The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-01


Der west of the Mississippi, greatly increased by
emigration from east of that river; our intercourse
and relations with those in that quarter much en-
largcd, by extension to other and more distant
| tribes; and our transactions with many of them
multiplied and rendered more important, by stp
uiations in new treaties; while large number
have been added to our jurisdiction in Texas, Ore
gon, California, and New Mexico
One of the most serious defects in the present sys
tenn is the want of sufficient number of superin-
tendents TO have charge OF particular districts OF
country, and TO exercise general supervision over
the Indians and the agents within them. The ope-
rations OF the Department carried on at so
great distance, that il is essential TO have such
class OF officers as the repositories OF more or less
discretionary authority, to meet cases OF eergen-
cy, requiring attention before the Department can
| be communicated with, and its decision or in
structions received; and they be of great
sisance in the local application of the general mea
sures and policy of the Government with respect TO
our Indian tribes. As inspectors and supervisors OF
| the conduct and acts of the agents. they aid
greatly in preventing abuses, and in infusing en-
ergy and promptitude in the execution Of their du-
| ties while, having no immediate connexion with
any particular tribe, they can be relied on as the
| sources OF more impartial and correct information
in regard to all, than generally be expected
from the agents themselves, Influenced, as they
more or less likely to be, by feelings of Partially
for the Indians with which they are Immediately
connected, and for whose good conduct and welfare
| they are, 10 a considerable extent responsible.
There are, nominally, five superinendents of
Indian affairs but two Of these local agents for
particular tribes, and are required without any in
crease OF compensation, to perform the duties Of
superintendent in addition to those of agents, and
| are therefore called acting superintendents. Two
| others-the Governors Of Oregon and Minnesota
are ex otiico superintendent, having the duties of
an officer OF that grade TO perform for the Indians of
those territories, for which they are alowed--the
one fifteen hundred, and the other one thousand
dollars per annum, in addition to their salaries
governors. There is but one full and independent
| superintendent, who is located at st. Louis.
| The duties of agent and superintendent are not
only entirely incompatible in themselves, but the
former, II attended to- leave too little time and OPP
portunlty Tor the proper performance OF the latter;
while il is unequal and unjust to impose upon an
agent as such, the same duties and responsibilities
as other agents, and no more compensation, the ad
ditional, onerous and responsible functions Of SUI
perintcndent. The improperly of such an arr
rangement and the advantages of having separate
and independent superintendencies, are SO clearly
| and forcibly stated in a report made by my prede-
cessor the 30th Of December, 1876, that am in
duced to quote his remarks upon the subject, which
are as follows: However great the zeal and ability
at the seat of Government and however strong
the desire here to administer the affairs of this De-
partment in a prompt, efficient and economical
| manner, proper number of intelligent, upright
firm and able superintendents would in conse-
quence of the great distance of many of the opera
tons of the Department greatly contribute to this
desirable end. The agents and subagents
insensiby partial in their representations respect
charge; they naturally wish To show favorable
a state of things possible in order that they
may appear as well or better than those in other
agencies. The superintendent, acting as in
spectors for all the tribes within their jurisdiction,
are the sources of impartial and well arranged
and digested information, upon which the Depart
ent could rely and base many of it's most import
ant measures They are also safer and better de-
positores, for the discretionary authority has
sometimes to be conferred, in matters respecting
which the Department cannot give precise and
specific instructions, because all the circumstances
and contingencies cannot be foreseen and pro-
vided for ut the seat of Government. An imme-
date and rigid supervision also tends to make the
agents and sub-agents careful, prompt, and exact
In the performance OF their duties An agent of
tribe acting superintendent is too much con-
fined by his local duties as agent, to do justice to
the higher and more important duties of superin-
tendent. The independent and superior position
OF superintendent Is requisite, in order that he
may have that standing, authority, and influence,
which will cause his directions 10 be cheerfully,
promptly and properly obeyed. Witha sufficient
number of superintendent they could make the
greater part of the heavy disbursements them
selves, or Immediately superintend their being
made by the agents, and thus the superintend-
ents and agents would be chez ks upon each other"
Sec Doc. No 10, House Of Representatives, I'd
29th Congress.
Concurring in these views, and being fully i'm
pressed with the entire inadequacy of the existing
arrangements, as 10 superintepdencies, TO secure
that degree of efficiency and promptitude import
ant In all branches OF the pubc service, but essen
tally requisite in this, would respectfully recon-
mend in lieu of il that authority be given for the
establishment of seven full and independent super
intendencies: four for the Indians east of the Rocky
Mountains, including those Of Texas, be located
at such points and, 70 embrace such districts OF
country and tribes as the President may find TO be
expedicnt and proper; and one for each of the Ter
rtories of Oregon, California, and New Mexico.
This would supersede the necessity of governors of
Territories acting superintendent, to which
there are, to some extent, objections similar to
those against agents acting In that capacity, well
others that might be mentioned; besides the
fact that the location of the executive of Territory
is not always the proper one for the superintend-
ent-and that that arrangement is but temporary
one at BEST terminating when the Territory be-
comes State, without any equivalent provision
being made and always producIng changes incon-
venient, embarrassing, and injudicious.
The present arrangement, to agents, is also
defective, and an additional number is required for
the large bodies of Indians added TO our jurisdic-
ton in Texas, New Mexico, California, and Ore
gon. As already stated, no reports have been re-
ceivcd from the sub agents appointed more than
year ago for Oregon, and time sufficient has not
elapsed to enable those scot during the present
son TO California and New Mexico to inform them
selves and to report fully in relation to the num-
bers and distribution Of the Indians in those Terri
tories. The Department cannot, therefore, at pres
ent designate tho number Of agents required in
that quarter, but hopes 10 be able to do before
the close of the ensuing session Of Congress. Four
for each Territory have heretofore been recon-
mended, and il is believed would not be too many.
And as it il of the utmost Importance that have
an adequate number OF active and efficient men
among the Indians, especially in New Mexico and
California, would respectfully repeat that recon-
mendaton. If authorized, and they prove too
many, those not required would be promptly dis
charged ON that fact beng ascertained and If too
few, the number can hereafter be increased on the
Department being able to lay before Congress such
information will show il 20 be necessary. There
should be at least two full agents for the Indians in
Texas, and authority should be given for the en-
ployment there and IN the Territories mentioned
of the necessary interpreters, and blacksmIths
TO do such smith-work the Indians require
for those who, by their good conduct, may cntitle
themselves TO this favor, the comforting Of which
tends TO create a sense Of dependence upon the
Government, and TO show It's kind and liberal dis
position towards the Indians, and thus TO inspire
them with respect and good will towards it and
our citizens.
For the Indians on the frontier and elsewhere,
under our more immediate supervision, and with
whom we have numerous and complex treaty stip-
ulations, there now employed nine agents and
twelve sub-agents the former receiving salaries of
fifteen hundred dollars and the latter OF seven