The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-20
TIL E R EPU BLIC.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
Report Of the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs.
DsPARTMEST OF THE INTERIOR,

our national reputation that il should not be dis
regarded The opinion is extensively entertc ined
that our whole course OF conduct towards the rcd
inen oil this country has been marked by inustice
and inhumaniy An enlightened consideration
oi the subject will lead TO different conclusion.
When civilization and barbaris,n are brought in
such relation that they cannot co-e xst together il
| is RICH, that the superiority of the former should
be asserted, and tie latter compelled to give way
| u Is, therefore, no matter Of regret reproaci
| that so large PARTON OF territory has been
wreeted from it's aboriginal inhabitants, and made
| the happy abode of an enlightened and Christian
people. That the means employed TO effect this
| grand reault have not always been Just, OF
| that the contest has been attended by a vas.
amount OF human suffering cannot be denied
vi the Indians wrongs there is needed no earth
| ly record. But il will not be forgotten. by those
who have a correct understanding Of this subject
| that much of the injury of which the red ina and
his friends complain has been the inevitable con-
| sequence OF his own perverse and vicious nature
In the long and varied conflict between the white
man and The REORGANIZATION and barbarism-the
former has often been compelled to recedc and be
destroyed, or 10 advance and destroy. The his
tory OF the contest however bears witness TO tie
TACT that the victor has in general manifested a
generous desire not only to spare the vanquished
but to improve his condition. 1t would be a diff
cult task to count the enormous sums of none v
that have been expended by the Government and
| by phi!anthropic individuals in their manifold
efforts to reclaim and civze the Indians within
| our limits; and who can fail to remember with
| reverence and regret 4" the noble army of mar
| tyre who have sacrficed themselves in this holy
causer The results II Is true, have not been com
mensorate with the means employed, but enough
mas been achieved TO attest the practc ability of the
| Indians redemption, and to stimulate to further
and persevering exertions to accomplish the work
Those tribes with whom we have treaty engage.
mente, and who are more closely connected with
Us through the medium of agents. continue to re-
ceive healthful impulses towards higher and bet
ter condition. And even those who ire more wild
and less inclined 10 cast of their indigenous ha
bits OF Incidence and improvidence. are beginning
! to proht by the good example of the other class
| The barrassments to which they subjected
| III consequence Of the onward pressure of the
| whites, are gradually teaching them the impor
tant Lesson that they must, ere long, change their
mode VI life, or cease to live at all. 1t is by in.
dustry or extinction that the problem of their des-
tiny must be solved.
One of the surest guarantees for the good con
| duct Of our Indians is an adequate knowledge Of
| the power of the Government. Where such know
ledge prevails, it is comparatively easy to control
them; but when displays OF our power have been
feeble or fful, the natural tendencies of the In
dian TO raPine and slaughter operate with but lit
| tie restraint.
| In the extension of our settlements, and the in
creasing intercourse between our Atlantic and
Pacific possessions, much opportunity lie afforded
the aborigines OF the interior 10 learn the truth
corning us. And it is only where this opportunity ia
wanting, or where there has been remissnees our
|
strength, that disposition ia found to thwart the
policy or provoke the hostility Of tho Government
Though some OF the tribes with whom we have
treaty relations have suffered throu Oh Incidence
vice, and an obstinate adherence to aboriginal
modes and habits, it is gratifying to know that q
majority OF them are ubstaniaiy improving their
condition.; aud, moi outstanding their suffEringi
III many cases have doubtless been severe, per pi
, the wisdom they have thus acquired has not been
purchased too dearly. Deep-seate maladies can
be remedied by no superficial curatives, and it has
| been the work OF hunger, disease, and death to
arouse In the survivors a perception of the only
conditions upon which human lille nd comfort can
be sustained on earth
! The mission and other schools established
amongst the various tribes are generally prosper
Gus, especially those in which the principle of ma
ual labor Ia leading feature AZ impotence of
regular labor exhibited in uusteadiness of appli-
cation, ia the radical defect of the Indian cha
1t Ia but dictate OF common sense to address our
selves first and mainly to its correction. This CT
! tectcd, a foundation is laid upon which our beet
hopes Tor the reclamation Of the savage may be
safely built. Without it; no matter tn what extent
we may educate few individuals of a tribe, last
ing good ia rarely produced
The merely book. taught Indian, if the radical
| failure be unre!ormed Id alm'st certain to resume
at length the bar Of his original condition,
, deriving no other advantages from his acquire
ments than a more r'fined cunning, and a greater
ability to concoct and perpctrate schemes of mis-.
! Chief and violence.
| The disco sions among the Seneca Indians in
| New York. respecting their forms of government,
having assumed serious aspect the President, in
July last, directed that steps should be taken To
ascertain the sense Of the nation the subject An
cleo non was accordingly held, at which all the
votes cas were in favor OF the establishment of
the old systcIn of government by chiefs. But the
| number OF votes was only 1874. while the whole
number OF voters on the several reserv ations
amounts to 664, and 1t appears that those in favor
OF maintaining the present elective government
| unanimously refused to attend the polls. This
| they did on the ground that il would be wrong to
take part in any revolutionary proceeding, as
their constitution provides that it shall stand IN
changed Tor at least five years. The result of the
election not being satisfactory, the question which
form of government shall be recognised the
| choice OF the people has not yet been decided.
The Indians in the State of Michigan are gener-
ally doing well. They becoming sober
orderly and industrious people, devotng them.
selves to the cultivation Of the so Their agrcul-
tural operations have been crowned with their
proper rewards. Education is encoura ged anon gst
them, and they making CONNIE ndable pro
greas in the knowledge and practice Of the aria OF
civilized Iiic. Similar remarks equally appli-
cable to the Oneida Indians, in the State OF Wis
consin BY the treaty of lS4S with the Stock
bridges, 1t Is provided that the President, within
two years from the date OF the treaty, shall procure
Tor their use quantity OF land west Of the Mssis
siPpi river, which ,tey sh al reside not lees than
| seNenty-two sections said Indians TO be consulted
as to the location Of said land. This provision has
not yet been carried into effect, and the affairs of
these Indians are IN a very unsettled and embsr
raising condition. They were anxious to be To-
Gated on the land about the mouth of the yernl.
lion river, in the Territory of Minnesota; but the
selection was not approved by the Government,
| and they have more recently expressed willing
ness to accept tract the Crow river, In that
| Territory. The treaties with the Sioux Indians
being now ratified, there seems to be no good
son for not complying with their present views;
but the &c ason Ia too far advanced to make the
| engagements required before the ensuing spring.
The removal of the Menomonees, as contem
| plated by an act Of Congress passed at the last
session, has been satisfactorily effected The hole
tribe arc now concentrated on the designated ter
| ritory, between the Wolf and OcontU RIVERA a 10
laon with which they are well pleased, aud where
| they are anxious to be permitted permanently to
! remain. Should this be assented to by the Legis
| lature OF Wisconsin, the arrangements necessary
to effect the object can be readily made, terms,
it is believed, mutually advan,ageou, to the In
| dams and the Government The country where
they are now located is well suited to their wants,
and know Of none to which they could with pro-
Priety be removed, and where they would, Mt the
same time, be 30 little in the way of our white pop
ulatiou. Wherever they may be settled it will be
incumbent on Congress to make further provision
for them, as their claims appeal strongly to the
justice and humanity of the Government.
A removal OF the Chippewa agency has been
ifa E.,,N