The republic., 1851-12-12

this course be adopted. another treaty will be
cessarY, providing, among other things, for a re
apart by the treaty Of 1885, for their future
home. which lands, it is 10 be remarked, in conse
quence of their proximity to the Mississippi river
will, in all probability, be more strongly desired
for settlement by the whites than those on which
it is proposed to allow them to remain. In the
meantime. other important questions connected
with this tribe, and which formed the subject Of
special communication from this oftice-a copy OF
which is herewith submitLed-may be duly cousid
cred, and such provision made for the benefit of
this people tho peculiar hardship of their condi
ton, and their future wcll-being, may appear to
require
pewos IN 1896, by which they cede all their lands
IN the State of Michigan, reserying, however, for
their own use certain tracts and sections therein
particularly described. When the treaty came 10
be acted on by the Senate, It was so amended as to
restrict their occupancy of said tracts and Sec
tions 'ffor the term of 1--WE years from the ratihca
fcu Of the treaty, and 70 lenger,' without per-
mission from the United Sntes5.n confederation OF
which, it provided that ttey should be paid at
The exp xpiration of the Ave ycess, when they sur
rendered their reservations, the sum of $s2OO00O,
and, until that time, the annual intereat on that
amount. The five years expired in lS4l, but'the
annual payment OF the interest en- the 2OO,000 has
been regularly continued up to the present time,
although the Indians have not been required 10 aur
render their reservations. Innsmuch, however, as
some of the committees of the last Congress indi-
Gated disposition TO discontinue these payments
of finterest, Superintendent Murray was instructed
to visit these lndians and, with view to the future
policy of the Government in reference to them, to
report their general condition; the contiguity of
their settlements to the whites; and the necessity
If any, for their removal, in consequence OF the emi
grafton TO that region From the fiattering ac-
count given by him and Agent Sprague, of the
present condition of these Indians, it appears that
there is unusual degree of improvement and
prosperity prevailing among them Their princi-
pal settlements are at Grand and Little Traverse
VIII he " ha ed n re
well improved. large share OF the money
Gently paid to them they took TO their bones to
purchase more lands and make still further i'm
provements. Many individuals, for the purpose of
securing homes for themselves and families have
left the reservations and located on lands in the vi
cinity which they have purchased from the Gov
ernment. All this, and the Willingness with which
they devote Themselves to the pursuits OF civilized
liie commend them to the continued favor and
protection of the ,vernment. | would, therefore,
recommend that an appropriation be made by Con-
gress for the purpose OF enabling the department to
consummate such measures rs are necessary for
their permanent settlement in the country where
they reside.
The course of policy heretofore strongly urged
by several Of my predecessors and myself in refer
ence to portion of the tribes located on the bor-
ders of the western States is the only one compe-
tent, in my Judgment, to save them from being
swept away by the rapid and onward current OF
our white population. While there has been :
pie outlet at the southwest below the most southern
Of coonized tribes, another, of a northern
latitude, is required, leading towards remote
western possessions. The recent purchase made
from the Sioux OF large portion OF their country
supplies this outlet in part, and will enable the
Government, by the removal OF a few tribes be-
tween the Sioux territory and the kanZas river to
throw open wide extent of country for the spread
of our population westward. This ia the only prac-
ticabe means of saving the border tribes from ex-
tinction. Without il, in few years they will be
forced to abandon their present possessions to an
emigratng population, and be driven forth TO per
| m no nj IN ia npc Try
and proper TO prevent SO sad catastrophe should
be made ere il is too late, else abiding reproach
will rest upon our Government and people. 1
timely f9essprcs arc takea Tor The proper location
and management OF these tribes, they may, at nc
distant period, become intelligent and christian
people, understanding the principles of our Gov
ernment, and participating in all its advantages
The necessity f r an appropriation to carry these
measures speedily into effect, is the more apparent
and imperious, in view of the already imposing g
demonstrations of public feeling in favor of the
early organization of territorial government over
the territory which these Indians reside.
In communication addressed to you on the 2Sth
May last-a copy of which is herewith submitted
had the honor torecommend, to for the reasons there
in forth at length, that the scrip issued for the
benefit of the Choctaw Indians should no longer be
withheld from those still remaining east of the
Mississippi, but that it be paid over TO them where
they now reside. The superintendent of emigra-
ton reports that this and other measures, intended
TO stimulate their removal west, have had the de
sired effect and that, consequently, large num-
Der may be expected to emigrate during the pre-
sent year. However this may be, entirely con
cur in the opinion of the agent for the Choctaws
west, that it will put end to a long continued
system OF fraud and peculaton upon the Govern
ment.
Were a law passed providing for the payment in
money of the funded portion OF the scrip, and pay
ments were made west to those only who may be
permanently settled in the Ckoctaw country, the
States of Alabama Mississippi, and Louisiana, it
is thought would soon be relieved from the annoy
ance of an Indian population.
The WnnebagUcs seem 10 be gradually becoming g
better satisfied with the country TO which they have
been removed; and as their general condition is
improving, ii is hoped they will, ere long, become
a thrifty and contented people. Abundant crops
have been made at the agency the past season.
The Indians assisted in poughing, planting, and
harvesting, and displayed not only Willingness,
but anxiety TO work. The crops the Mississippi
were not so good, owing mainly to the lateness of
the season in which they planted. A num-
Der of log and two frame dwellings have been
erected at the agency the past summer; and seve
raj more, il is expected, will be completed before
the close of the year. These Indians express great
desire to have dwellings, barns stables, Sc, and
are fast abandoning their savage habits good
gist and mill will also soon be ready for their
use The agent reports that there now living
within their country some seventeen or
eighteen hundred Winncbagoes. They are repre-
sented as being pcaceablc and wcll-disposed.
The tribes OF tho Usage River agency composed
of the Weas, Piankeshaws, Peorias. Kaskaskias,
and Mamies, said TO be doing well. They have
generally abandoned the chase as a means OF sub
sistence; many of them have engaged in agricul
tural pursuits; and, during the past season, they
have made corn enough to supply them with bread
for another year The Weas, Piankeshawe, Peo-
rias, and Kasknskias, are, in fact, but single
tribe b frequent intermarriages and adoptons,
their destructive characteristics, if any ever
isted, have disappeared They reside upon the
same territory, speak the same language, are in
constant social intercourse, have similar habits,
aud in all respects are completely identified, as
not to admit OF any practical discrimination. They
are greatly in advance of the wilder tribes con-
tiguous to them; and, but for tho facility afforded
them of procuring ardent spirits from the shops
that planted along the borders of the State
thorough and carly abandonment of all their va
grant habits might reasonably be expected. Re-
Gently, however, with but few exceptions, they
signed pledge to abstain from the use OF intoxi-
eating drinks for the term Of twelve months; and
among the Miamos lattering evidences OF sim
liar reform have been reported TO this office
The condition of the Ioways, Sacs and Foxes, OF
Missouri, and Ktckapoos, is steadily improving.
These tribes have made abundant crops the past
season, particularly the Kickapoos, whose farms,
the agent reports, will not suffer by comparison
with those OF their white neighbours. In the carly
part of the last spring the Sacs and Foxes suffered
~. Loaf 81. ,,,E-