Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-24

being restricted by the law to the mere removal
and subsistence of the Indians, is radically de-
fectve. Considerations of economy and philan-
thropy--the interests of the government as
well as the permanent welfare of the Indians
equally and alike require that the plan be so
enlarged as to provide all the essential means
and instrumentalities of improving, civilizing,
and making them selfsustaining people.
In conformity with proviso in the law, the
three agencies in California have been abol-
ished, leaving the superintendent only to man
age and control the hundred thousand Indians
in that State. However active and energetic
he may be, the utter impracticability of his
being able, unaided and alone, to discharge
even material part Of the numerous and com
pick duties towards the Indians and the gov
eminent, necessarily incident to the new sys-
tenn of operations, must be too manifest to need
the least argument.
1t is understood that an important feature of
the plan, as originally projected, was the sub
stitution for the three principal agents, who
have been discharged, of five sub or minor
agents-one for each reservation; and the SUI
perintendent reports that it is essential to the
success of the scheme that they be provided.
AS in Texas and New Mexico, our relations
with the Indians in Utah and Oregon remain
in very unsettled and precarious condition,
arising out of the constant and unavoidable
encroachments upon their territories by the
whites, and no provision being made for in
Identifying and placing them beyond the reach
of the injuries thus inflicted. Already have
difficulties Of serious character, resulting in
bloodshed and loss Of the lives of valuable cit
liens, taken place. Indeed, hostlities with the
Indians in all these sections of country may
bo 20 1>a IL
renee Of which in either would, in all probable
ity involve an amount Of expense far exceed
ing the cost Of arrangements that would secure
peace and tranquility with the various tribes,
and at the same time tend to promote their
domestication and permanent welfare.
In view however, of the uncertainty neces-
sarily attending all speculations upon the ques-
ton of the proper course of policy to be pur-
sued towards the Indians in our remote terri
tories, and the impossibility Of forming con-
clusions of reliable character from the diverse,
varying, and often contradictory suggestions
and recommendations Of the different agents
and others, it is respectfully suggested, as a
wise and prudent precaution, that commission
ers-able, impartial, upright, and practical
men-be appointed, as soon as possible, to
proceed to Texas, California, and the Terri
tories of New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and Wash
ington, for the purpose of investigating the
whole subject of our Indian relations there, and
of negotiating and recommending such con-
ventional and other arrangements as may be
required to place them upon safe, stable, and
and satisfactory footing.
The numerous claims for Indian depreda-
tons from nearly all sections of the country
where there is intercourse and proximity be-
tween the whites and Indians, are a source of
h,.,. ont
Of June 30, 1884, ito regulate trade and in
tercourse with the Indian tribes, and to pre-
serve peace on the frontiers, guarantees in
demnity for such depredations uponthe property
of our citizens committed by tribes in amityw with
the United States; and provides that they shall
be paid for out of the annuities of the Indians,
if they receive any, otherwise, out of the trea-
sury. The requisite authority to adjudicate
and pay the latter class of claims, in like man
ner with other recognised obligations, has never
been given; while, in respect to the former,
the power to pay them out of the annuities
is virtually abrogated by provisions contained
in acts making appropriations for the Indian
department, passed at the last two sessions of
Congress requiring, as they do, all annuities
and other Indian moneys to be paid directly to
the Indian or Indians to whom they are due
per capita, and without deduction for any pur-
pose whatever, unless the imperious interest
interest Of the Indian or Indians, or some
treaty stipulation, shall require the payment
to be made otherwise, under the special direc-
ton of the President" Compensation for de-
predations not being required by treaty stipu-
lation, nor by any imperious interest of the In
dams, payment of this latter class of claims
must, therefore, also fall upon the treasury
and appropriations should be made by Con-
gress to enable the department to fulfil these
just and recognised obligations towards our
frontier citizens, who are so liable to suffer
from such depredations
The results of long and ample experience
conclusively prove that the money-annuity sys-
tenn has done as much, if not more to cripple
and thwart the efforts of the government to do
mesticate and civilize our Indian tribes, than
any other of the many serious obstacles with
which we have to contend. As a principle,
applicable with but occasional exceptions, so
long as an Indian remains in expectation OF
money from the government, it is next to i'm
possible to induce him to take the first step to-
wards civilization, whchstep is to settle himself
in fixed habitation and commence the cult
walton of the soil. However inadequate the
pittance he may be entitled to receive, he con-
tinues to look forward to it in the vague expec-
tation ofits suficiency and lives on from year
to year an idle and dependant being, and dies
miserably as he had lived. Whatever may be
the extent of consideration allowed for lands
hereafter coded to the government by an undo
mesticated tribe, it should consist chiefly of
goods, subsistence, agricultural implements,
and assistance, stock animals, and the means
of mental, moral and Industrial education and
training. Let this principle be adopted with
all the tribes, wherever located, to whom we
have not set the pernicious precedent of pay
ments in money; and thus freed from the inju-
rious effects of money annuities, they will pre-
sent more favorable field for the efforts of the
philanthropist and Christian.
The present license system by which, under
the intercourse act, trade is regulated among
the Indian tribes, is defective; and, as admin
istered for many years. it has become an evil of
magnitude. The whole trade of the Indian
tribes is thrown into few hands--a monopoly
is built up, and an interest fostered, which,
from the very nature of things, becomes formi-
dabe, and is liable to be welded against the
,iawr nj w;sbae IF tho ,,nvarnroapt on1 tho