Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-23

by the census recently taken, they number only
four hundred and thirtyseven. Their location,
has, no doubt, q very unfavorable influence on
them, and although they promise reformation
in their habits, a change of residence is perhaps
Indispensable.
The Sacs and Foxes of Missouri reside upon
the same tract of land with the Ioways. Their
condition, however, is rather better but the
remarks in relation to the Ioways are, to con-
siderable extent applicable to the Sacs and
Foxes.
The Kickapoos are more advanced than any
other tribe in the Great Nemaha agency.
They are represented as making some progress
in agriculture. A few have comfortable houses,
with domestic animals about them.
The Wyandotts, Shawnees, and Delawares
are embraced in the Kanzas agency. NUM-
ber in each of these tribes are educated, intel
ligent men, having good dwellings, and sur
rounded with the usual comforts and convent
ences Of civilized life. Various religious de-
nominations have missions in this agency, and
some of the Indians are professors of the Chris
tian religion; but many of them are habitual
drunkards. The Wyandotts have in operation
system of common schools and code oflaws
for their own government.
The Pottawatomie Indians are not, as gen.
eral thing improving. They have a large
money annuity, the corrupting effects of'which
are clearly visible. The government has pro-
vided no habitation for an agent in their coun-
try and left to themselves without the neces
sary oversight, with many avenues by which
whiskey can be, and constantly is, introduced
among them, they indulge in the free use of it.
Dissipation prevails, and many of the principal
men are, it is believed, destitute of integrity,
and are used to subserye the purposes Of the
avaricious, designing, and heartless, who seek,
and but too often obtain, the control of them
for the promotion of their own sinister views.
A few Of the bands are, to q considerable ex-
tent, cultivating the soil and there are some
good men in the nation who appear to have
ayailed themselves Of the benefits of the mis-
sionary efforts among the Pottawatomies.
The Kanzas Indians, with the Pottawato-
mics, constitute one agency. There is no
agency house in the Kanzas country, and from
the remote location Of the Indians, they cannot
often be visited by their agent These people
are not inclined to till the soil. The males
will not work. The females make some patches
Of corn with the hoe; but these Indians rely
principally ON their annuities, the chase, and
theft, for support. They are adopts in the art
of stealing, and their location is such, being
on the leading Santa Fc road, that they annoy
the trains which pass that way. Complaints
are loud against these Indians, not only from
the white people who pass through their coun-
try, but from all the neighboring tribes. A
change Of their location and residence is de
manded by every consideration connected with
their advancement, and is due to the vast num-
ber of our citizens who suffer from their depre-
dations.
The tribes embraced in the Sac and Fox
agency are the Sacs and Foxes of the Missis
sippi, and the small band of Chippewas of Swan
Creek and Black river, and the Ottowas of
Roche de Beuf and Blanchards fork. The
Sacs nnd Foxes arc a wild, rowing race, de-
pending almost entirely on the chase for sub
sistence. They have heretofore strongly re-
sisted the introduction Of schools or mission
aries among them, and have made a steady
and powerful effort to maintain all the man
ners, customs, and traditions of their fathers.
Recently portion of them. have expressed
desire to attempt to cultivate the soil, and en-
tertained conversations in relation to the en-
ployment of teachers and missionaries they :
have also promised their agent to refrain from
the use Of ardent spirits, in which they have, to
their great injury, freely indulged.
The Chippewas and Ottowas depend for sub
sistence on the cultivation of the soil, and are
comparatively in an advanced state Of ciyiiza-
ton. 1t is the opinion of their agent that they
will this year have surplus of agricultural
productions. The Ottowas have adopted a
simple code of laws for their government.
The Weas and Pankeshaws, Kaskaskias, and
Peorias, and the Miamies, constitute the tribes
of the Usage river agency. No official report
has been received from the agent in charge of
these Indians. In the month of September,
while on his way to the Sac and Fox agency,
that officer met with an accident, which caused
his absence from his agency at the perid of the
year when these annual reports are made up.
The Weas and Piankeshaws, Kaskaskias, and
Peorias, are known to be doing reasonably we'll.
They depend principally on agriculture for their
support. The Miamies are not doing well.
Their village is so convenient to the white
settlements that they have at all times the op-
portunity to crafty their appetite for ardent
spirits, and they may be said to indulge habitu-
ally and very freely in its use.
The Chippewas, Ottowa, Weas, and Pianke.
shaws, Kaskaskias, and Peorias, and the Miami
les, all complain of the depredations of the Sac
and Fox Indians, and express the hope that
they may be removed far away from them.
There is no doubt but the complaints Of these
small tribes are, to considerable extent, well
founded, and that the location of the Saces
and Foxes in their vicinity has been injurious
to their interests.
By provision contained in an act of Con-
gress, approved the Sd Of March last, the Pres
ident was authorized to enter into negotiations
with the Indian tribes west of the States of
Missouri and Iowa, for the purpose of procur-
ing their assent to the settlement of our citi-
zens upon the lands claimed by them, and Of
extinguishing their title, in whole or in part, to
those lands. The Commissioner of Indian Af
fairs was designated by the President as the
officer Of the Indian Department to conduct
the necessary negotiations, and that duty was
undertaken by him at the earliest period con-
sistent with his other official engagements.
preliminary visit to the Indian country, with
view to explore it, and to obtain such informa
ton as would be useful and necessary in prepar-
ing full and detailed instructions as to the terms
and conditions ofthe treaty to be negotiated, was
deemed necessary, and was made by that officer
in obedience to his instructions. While thus en-
gagged he visited the Omahas, Ottoes, and Mis-
sourians, Ioways, Sacs and Foxes of Missouri,
Kickapoos, Delawares, Shawnees, Wyandotts,
potta ta,,;os Saes nd Enxes Of the Mississin-