Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-12-28
REPORT OF THE INDIAN DEPARTMENT..


The Commissioner Of Indian Aiiirs in his annual report
eoubuls the opinion that whole CT conduct to-
the red Of this country has been marked oy m
Justice and nhunanity He contends that as civilization
and barbaIism cocxst together, il s right that The
superiority OF the former should be asserted; and though the
means employed often the Indian, il is too often be-
cause his pcrvcsc and vicious nature. The
has expended enormous sums Of money 10 reclaim and
cvilize the Indians within limits. The results, while
iny in comparison with the cnstness OF the Efforts, su
flee prove The praclcabliy OF the Indians redemption
aud stimulate To renewed exerOns The extension OF
settlements and the increasing overland intercourse with
Pacific possessions demonstrate the power and resources
Government and people, and in this way do much 10
subdnc the widest tribes aud 10 reconcile all of them TO lie
SUPREMACY Of tic white Many OF the tribes suffer
veely from Incidence vice. and obstinate adherence 10
aboriginal habits; but the majority gradually improving
their condition by peaceful and industrial! pursuits. The
mission and other schools that have been established are
generally prosperous; those being which embrace
manual labor part of their instruction. The Commits
soner thinks pnory OF 1.-THE merely kaught Indian
Timely and efficient urged for the proper dis
position and mana cement OF the Indians in California. The
Commissioner the plum of forming them into Two
nrand colonies one TO be located in northern and the
other in the southern portion OF the State similar policy
rcconm ndc. in relation 10 the Indians west of the Cas-
cade mountains in Oregon. The plan involves the expen
tinrc Of large amount of money but il is submitted that
that objection will be found 10 apply TO any NODE 0: liking
satisfactory relations with the tribes concerned.
Mention is made in The report Of the failure of the Govern
mcnt Tor number OF certain treaty stipula
tons with various tribes II stipulated the part Of the
Government that should be paid TO the Sioux Of The
Mississippi and Foxes Of Mississippi and Nilsson
10 1896 000 and that the should DC safely invested in
stocks yielding less than five per The Treasury
exhausted al the time and Congress- instead OF making
the investment decided annually the OF the
interest; allowing the prnc 10 remain debt 10 be dis
charged convenien; season. In This form OF inter
rs, not less than PAU has already been paid from the
Treasury-a equal two-thds Of The principal, which
remains undminished.
1t is obvious such policy long continued, would
prove most costly the Government and the Com
missioner taking advantage OF the pethoric condition OF
the treasury proposes that treaty obligations in This
gard shall be fully and discharged. He thinks
moreover Investments Indian account may bc nd
extended to other cases than those IN which
they expressly required by treaty.
Confusion arises-the report further staes-from the
want Of uniformity in Indian treaties. They are pro-
nounccd singular compound of crude and cunbrous mat
ter prolific Of questions and incapable Of harTo-
NOUS adjustment" II is desirable and the Commissioner
believes that it ia practicable TO substitute
treaties containing few plain, and assimated provisions all
tending to the concentration Of the several tribes and TO
their permanent settlement under judic0us and efficient
laws. Such method he conccives, would in compare
lively brief period bencciay change tile whole aspect Of
our Indian affairs.