Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-07
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Office Of Indian Affairs, NoremJer ~, 1880
Sir Before proceeding to submit for your consideration
general view Of Indian Affairs and relations during the
last twelve months, would respectfully refer to the
panyng reports Of the superintendent agents. and mission
aries in the Indian country, for particular information
in relation to local operations and the condition Of the various
tribes, than be 6ty embodied in report Of this de-
scripion..
Among the less tribes with which we have fixed
and defined relations and which, greater or less extent
have felt the controlling and melorang effects Of the policy
and measures Of the Government for preserving peace among
them and improving their condition. unusual degree of
order and quetude has prevailed 1t is gratifying know
that amongst this class, comprising large portion Of the red
within widely extended borders there probably has
never, during the period of tme been few
Of painful All have been peaceful towards
our citizens WHILE with the exception Of the Sioux and
Chppewas they have preserved state and harmony
among themselves These two tribes hereditary enemies
and scarcely year passes without Of bloody strife be-
tween them From their and scattered conditions
it is difficult exercise any effective restraint them
while their proximity each other ards them frequent OPP
pounies for ndulgng their vengefu and vndctve feelings
Each tribe to be constantly the watch for occasions
to attack weaker parties Of the other when dscmnae
of men, women, and children the amentable
suit During the last spring mutual aggressous, Of aggra-
waited character threatened to involve these tribes n general
but the acting superintendent Governor Ramsey, aided
and assisted by the commanding officer at Fort Snelng
promptly nterposed and by timely and udcous efforts pre-
vented such catastrophe.
Such occurrences only revolving to humanity but
they foster that Unsuitable passion for which, in combine
ton with love of the chase is the prominent characteristic
feature Of wilder tribes and presents formidable obstacle
in the way Of their civilization and improvement We know
yet what extent these important objects may be
pished but the present and improving condition Of Of
further and more extended effort Experience however has
concusvey shown that there but of policy by
which the great work Of regeneratng the Indian may be
effected.
In the application Of this policy wilder tribes it is
ndspensaby that they be placed in positions whore
they can controlled and finally compelled by stern
sity to agricultural labor sarve Considering, as
the unutoed Indian Does that labor is degradation, and
that there is nothing worthy Of bis ambition but powess in
war in the chase and eoquence in council it only
under such circumstances that his naughty pride be SUBJ
dued, and his wild energies trained to the ennobng
pursuits Of civilized e There should be assigned to each
tribe for permanent home. country adapted to agriculture
Of limited extent and weIdeined boundaries within which
ALL with occasional exceptions should be compelled constantly
to remain until such time their general improvement and
good conduct may supersede the necessity Of such restrictions
In the the Government should them be
supplied with stock agricultural implements and useful
tea for clothing encourage and assist them in the erection
of comfortable dwellings, and secure to them the means and
facilities Of educaton intellectual moral and religious The
better for them than the present system Of paying their
nues in money, which does substantial good to but few,
while to the great majority it only furnishes the means and
incentive to vicious and depravng indulgence, terminating
in destuton and misery, and too frequently in premature
death.
The time is at hand for the practical application Of the FORE
going views to the Sioux and Chppewas well
OF the northern tribes the borders of Missouri and
Iowa. Congress has made appropriation for negotiations
with the Sioux for portion of their lands which should
far practicable, be conducted the principles laid down
in the instructions given to the commissioners appointed for
that purpose last year, and which communicated with
the annual report Of predecessor Those instructions con-
empaed the purchase Of large Of their territory and
their concentration within limits upon lands
from the white settlements and the Chppewas objects Of
primary Importance in view Of the general policy already
stated. "a.
Since the treaties of 1897 and 1912 with the Chppewas
considerable portion Of those Indians have continued by
sueranc to reside the coded lands Of the Mississippi
river in Wisconsin and Minnesota where thew have for some
years been brought into injurious with our rapidly
advancing and increasing population in that quarter Having
ample facilities tor procuring ardent spirits they have become
much injured and corrupted by unestrained indulgence ia
the Of that accused element OF evil To remedy this un
fortunate state OF things determined at an early pc
Rod OF the present year. to have these Indians removed north
ward to the country belonging their tribe Measures for
this purpose were accordingly adopted but consequence
of the very late period at which the appropriation requisite TO
meet the necessary expenses was made only small number
have yet been removed Their entire removal however
will not sufficiently relieve citizens from ANNOYANCE by
them, as they will for time have the disposition and be
near enough to return with facility TO their old haunts and
hunting grounds Nor will he situation Of the Chppewas
generally then be such their webene requires They
vast extent Of territory each side Of the Mississippi
which they will be scattered following the chase and in