Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-24

or the privilege. The great destruction Of the
buffalo by the emigrants has also caused much
iissatisfaction among them, as it has more or
ess interfered with their success in the chase,
md, If continued, must, at no late day, so far
finnish this, chief resource Of their subsistence
Ind trade, as not only to entail upon them great
suffering, but ii will bring different TRIES into
competition in their hunting expeditions, and
eadto bloody collisions and exterminating wars |
between them, IN which some OF our border IN |
dans will become more or less involved and |
the peace and security Of our frontier may thus
be seriously, disturbed. 1t is also much to be
feared that the unfavorable feelings engendered
by the circumstances named, may, at any early
period, break out into open hostilities on the
part Of the Indians, which would be attended
with serious consequences to our emigrants, or
compel the government, at an enormous nxpensa
10 afford them protection, by the employment OF
a largo military force on both rou es. Under
these circumstances, it has become expedienl
and advisable to take measures to bring about
proper understanding with the Indians, which
will secure their good will, prevent collisions
and strife among them, by obligating each tribe
to remain as much as possible within their re-
spective districts of county, and providing, that
where disputes OF difficulties occur, they shall
DO submitted to the government, and the Indians
abide by its decision. Instructions have accor-
ding been given to hold treaty with the diff
ferent tribes, making provisions for the accom-
plishment of these objects, and stpuating, that,
for the unrestricted right of way through their
country, for their good conduct towards our en-
ieranis. and for the destruction, Of game una
voidably committed by them, they shall BE- al
lowed reasonable compensation annually, to
consist principally of presents of goods, stock
and agi icultural implements, with assistance 10
instruct and aid them in cultivatng the soil and
4 in other kindred pursuits, so that they may thus
be enabled to sustain themselves when the buff
falo and other game shall have so far disappear
| ed no longer tn furnish them with an adequate
means of subsistence. 1t ia also intended to
bring in delegation from the different tribes,
for the purpose of visiting some of the more
popuIous poFtIons of the country, in order thai
they may acquire some knowledge of our great.
ness aud #trenstil. which will make a salutar,
is-Ps~~s;ss, ~
| their brGtbren; and which will doubt tend
in no slight degree, to influence them to con
tnue peaceful relations towards the government
and our citizens.
After giving detailed account OF the Flor-
da difficulties, and of the position of each tribe,
Mr.. Brown concludes with the interesting re-
marks which follow this paragraph. May we
not hope that the dark clouds of ignorance and
superstition, 10 which these people have SO long
been enveloped, is at last breaking away, and
that the light, of christianity and generel knowl.
edge is dawning upon their moral and lnteec.
tual darkness.
In the annual report of my predecessor last
year, he stated that there were then III success.
ful operation among different tribes, sixteen man
ua labor institutions, with eight hundred and
nine scholars, and e ghty-seven boarding and
her schools, with two thousand eight hundred
and seventy three scholars, including both the
sexes; and Sbat provision had been made 70. The
establishment of ten more institutions on the
manual labor principle.
great moral and social revolution is thus
now in progress, which, by the adoption of SIM
liar measures in other cases, might be rapidly
extended to most, if not all of those located on
our western borders; so that in frw years,it
is believed that in Intelligence and resources
they would compare favorably with many por-
tions of our white population; and, instead of
dropping and declining as heretofore, they would
be fully able TO malntan themselves in prosperi
ty and happiness, under any circumstances of
contact or conEexion with our people.
Most of the tribes are, however, poor, and
without the ability to provide themselves with
schools and other necessary means Of improve.
ment while the amount annually appropriated
for the civilization of the Indlans-ten thousand
dollars--is wholly inadequate to enable the gov
ernment to accomplish much for their benefit -
As has heretofore been strongly done, would
therefore urgently recommend the increase of
that sum to Mt least fifty thousand dolals, as an
act of lberaity and humanity towards help
less and destitute people, whom we have dis
placed, and whose former possessions We enjoy
and who, unless the fostering care of the gov
ernment be extended to them, must continue to
decline and soon disappear, leaving us, as leg
| acy, a constant source of regret, it not of self
reproach, in our having done too little to avert
D their melancholy fate.
In conclusion, would beg leave to say, that
s there is encouraging ground for the belief that q
Y large share of success will in the end crown the
+ philanthropic efforts of the government and o.
n individuals to civilize and christianize the In
f dian tribes With some, 1t is true, all effortt
have hitherto proved unavailing, and unfortu
0 tinction before their downward tendency could
: be arrested. With others, however, the foster
e ing and parental care of the government has ac-
: complished the main design of substituting the
pursuits of civilized lie in the room of those Of
9 the savage, and in infusing among them Jusier
modes OF thought and proper appreciation OF
moral responsibility. Having effected this, the
| tuture of the Indian is in all respects promising,
and il is now no longer a problem whether they
arc capabe of sclf-government or not. They
have proved their capacity for social happiness
by adopting written constitutions upon The mod.
1 ei Of our own; by establishing and sustaining
schools by successfully dsvOtiug themselves to
agricultural pursuits; by respectable attainments
lin the learned professions and mechanic arts,
and BY adopting the manners and customs Of our
q n-s