The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-01
THE R EPUBLIC.
Annual Report OF the Commissioners OF
Indian Affairs.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
)rFfCt OF ISpfAS Abrams. Nov 20 lSl,

fairs and relations during the past year, would
respectfully refer 10 the accompanying documents
for more detailed information, in many particulars,
than can be embraced III general report like this.
Emanating from the several classes of local agents
OF the department., having the immediate charge
and supervision of the different tribes and their af
fairs and from the devoted and Jealous mission
aries Of various christian denominations. who
actively and aboriously cooperating with the Gov
eminent IN its efforts to improve the moral and IN
tellectual condition of the red man-they embrace
information not only of great practical value in the
administration of Indian affairs, but which must
be Of no ordinary interest to all who feel any
Germ in regard To the present condition and future
destiny of the remaining aboriginal inhabitants of
our country
Among the border tribes and others with whom
we have defined and fixed relations, and maintain
any immediate and regular intercourse, as great
degree of peace and tranquility has prevailed as
during the same length of time al any former pc
Rod They have generally conducted themselves
peacefully towards our citizens and towards each
other. This circumstance speaks well for the vigi
lance and activity of our agents. and of the mill
tary stationed in the Indian country; and attests
the good effects of the policy pursued by the Gov
ernment in promptly REFRESHING any symptoms of
outbreak, and compelling tribes committing out
RACES upon others to make ample and suitable rep
araton for the injury; far as, under present cir
cumstancos, these objects can be accomplished
Nor must overlook the influence of the good ex-
ample Of some of our more civilized and orderly
tribes, and the happy effects of the cxertions Of
many excellent persons, who, animated by a truly
phanthropic and christian spirit, have voluntarily
banished themselves beyond the confines of cviliza
ton and all its comforts and advantages, and gone
to labor zealously and dsintercstedly for the tenn
poral and spiritual welfare of an unfortunate and
semi barbarous people. Both, doubtless, have, in
some degree, aided in securing SO desirable re-
suit.
II is impossible, however, to prevent the
currence OF occasional difficulties among more
remote border tribes, who, from their position and
other circumstance, have not usyct sufhclently telt
the influence of the policy and measures OF the Gov
eminent for the civilization and Improvement of
our Indians TO be INDUCED TO give up their natural
habits of war and the chase. From their disinch-
nation for agricultural and other peaceful AMI more
profitable pursuits of civilized life, they have am
Die time and opportunity for indulgence i'll those
habits; and as it is in their hunting excurslons--
when they.arc beyond any supervision or control,
and which bring them more or less into collision
that difficulties most generally occur, there have
been several cases of this kind, attended with
bloodshed and loss of life, between some OF the
northwestern tribes, as viii be seen from the re-
ports of the agents in that quarter. As far pos
sble, measures have been adopted to compel the
aggressors to make reparation for the injuries in
flicted by them; those receiving annuities being
required 10 make satisfactory compensation in
money as the admitted. And IN order still
further to teach them and others that the Govern
ment will not overlook such acts oil outrage, but
will interpose TO punish and put a stop To them,
the more reckless and daring individuals concerned
in and who should in great measure be held re-
sponshle for them, have been arrested IN cases
where they could be identified, and Will be held in
confinement Mt some OF the military posts until
sautary impression is made upon them and their
brethren OF the enormity of their conduct and the
dispeasure il has given to the Government
So far as am aware, il has not been the practice
10 interfere in of difficulty between different
tribes further than TO interpose by military or
otherwise to put stop TO them; and even the prac-
tce of compelling satisfaction for outrages TO be
made out OF annuities is one of recent adoption.
The punishment Of the guilty parties by arrest and
confinement may therefore be regarded as an ex-
IRENE measure, but there is ample authority and
uftfaF for a
relations between the Government and the Indians
as guardian and wards
1t is to tribal and intestine wars and difficulties
as much if not than any other cause, that the
decline and misery of the Indian race justly to
be attributed. Enmty between them is, in many
cases hereditary and implacable, and no occasion
IN omitted TO indulge il by the destruction of life
and other outrages. The retaliatory law of blood
for blood, which universally prevails among the
uncivilized tribes causes il to remain unappeased
and indispensable, whether existing between diff
ferent tribes between members OF the same tribe
IL therefore, less the dictate OF humanity than
it is a high moral duty on the part Of the Govern
n1ent to interpOse its strong arm in the most
effectual manner possible TO put stop 10 Its
iameutabe and dreadful consequences, If the feel
ing itself cannot be eradicated. Compelling com
pensatiou be made out Of annuites, and the
mere impHsonment of offenders, are not suth-
Gent for the accomplishment of this great OBJ
;ect while by the former, the innocent are
made 10 pay for the acts Of the guilty, whose dis
tributive shares Of the annuies alone ought to be
n
Nv should fail properly 10 exert Themselves 10 pre-
Vent the commission Of such ourrages. But the on
Iy efectual remedy, and one which is loudly called
for by humanity, as well as by sound policy, will
he for Congress to make provision Tor the trial of
the offenders in such cases, in some appropriate
manner, and for their punishment by death, hard
labor at the military posts, or otherwise, according
20 the nature and aggravated character OF the Of
fenoe And would 70 further, and recommend
that authority also be given for taking cognzsnce
of cases Of theft robbery, and Of habltual or re-
fl.F0, ..fu fNtla
Ind 10 iufict some suitable kind of punishment as
a corrective Of these two evils where they arc not
taken notice Of aud properly punished by the tribe
itself They are among the greatest orawDaGks 10
die civilization and Improvement Of our Indians.
A well disposed Indian, desjrOus OF improving the
condition. and To provide more permanently Tor the
comfort Of himself and family, by Tesoripg TO agr
cultural Notwithstanding stock or acquiring other
snecies of property-is, in most instances, anon z
the lees civilized tribes, deferred from doing 90, be
cause of the disposisoD, especially among the idle
and dissolute to consider almost all kinds Of pro-
nerty a. common, and 20 which any ono having the
power to take il has good night as Us possessor
Tie balcful and lamcntable effects Of indulgence
in ardent spirits by the Indians have been 50 often
and 80 wildly portrayed ia former reports, az to
,ender unnecessary any extended remarks upon
the subject this occasion. All the laws passed
nv CanRress and the most strenuous Efforts OF the
Indian ascnts and the military stationed in the In
dian country, 90 pa; stop 10 the inhuman traffic
in this article have in great measure iallcd 70 c-
feet that end 80 consequence Of the extent OF the
Indian frontier. and tle impossiblty Of guarding
II AZ every point. the heBd-hkc and mercenary
wretches who engage in it-ih defiance OF all law,
human and diyne-hnd ample opportunities Tor
introducing auor into the Indian country. and 10
Ycnd il b The ladisns at profits 50 enormous as 10
stimulate them t. encounter a considerable degree
of risk in doing 20. a. ip addition to some proper
and salutlry punishment ~ cases Of continued
and rcpea ted intoxcation, nesnS ccrc provided for
suitably regarding those Indians wio .S!ght dstin-
guish thsynsclvcs by their zeal and efforts 20 pre-
Vent tho Introduction and use OF ardent spirits
among their brethren. il Is confidently believed
that in q few years an cfoctua check would b. CIV
en- % the great cure OF the tribes on our borders
II the foregoing suggestions be earned out STOP
will In a great measure be put {, tr1b4l and
intestine hrois and difficulties; the idea Of gdyid.
naI property aud is security will be promoted
which win lead 90 industry and tirIft; intemper-
ance which paralyzes the benevolent efforts OF the
Government Of christian associations, and OF indi.
atduals will BE- banishcd from the Indian couDtryi
md lndcr Lhc cnccla VI The Oiher benelclal mea-