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

IL.
respectfully refer to the pertinent and forcible re-
marks contained in the accompanying annual re-
port OF the Superintendent at st. Louis, in regard
70 the importance OF arrangement of the agen-
cles within his district. Nor, in justice 10 him can
omit calling attention to his observations resnect
ing the inadequacy OF the compensation allowed the
superintendent at that place, compared with the ex
tent OF his duties and that allowed 10 other ents
Oh the government, having no greater if as much
labor and responsibility. The situation is in fact
less desirable, on many accounts than that of an
agent who receives the annual allowance
and has a house furnished him. with the nriviIege
OF cuitivatlng as much landas he chooses by which
he can In great measure sustain himself and fam
lily without any other cost than labor while the du
ties OF superintendent are far onerous and re-
sponsible, and he has TO provide his own house and
10 purchase all the neccssaries of life in am exnen
siye market. An officer of this class therefore
would, under any circumstances, be clearly entitled
TO an allowance of at least five hundred dollars
more per annum than an agent; and At St Louis
the sum named in the report of the superintendent
would not be greater than fair and Just cumpen-
satlon Tor the heavy, important, and Responsible du
ties imposed upon him.
Adopting, generally, the mode of classifying the
different tribes within our more immediate super-
vision, which the superintendent at ST. Louis re-
commends for those within his superintendency and
which is believed to be the best and most appropri-
ate that can be resored to under present circilm-
stances and having in view the removal of the
Menomonees and Stockbridges from Wisconsin
west of the Mississippi; the concentration of the
Lake Superior Chippewas on that river and the
buying out Of the Sioux upon ii and their removal
further west all of which will make new and diff.
ferent arrangements as TO agencies necessary
there would be required, exclusive of Texas New
Mexico, California, and Oregon, about twelve full
agencies, hve minor agencies, and from two To
three sub-agencies for small and isolated tribes
II sufficient number of agents be provided for those
territories that the two transferred last spring
to New Mexico and California can be transferred
back, there would, therefore, be only one required
in addition to the number now in service, Tor our
frontier Indians; and this would, in any event be
necessary, either with reference to the contempla
ted change in the position of the Mississippi Sioux
or in that OF the Chippewas of Lake Superior while
instead Of the twelve sub-agents now in service,
three, with five minor agents. would suffice Allow
ing the agents fthis class the rate of compensation
recommended by Observation-Disclosures t. Louis, and
which Iagree with him would be necessary to secure
the services OF competent and efficient persons for
those situations, the arrangement thus suggested
would lead toa reduction in the present expenditure
Tor salaries OF agents and sub agents while the SER
vice would be benefited by much more suitable
and effective organization. cannot, therefore too
strongly recommend that some such measure be
adopted.
ties OF this office those which relate to the civ
cation of our Indian tribes. During a long period
considerable efforts were made, and large sums of
money expended, towards efiectng this great pur-
pose, but without commensurate effect. The
causes OF failure heretofore, the nature of the OBJ
stacles to be encountered, and the best measures of
overcoming them, having, however, become better
known and understood, and other and more appro-
pirate measures having been adopted for accom-
pishlng this object, a new impulse has been given
to 1t, attended with results of the most gratifying
character. The dark clouds of ignorance and SUI
perstion, in which these people have so long been
enveloped, seem at length, in the of many of
them, to be breaking away, and the light of Chris
tianity and general knowledge to be dawning upon
their moraland intellectual darkness. The measures
to which we principally indebt cd for the great
and a. oct hat has afep NJ tb.
concentration of the Indians within smaller districts
OF country, where, the game soon becomes scarce.
and they are compelled to abandon the pursuit of
the chase, and TO resort to agriculture and other
civilized pursuits; and the Introduction of manual
labor schools among them, for the education Of
their Children In letters, agriculture, the mechanic
arts, and domestic economy. These institutions
being IN charge OF missionary societies. of various
religious denominations, and conducted by nteh-
gent and faithful persons of both sexes, selected
with the concurrence of the Department the Indian
youth are carefully instructed in the best of all
neutrality-suspicious. trutll--their duty towards
God and their fellow beings.
In the annual report OF my predecessor last year,
he stated that there then in successful opera
ton among different tribes, sixteen manual labor
institutions, with eight hundred and nine scholars.
and eighty-seven boarding and other schools, with
two thousand eight hundred and seventy three
scholars, including both the sexes and that prov-
sion had been made for the establishment of ten
more institutions on the manual labor principle
The return for the past year are not entirely
complete, but ii is believed that there has been
considerable increase in the number of youth and
Nearly the whole OF the large amount
required for the support and maintenance of the
schools now in operation is furnished by the In
dams themselves out of their national fund: and so
deeply some of the tribes becoming impressed
with the advantages of educ ting their children,
that they making every effort in their mower 10
provide means for the increase of the manual labor
and where this cannot be done, neigh
borhood schools are being multiplied at individual
expense. So anxious arc the Choctaws upon the
subject, that they have adopted the arrangement
hat those having children at the manual labor
will furnish their clothing, instead of
The expense being betrayed from the general fund,
in order TO economize their means for wider dffu-
sion of the benefits Of such establishments.
A great moral and social revolution is thus now
IN progress, which, by the adoption ofsimilar mea-
surcs in other cases, might be rapidly extended to
most, il not all of those located on our western Dor
dcrs; so that IN few years. IL Ia believed that In
and resources they would compare ia
yorably with many portions Of white popula-
ton; and instead of dropping and declining az
heretofore, they would be fully able to maintain
in prosperity and happiness, under any
circumstances of contact connexion with our
people.
Most of the tribes are, however, poor, and with
out the ability to provide themselves with schools
and other necessary means Of improvement; while
The amount annually appropriated for the civi6za-
lion of the lndians-ten thousand doars-is wholly
inadequate 10 enable the Government TO accom-
plsh much for their benefit. As has heretofore
been strongly done, would therefore urgently re.
commend the increase of that sum 10 at least fifty
thousand dollars. as am act of lberalty and hu-
manity towards a helpless and destitute people.
whom we have displaced, and whose former pos
sessions we enjoy; and who, unless the fostering
care OF the government be extended TO them, must
continue TO decline and soon disappear, leaving MS,
rs legacy constant source of regret, if not Of
eircproach, in our having done too little to avert
their melancholy fate.
In conclusion, would beg leave TO saw that there
Is encouraging ground for the belief that large
share Of success will in the end crown the philan
thropc efforts of the Government md of individuals
TO civizc and christianize the Indian tribes. With
some, il is true, all efforts have hitherto proved
and unfortunate tribes have hurried on
almost TO utter extinction before 'their downward
tendency could be arrested. With Others how
ever, the fostering and parental of the Gov
eminent has accomplished the main design of sub
shutting the pursuits of civilized life in the of
those OF the savage, and in infusing among them
ulster modes Of thought, and proper appreciation
Of moral responsibility. Having Effected this, the
future of the Indian is in all respects promising.
and III is q lOuVer n DrOhlcm whether thov 20