The republic., 1851-12-12

WILL BE PObIiSitE-D Ef eltA 1 III sss'DA
------..---a--4-.------
association with tie iJways, 10 whom these WIN
nebe goes seem much attached, the most friendly
relai ions exst elwecn them. and all nSiooJ
that their conuexion shall not b. distuib-d On
the part Of the Ioways much dcYntcdncrs and gem
erons feeling have been dhplaYcd, iusiraiin :, IN
u highly Crediabic manner, the FIaCt'lly ot their
friendship for these snlJurnCts oi another trlbe
among them. On several ucCa.iors Vhcy have
gone 30 far as TO request The agent To allow tbe
Winnebagoes to participate ia their equal
ly with Themselves. This rare evidence OF d.siu
terestedness and generosity Il ot sc suio lent 90
commend the wishes OF these Indians 90 indolrfut
consideration on the part OF the Governments aEd
when il is considered that the WinneLogocs have
manifested unconquerable aversion to tlle c0un
try assigned to their tribe in Minnesota, II may
we'll be doubted whether the interests OF the Go
yernment and the Indians will not be promoted ~
permitting them TO remain where they are Boz
il 10 apprehended by some that serious dlthcolues
may result from the adoption OF their policy; while.
the other hand il s certain that this removal 10
Minnesota cannot be effected without considerable
expense and trouble. No little diversity of opin-
ion exists in relation to ths subject and il presens
one of tho legonary arising out of our Indian
relations in which il ia impossible for the depart
ment TO ascertain with certainty whet should -
done.
The three commissioners appointed by nutho-ky
of Congress to negotiate ,reaGcs with tle ladinn
tribes IN the Territory OF Oregon entered upon the
duties Of their commission III February iast. They
report that the Indians on the Willamette and Low.
other tribes, north and south of those rivers, are
wild and fierce. Six treaties have been negotiated
by them with the various bands of Calapoogas end
Morlal-les, allowing ali The bands Feeeryaons on
the west side of the Cascade noun tain5 The In
dians refused to have any OF their money se apart
for agricultural and school purposes, except the
Twailnlty band, who consented to have small por-
tion of heirs appropriated for the purchase Of ag.
ricultural implements. Many OF them are good
farm hands and labor in that capacity for the cit.
izens.
They profess to be anxious to adopt the habits and
customs of civilized life The country ceded in
their treaty comprises that part OF Willamette val
ley extending southwark from Oregon city TO Ma.
ry's river, and is represented to be the most vaua
bic and thickly- settled part OF the district.
The commissioners, by whom the treaties refer
to were negotiated, being informed by tbis Office
that their fuDct had been abrogated by recent
law OF Congress, the commission was dissolved, and
the duty of prosecuting negotiations with the In
dians in Oregon was imposed on the regular OH
GERS of the Indian department in that Territory.
Superintendent Dart reports that be met dele
CATION from almost every tribe of the Cascade
| mountains and all except the Snake and Rogue
| River Indians submissive to his authority,
and he considers the Indians generally in Oregon
| as the most temperate, peaceful, and easily man
| aged of all wilder tribes He has been sue
cessiul in negotiating several important treaties
with them which are represented as highly advan-
| tageous to the Government, but they have not yet
| been received at this office.
! From agents in California much interesting
| information has been received concerning the In
sutory a character to be entirely satisfactory. A
number of treaties have been made with these In
diane, embracing from eighty to ninety tribes or
bands, and, although considerable opposition by
citizens of California TO the measures of the agents
has been exhibited, yet there is reason 70 believe
that much good has resulted from their efforts to
put stop to hostilities and secure peace Tor The
future, between the whites and the Indians. vi
the necessity or expedency of the particular mea-
sures adopted by them for this and other purposes,
il is difficult at this distance from the scene OF opc
raons to Judge with confidence, especially rs there
is, on some points, difference OF opinion among
the gents themselves.
In the treaties negotiated with the Indians IN
California and Oregon there are novel provisions,
the practical operation of which be f1reseen.
/ Whether they shall be ratified as they stand i5
| question which WILL OF courses bG duly considered
by those whose constitutional province it Is TO de-
! termine in what form they shall become part OF
| the supreme law of the land.
The means heretofore placed at the dispoaal Of
the department, applicable to Indian purposes in
California; have been manllestly inadequate. IL ~
quite evident that without the penditures olarge
sums of money our Indian affairs in California and
Oregon cannot be properly conducted; and, in this
connexion. respectfully suggest the policy Of
passing law establishing the office Of Assistant
Commissioner of Indian Affairs for that State and
Territory. general and controlling power, more
direct than it is possible for this office TO bring to
bear is of the highestimpor tance in the adjustment
OF our relations with the numerous tribes oil Indians
in those remote portions OF our widespread do
main.
1t Will be SEEM from Inc reports OF the OONCTuOt
and ex officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs in
New Mexico that no material change has taken
place in the condition OF our Indian rehtlone IN
that Territory since my last annual report lhe
| apparently slow progress which has been made IA
| the work of establishing friendly relations "lth
such Indians of the Territory as have for years
been plundering and numbering the Inhabitants,
without fear or sraint, may be jlsty attributed
to a combination of circumstances, over which the
officers of this department have had no control.
The country itself wild, desert, and mountain
Gus; the savage nature and unnamed habits OF
most of the Indians who roam over it, the lawless-
ness of many of its other inhabitants, often more
reckless than the Indians themselves the scat
tered, mixed, and heterogeneous character OF its
population in general, AL tend TO produce state
of things discreditable and deporable as to rcu
der it's acquisition misfortune, and its possession
a reproach to the Government. To remedy thcse
evils liberal appropriations OF money, and more
vigorous and untrammelled exercise Of authority
by the civil officers Of the Territory arc india-
pensable.
The usefulness of the agents in New Mexico has
been seriously impaired by their failure to obtain
from the military the usual facilities Without
the of transportation and the escorts neces-
sary TO enable them to penetrate the indian coun-
try with safety, ii has been Impossible for them 10
go where their presence was most needed and the
good OF the service required. IL Is always TO be de-
sired that the utmost harmony and concert Of ac-
ton should prevail among the various officers and
agents of the Government in any way entrusted
with the management OF our Indian affairs, and to
this end il has been enjoned on the officers OF the
army and the agents OF this department. IN new
Mexico to consult together and co operate in all
their movements Unhappy, however, this de-
siiable object has not been folly secured nor can
it be, apprehend, until the Governor OF the Tern
tory shall be in fact what he is in name Superin
tene ent Of Indian AGdirs.
Pursuant to the provisions of late act of Con
gress, agent has been appointed for thedndians
in Utah ; and that full justice should be done to
the people of that Territory, and our Indian rela-
tions therein be placed upon proper footing, the
discretionary power vested by law in the depart
mcnt has been exercised by the appointment, also
Of two sub agents for said Indians. delegation
of Shoshouees, or Snake lndians-a disailcctcd and
mischievous tribe infesting one Of the principal
routes of travel TO Oregon and Cahtotnia--was
conducted by the agent to the grand council re-
Gently held at Fott Laramie with tlle wild trises
of the praries. These Indians were not considered
by the superintendent as embraced in his instruc-
lions, and were, consequently, not parties to the
treaty negotiated with the other tribes the dele.
CATION, however, were kindly received, suitable
presents were bestowed upon them, and they re-
turned to their people with more friendly feelings
towards the Government and the whites. No other