The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-14

y by provision contained in act OF Congress. sp
proved he 81 dut March last the President author
zed 10 enter into negotiations With the Indian tribes Yves
oi The Sales ol Missouri and Iowa. for the purpose
procuring their assent 10 The settlement o citZen
upon The lands claimed by them, and OF ex,ngu gushing
their us. ~ whole or in part. to those lands. Ths
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs designated by the
President as the ohcer OF the Indian department to
duct The necessary negotiations, and that duty
deHaken by him al the earliest period consistent
WIN MS other ollcal engagem preliminary visit
TO The Indian counryi with view TO explore ia aud Il
oeaih sech affirmation as would be Useful and HeCessa
~ IN preparing full and detailed instructions 10 The
terms and conditions OF the treaties 10 be negotiated
was deemed necessary aud was made by that officer 10
obedeSee to his instructions. While thus engaged. he
Visited The Omihas. Otoes and Missourias. loways,
oacs and Foxes ol NJ lss0ufl, kickapoos, Delawares
Shawnees, Wyandolis, Pollawaomes Sacs and Foxes
OF the Mississippi Chippewas OF Swan creek and Black
riyer Ottowas Of Roche de BGu and Banchard's fork
Miamies. These embrace oil the tribes located imme-
datey west OF Missouri and Iowa. except the bands Of
uapaws. Senscas and Shaw nees, ami Senecas, who
small tracts adjacent 10 The southwest corner 81 the
State OF Missouri aud who for want Of time, The Com
missioner was unable 10 Visit. The same cause ope-
rated 10 prevent his seeing the Pawnees, Kanzas, aud
Usage Indians. with whom, although their lands not
contiguous TO the boundaries OF either Of these Slaes il
is desirable that treaties also be made should civil GOV
enmeni be established and the country opened for set
/ tlement.
The Commissioner held councils th every tribe whom
he visited and disclosed to them the object Of his Journey
10 Their country He found the Indian mind 10 unia-
|
sage. For some Time previous 10 his arrival in the In
dian country, individuals from the States had been
porng portions oil It, with the intention, as under
stood, OF attempting make locations aud settlements
The discussion OF The subject and the exploration OF the
country by citizens Of the Sales alarmed and excited
the Indians. Some OF them wete ptoposing gfand
council, at which il as designed 10 light up the old In
dian tres and confederate Tor defence against the while
people. who, they believed. coming in force to drive
them from their county. and to occupy it without their
consent and without consideration. Under such circum-
IL
vest Their nnds OF an impression that the Commission.
ers VISIT was rot IN sne way or other Intended 10 aid
the whites IN torcible occupation OF The county. As
he progressed ~ his journey, aud conferred with the
Tribes, the dlfhcully was gradually Temoved.
With but lew exceptions the Indians were opposed 10
selling any part OF their ands az announced in their
replies to the speeches OF The Commissioner. Final.
ly, however, many tribes expressed their Willingness
TO SELL but on the condition that they could retain
tribal reservations on their present Tracts Of land This
policy was deemed Objectionable, spd not to be adopt
ed II II could be ayolded, aud with such tribes the
time oi treating was deferred until next spring.
with the hoIe that the ndians by that time might see
that their permanent interests required entire
fer o all theLands and their renyeyal 10 home.
Some Tribes declined 10 dispose OF 9ny portion; and ALL
with the exception Of the Wyandvits and Ouowas, who
expressed opinion the subject oil Of
civil government in that erritory opposed the
measure. They have, with but few exceptions, very
crude and uAintelli,bie idea OF the white mans laws,
deenlpg them engines ol tyranny and oppression, and
| they dread we'll lear them. Before the Commis
soner left The country quite change was perceptbe
l u
exceptions the tribes will next spring into treaties
and dispose OF large portions OF their country and
vi Them will sell the whole OF their land The idea Of
retaining resevali1ns which seemed 10 be generally
teralned not deemed 10 be consistent with their true
interests and every good influence ought 10 be exercised
70 eniishen them on The subject i they dispose OF
Their lands no reservations should II il be avoided,
be granted or allowed There Indians in
tribes who are occupying farms. comfortably siua
ted. and who are in such advanced state OF ciyzz
ton, that II they desired 10 remain. the privilege might
well and ought perhaps to be granted and their farms
each reserved for their homes Such adians would
be qualified TO enjoy the privileges of citizenship But
which II owns, would, II 10 believed be injurious
10 the future peace prosperity and advancement, OF these
people The Commissioned. as lar as he Judged pru
dent, endeavored 10 rngh,en them on this point and
labored 10 convince them thai IT not consistent with
the Interest OF themselves and their postery that
they should have tribal reservations within their present
limits
The condition OF the Indians located west of Missouri
and Iowa IL mol as prosperous, or their advance IN civ
zaiion rapid the official reports annually received
from that part oil the country would authorize us TO
peet In several tribes TO be found educaled,
intelligent men and many are able BY the cultivation
OF the earth to subsis themselves Among these classes
there sincere professors OF religion but the
of the indians indolent aud Incorporate, and
many OF them are degraded aud debased
The uanspsnliox OF these Indians and the dedication
OF their present country TO their and for their future
home, emanatlon OF the pures benevoience and
the dictate OF humanity Vast OF money have been
expended by the government for The sus,enance,
missionary has occupied that field OF labor long and
faithfully; but notwithstanding all that has been done
by the government and good men, the experiment has
measuraIy failed Located generally large tracts OF
lands separated INTO ANAL and dsinc, bands NJ
a, will and wandering in dleness the OF these
tribes are in degraded state, with no hope Of consd-
cradle degree OF reformation (even with such improve
menis practicable in their present manage }
without change OF residence Their opinions, habits,
customs. and pursuits, which present almost inssr
mountxble obstacle TO their change from primitive state,
lind bnt little resistance; while the advice OF The
and the efforts OF The teacher and divine
ieacted TO very great extent, by influences OF ad.
character, and which II Is presumed will predomI-
nate long these Indians permitted 10 remain
where they now reside.
The acquisition OF Texas New Mexico, and our Pa
cihc possessions aud the vas, annual emigration which
PASSES through the Indian country and the Indian
reservations its journey thiiher and which not
icpaed al the time the Indians lCcaed there,
render absolutely necessary that they be placed out OF
the paths OF the emigranis far as practicable The
interests OF both require IT, In the present condition OF
the Indian good results TO him from his contact with
the emix rant while the latter ia always embarrassed
journey and irequeaty injured BY the presence OF the
! former.
! Except the Wyandous and Ouowas, who have few
simple Jaws all the Indian tribes north Of the Cherokee
line without any prescribed form of government
The intercourse act. s believed extends protection
ia The emixrsnls; and this adventurous and valuable
class oi people therefore unprotected while in the
Indian country This slate OF things ought not TO exis,
The intercourse act " amended and its provisions
tended 10 them, would still be inefficient Il no, dead
letter. BY reason OF the great distance of the United States
officers 10 the States iron the Indian country. In my
Judgment The interests OF the Indians require ha, vii
government be Immediately organized m The territory
The executive oil The territory dlschafgng, by virtue OF
his office, the dnit- OF superintendent Of Indian affairs
and bavng direct oversight OF the Indian service there,