Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-27
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Documents accompanying Ne Anaual Report of the
Secretary Of tie Interior.
DEPARTMENT VI THE INTERIOR,

oeCTctufy " Utg ltIeFtOf.
DEPARTMENT VI THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS, NOVEMBER ~, 1851.
SIR The limits Of report Of this description will adj
init only Of very general and summary view of the
dition of our Indian affairs and the operations of this
branch Of the public service during the last twelve months
For detailed information reference must be had to the
documents herewith consisting of the reports of super
intendents, agents. missionaries and Others which con-
tain of facts and speculatons curious interesting
and important
In the last annual report from this office auson was
made to mutual aggressons the part of tn, Sioux and
Chippewas attended by melancholy incidents of Indian
barbarty and folly In despite of all efforts to prevent
it, similar have taken place within the last
year, by which both tribes have suffered more or less
from depredatons upon their property and in The murder
of number of their men, women and children No treaty
arrangements among themselves appear to be regarded
or of sufficient force to prevent the deadly enmty
which exists between the two tribes from manfesting
ITSELF often opportunity OFFERS in the most shocking
atrocities With this exception gratifying degree of
order has prevailed among all the tribes with whom we
have defined and established relations and who have felt
the controlling influence of the Government in directing
their pursuits and in the management Of their affairs
Towards citizens all have been peaceful and
friendly Most of them have readily yielded to the policy
and of the Department for the improvement of
their conditions and such the advances many them
have made in civilization, that fattering
is not only afforded for continued effort the part of the
Government and its agents among them, but the part
also of benevolent christian missionaries who with
mendable and selfsacrfcng spirit have been engaged
in impartng to the various tribes the divine truths of
During the py summer srsptes havs been made With
various bands dthe Sioux Indians by which they cede
fnf fnf
sippi river in to Territory Of Minnesota and State Of
Iowa. To the rtes themselves and the report of the
commissioners the part of the Government by whom
they effected you respectfully referred for de-
tailed information concerning these important negotia
tions In view the rapid spread of the white popula
tion in the State and Territory within which the lands
acquired by thes treaties situated; the growing dis
content among the warlke Indians from whom they
obtained embroied they often in difficulties with
the Chppewas and threatening and the peace
of the frontier nthat quarter the extngushment of their
title to the land ceded has long been subject Of
serious consideration and desire by the Government
considerable number Of the Chppewas who had con-
tnued to reside the ceded lands east of the Mssissp
p in Wisconsin md Minnesota since the treaties of 1887
and 1872, have removed during the present year
Indeed with the exception of the Anse and Veux Desert
bands together With portion of the Pelican Lake and
Wisconsin river hands, entire removal has been effect
ed The Chiefs and about onehaf of the two astnamed
bands have emiyrated The remainder, with the Veux
Desert band recently reported suffering severely
will prevent any attempt to them until the coming
spring, when tits believed, such of them as it may be
expedent to remove, easily be induced to emgrate
The number removed this year is reported to be three
thousand and including the Anse band, it is supposed
that only seven hundred remain the ceded lands Ap-
prehensions however, entertained that by of
the proximity OF those who have removed to their old
hunting ground they will return in considerable numbers,
and not only again moest citizens but be reduced
destituton end want in such event they will forfeit
their annutes and have to depend alone the wild pro-
ducts of the country, which nearly exhausted
not to afford them the Of subsistence The same
view of this subject induced me- heretofore recommend
that efforts be made to concentrate them within proper
limits west Of the Mississippi, where with additional
means beyondhose already provided arrangements coud
be made to introduce among them system of education
the simpler Mechanic arts But the country referred
to th property of the whole tribe, part
of it belonging exclusively to particular bands who
not parties any treaties, and who receive annutes
or material a from the United States it was also recon-
mended that Congress be asked for appropriation
deay the expense of negotiating with all the bands for
the purpose acquiring such portions of the country
the side of the Mississippi might be required
supply the wants of our white population providing
aso that hewhole of their remaining lands together with
their present and future means should be the
property of che entire tribe; and that large proper
ton of their funds practicable should be apart and
applied in such best to their comfort,
and most rpdy advance them in civilization and pros
perity. No action had upon this recommendation,
owing mainly 1T Is believed, to the shortness of the
sion and the Of business upon both Congress and
the Department now therefore, renew the recommen-
daton satisfied that the policy thus briefly referred to is
not only best calculated to promote the future welfare of
this large and interesting tribe but is necessary
them from actual starvation the game which they
mainly depend for the of living is fast disappearing
and cannot much longer afford them support
by permission Of the President the Menomonees still
remain the lands in Wisconsin, cedcd by them under
the provisions of their treaty Of 1S48 with the United
States In that treaty it stipulated that they
be permitted to remain two years from the date thereof
and until they notified by the President that the
lands wanted by the Government. To induce them
to to the country in Minnesota assigned to them
by the treaty it also stipulated that should be
pored by suitable delegation be selected for that pur
pose This exploration took place in the of 1866
but from representations made TO the Department it ap
pears that the Indians previously dissatisfied with the
treaty dissatisfied also with the country assigned to
hem, and manifest the greatest reluctance
The fall Of last year the period fixed uon for their
removal but owing to their urgent appeals and those Of
many Of the whites in their immediate vicinity and in
of their peaceful habits the President grant
d them permission TO remain Until the ls Of June Of the
present year At the expiration Of this last named period
being known hat they had made arrangements and
we're ia no condition t. cmgrate the President again ut
hclr earnest ChcNtSVa, consented that they might re