New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-10
FROM WASHINGTON.
Report of Indian Commissi oner-YirgiDin Sem
tator.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.

ator.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.
W4sHGsGros, Sunday, Dec. g.
The Commissioner at tie head OF the Bureau
ct Indian Affairs, Hon. LUKE LEA, has presented
an able and interesting report in which enlarged
views are taken of the true policy of the Govern
ment toward the unfortunate red man The Com
missioner commences By giving what appears to
be very correct view Of the Indian character,
with which he is intimately acquainted He then
proceeds to show the necessity of concentrating
the different tribes in such position that they
will be under the direct control of the Federal
Government, and thereby be prevented from war
ring upon each other, depredating upon the
border, and that they may be saved from being
swept away by advancing civilization, while
they are forced to learn for themselves the arts of
civilized life: indeed the burden of the Report
consists in arguments and facts adduced With re-
ference to the adoption Of such policy Speak
ing of the wilder tribes, the Commissioner says
Z" In the application of this policy to orr wilder
tribes it is Indispensable necessary that they be
placed in positions where they De controlled,
and finally compelled by stern necessity to resort
to agricultural labor or starye Cousidering as the
untutored Indian does that labor Is depreciation
and that there is nothing worthy OF his ambition
but pTowess Ii war, success IN the chase, and
eloqpence in council it is only under such cir
cumsances that bis hnnghty pride can be subdued,
and bis wild energies trained to the more emo
bling pursuits OF civilized life"
One great evil Of which the r eport complains
is the extreme of ardent spirits among the
different tribes, notwithstanding the stringent
laws which have from time 10 time been enacted
for the prevention of its sale among them 1t ap-
pears that they do not obtain it Of American
traders for the report says
"a strict compliance with these laws and regu-
ations is required Of our traders while the ira
ders OF the Hudsons Bay Company, in contempt
uous disregard of them, frequently come over on
our side OF the line, and through the nefarious
means of ardent spirits, carry on a corruptng
traffic with the Indians, injurious alike to them
and to our licensed and bonded traders.
The Commissioner wisely suggests that a por
ton of the annuties paid to the Indians for their
lands should be set apart by the United States for
purposes of education among them. On this point
he says:
Conceding the general wisdom and business
of the policy adopted in l9l7 OF paying the an
nuities on the percapita principle in my judgment
there are material objections to the manner IN
which it has been practically applied. The regu-
ulation on this subject provides that portion of
the annuiies may be set apart by the Indians for
national and charitable purposes, These purposes
however have never been particularly defined;
rules have never been prescribed for determining
the amounts to be provided for them, nor have
measures been taken to encourage the Indians to
make so wise and beneficial disposition OF their
funds They naturally desire to receive lndyld-
ually the amount of their respective shares and
consequently their entire annuity has been dis
tributed equally among them"
J,Ioto, ~.
to the Government in pecuniary point Of view,
of a concentration of parts and parcels Of tribes
and the allotment to them of lands for their enjoy
ment for ever. The expense OF armies, especially
on our Southwester frontier, the present large
expenses of an Indian Department. not to say
anything of other inconvenience and losses, and
the yearly sacrifice of life and property from the
incuYsions of hostile bands, swell up all account
that would much more than Offset any expense
that might attend the adoption Of the policy pro-
posed. The report, however, only proposes to
concentrate tribes and portions of tribes at differ
ert locations. have before me a pamphlet in
the form of memorial to Congress by the cele.
bratel George CONWAY, in which the advantage
of general concentration of the Indian tribes
within territory set apart by the United States for
that purpose, is eloquently and powerfully urged.
He proposes that they shall constitute confede.
rscy Of tribes under Republican forms of Govern,
ment and that they shall be represented by q
Delegate in the Congress of the United States
The whole design is n noble one, and should ar,
rest the attention of Congress-
Virginia again sends Mr.. MASON to the Senate
The vote ll2 to 4? will strike many into surprise
considering his ultra position during the last SEES
sion-hs frequent and violent advocacy of his
Union sentiments. The Virginia Democracy
were in danger of division the ultras insisted
upon the reelection Of Mr.. MASON rs the price of
their allegiance, and the friends of Gen. CAS- and
Mr. DICKINSON could not afford to quarrel. This
is the secret. Under other crcums tances he could
not probably have obtained more than thirty votes
Mr. MASON is the author too of the Fugitive Slave
bill, and for that reason alone it would have been
Impossible to throw him overheard. The Union is
out with lengthy list OF retaatory recommen-
dation to the South in consequence of Vermont
having insisted upon the h0beaS corpus.
WOUTER Won TWILLER
WISCONSIN on THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW
The friends of the Fugitive Slave Law have claim,
n n oil Fro,,