indians In that
State, they were constituted commissioners for that
| purpose. They will thus have an opportunity OF
| acquiring information useful TO them agents
and be the spot to enter upon their duties III that
| capacity when the requisite appropriations shall
| have been made.
! Commissioners have also been appointed for the
| highly important purpose of negotiating treaties
with the various Indian tribes adjacent to the line
! between the United States and Mexico. They are
| expected to accompany the boundary commission
| and charged with the duty of collecting all
| such statistical and other information concerning
those Indians az may aid the Department in adopt
ing the proper policy and measures for their gov
ernment, and TO carry out ia good faith, the stpu-
| latlons OF our recent treaty with che Mexican re-
public.
The ruinous condition of our Indian affairs il
New Mexico demands the immediate attention o.
Congress. In no section of the country prompt
and efficient measures for restraining the indiana
more imperiously required than in this Territory
where an extraordinary state of things exists
which, 30 long it continues, will be reproach tC
the Government.
There are over thirty thousand Indians within il
limits, the greater portion of whom, having never
been subjected TO any salutnry restraint, are cx
tremely wild and intractable. For many years
they have been in the constant habit OF making ex-
tensive torays, not only within the Territory itself
bat IN the adjoining provinces Of Mexico, plunder-
ing and numbering the inhabitants, and carrying
OF large quantities Of stock besides numerous car
tyes, whom they have subjected to slavery, and
treated with great barbarty and cruelty. Hu.
manlty shudders in view OF the horrible fate Of sucl
OF their female captives possess qualities 10
cite their hendish and brutal passions. Our cit.
zcns have suffered severely from their outrage,
within the last two years of which their attack last
fall upon MIR. Whites party, while travelling e
santa Re, Is one Of many instances. They muir
dcred the whole party, nine or ten in number
except his wife, child, add servant, whom they
carried of. Our only Indian agent in the Tern
tory, who is stationed at Santa Re, on hearing Of
the lamentable occurrence, promptly made every
effort IN his power TO the captyes and bring
The Indians 10 punishment. The military officers
IN the Territory also made oommcndablc exertons
Tor the same purpose bat, unfortunately, with no
other result than the discovery Of the dead body oil
! Mrs. White, which was Nund by n military party
in pursuit OF some Indians supposed TO have her In
their possession. IL was evident she had Just been
| murdered, aud the body still warm. The sad
duty OF interring the corpse was performed by the
| mlhtary wiihbecoining dcccncyand respect Proper
efforts have been continued 10 rescue the child and
servant, but az yet without success. Renewed in
struCtions have recently been given directing q
large reward 20 be offered which, il IL hoped will
lead to favorable result But their atrocities and
aEgresslOns arc committed, not only upon our Citi
zcnf, but upon the Pueblo Indians, interesting
4 scmi-civizcd people, living In towns villages
called puobios, whence they derive their name. Be
ofc lho country came into our possession lhey were
IN the habit OF repairing the injuries they sustained
| By retaliation and reprisals upon their enemies
but from this they required TO dcsst; and
thus the duty IL more strongly imposed upon Us Of
ahOrding them adequate protection. The interior
cnce Of the Government i required also 10 secure
them against violations of their rights Of pcrson and
| property by unprincipied white men, from whose
cupidity aud lawlossness they continually sub
Ject TO grieyous annoyance and oppression.
To prevent serious disputes between these Indian,
and white inhabitants, IL IL essentially necessary
that commissioners be appointed to ascertain and
define the boundaries OF their lands, which they
| claim 70 hold under grants from Spain and Mexico
aud to negotiate treaties with them for the purpose
Of establishing proper relations between them and
tho Government and citizens Of the United States.
IL is believed that by pursuing wise and liberal
! policy towards thcm-which their peculiar situa-
ton indicates and invites-they viii in a few years
be fitted TO become citizens; and, bcn industrious
moral, and exemplary in their habits, will consti.
tute valuable portion Of the population Of the Ter
ritOry. For brief period, however, they will re-
quire agents 10 regulate their intercourse and man
age their relations with the other Indians and the
| whites. The same commissioners could be charged
with the further duty of entering into tho necessary
/ conventional arrangements with the wild Tubes oil
| the Territory. To manage these Indians properly,
they also must have agents. and, in order 10 break
40 their practice Of committing deprcdatiOnp and