Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06

be given as to the precise character
lations.
an the inhabitants by the warke tribes OF APaches and
Camanches, Notwithstanding their treaty oohsohs 70
abstain from all such aggressions Hoste mcursions
have also been made by them into ,ne arlsy q
as captyes into the Indian country The agents OF the
United States that quarter have used every means In
their power prevent these outrages' out without sue
cess 1t may therefore become proper to bring the mill
arv az the country in aid of the civil authority In
teaching these awless bands to respect the rights Of our
citizens and those whom we have engaged to protect
The ACQUISITION of New Mexico and California and the
rand expansion of settlements in Oregon and Utah
have given increased Importance to our Indian relations
and NAV render change in whole policy IN regard 10
them necessary Heretofore, settlements beng con-
fined to the eastern portion Of continent we have
been gradually forcing the Indian tribes westward as the
tide of population flowed in that direction BY this means
they have been accumulated in large numbers on our
Western frontier The results have been injury 70 the
Indians by crowdng them together in such numbers that
the game insufficient for their support ana 70
the Western States whose security Is endangered ~ e
proximity of their savage neghbors But since the ac
QUESTION of California and Oregon and the
Of large settlements the coast of the PACING ana IN
Utah, flow of white population Is advancng upon
them from the West The pressure is therefore ncreas
ing upon them from both sides Of the continent On the
north and the south they also hemmed IN by cSzed
communities They thus encompassed by an unoro-
ken chain of civilizations and the question forces itself
upon the mind of the statesman and the phanthropist
what is to become Of the aboriginal racer TINS question
must now be fairly met A temporizing system can no
longer be pursued The policy OF removal except unoer
peculiar circumstances must necessarily be abandoned
And the only alternative left is to cvllze or exter
nate them. We must adopt one or the other. JUST
humane and christian people cannot long hesitate Which
10 choose and II only remains decide upon the means
necessary to be adopted to effect the revo
luton in the Indian character and destiny 1t is great
work and win require time for its accomplishment; but
it cam and believe will be achieved 1t must be COM
menced by substituting kindness for coercion by eedg
and clothing them, rather than warning upon and driving
them from their territory
cannot he denied that most of the depredations
mtcd by the Indians on frontiers the offspring
Of dire necessity The advance OF our compe
them renqush their fertile lands and seek refuge IN
sterile regions which furnish neither nor game for
their subsistence mpelled by hunger, they seize the
horses mules and cattle of the pioneers to relieve their
wants and satisfy the cravings OF nature Ihey are I'M
mediately pursued when overaken severely
This creates feeling of revenge their part, which
seeks qualification in outrages on the persons ana pro-
perty of peaceabe inhabitants The whole country then
becomes excited and desolatng war, attended with
vast sacrifice of blood and treasure ensues This it is
believed is true history Of the origin OF most OF our
Indian hostiltes To avoid results like these would
respectfully recommend that appropriations be made 70
buv food and clothing to supply their immediate wants
that they be permitted to retain suitable portions OF ne
present territory which should be set apart for their ex
elusive and occupations that they be furnished with
implements of husbandry and domestic animals ana en-
couraged engage agricultural and pastoral pursuits
and rely the products of their labor instead OF the
spos of the chase for the support OF themselves ana
their families.
The great obstacle to success which must be met and
overcome the outset is their nomadic mode of life All
history admonshes of the difficulty of cvzing wan
dering race who live mainly upon game. 10 tame sa-
wage you must tie him down to the SOIL You must make
him understand the value of property and the Dement'S OF
its separate ownership You must appeal to those scsh
principles implanted by Divine Providence in the nature
of for the wisest purposes and make them minister
to civilization and refinement You must encourage the
appropriation of lands by individuals Attach them TO
their homes by the ties of interest teach them the uses
~ turo and the rtS of
substitute beef and pork and mutton as their 1000 Tor
the deer and the buffalo Mldness must suppan force
Their sefrespect must be stimulated and manual labor
schools introduced among them; and they should be
taught to look forward to the day when they may be ee
waited to the dignity of American citizenship
BY means like these we shall reap our reward in
the suppression of Indian depredaons in the dminu-
ton Of the expenses Of the Department War; in va
able addition to productive pornlaton: in the in
crease agriculture and commerce. and IN the proud
that have removed from our national
cutcheon the stain left upon 1t py our acKnoWeugeu IN
Justice to the Indian race
To some these suggestions may seem chlmerlcal. Ma,
nv regard the Indians inferior race and incapable
civilization and on this fatal policy IN regard
to them has been based The history of Powhatan ana
Logan and Cornstak, and Oceola are sufficient to dis
prove it. But further evidence wanting 1t might
be found in the archives Of this Department among the
records Of the interviews and discussions between MI
Jno r. Bartlett the commissioner engaged In running
the boundary line between the United States and Mexico
and the chiefs Of the tribes on that frontier In elevaon
Of sentiment cearness of statement force of reasoning
fervor of eoquence and dgnifed yet touching pathos
these illusions of the untutored sons OF
the forest will bear favorable comparison with the more
studied harangues of our educated orators.
The condition of the tribes residing in New YORK fur
nishes striking illustration of what the policy have in
dicated can accomplish Wend them living in the midst
of civilized community pursuing the ordinary yocatons
of social fe cultivating their farms, accommodating pro-
perty educating their children and fulfilling all the du-
ties Of good citizens eas
The Cherokees Chickasaws, Choctaws and Greeks, in
the southwest ALSO although removed from mme-
date contact with the Whites under the influence Of the
wise and humane policy which has been pursued towards
them are gradually adopting the usagcs and industrial
pursuits of citizens and begin already to exhibit
Just appreciation of the principles Of civil liberty With
these noble examples before should avail ourselves
Of the instruction which they afford, and lose time in
applying the for the regeneration OF the sa
wage tribes of the interior. fa
The laws regulating trade and commerce with the In
dian tribes in general being in force in Texas our In
dian relations in that State still continue in an embarrass
ed condition To enable the Department to exercise the
necessary authority the Indians in Texas ndis
pensabe that suitable country should be set apart for
dnced for their gradual civilization and Improvement
The subject of Indian affairs in Texas has been adj
verified to the annual reports of the Department and
those of the Indian Office for several successive past
and recommend that the attention of Congress be again
and earnestly invited to it.
Judicial Expenses.
The law having devoved the Secretary of the Interior
supervisory power the accounts of marshas clerks
and other officers of the courts of the United States
attention has been turned to the various act of
hovq IN