Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-12-22


peace, prosperity and advancement of these.
people. The Commissioner, as far as lie
judged il prudent, endeavored to enlighten
hem on this point; aud labored to convince
hem1hat it was not consistent with the
interests of themselves and their posterity,
that they should have tribal reservations
within their present limits.
The condition Of the Indians located west
of The Missouri and Iowa is not as prosper
ous. or their advance in civilization as rapid
as the official reports annually received from
tbal part o! the country would authorize us
TO expect. In severaltrib are 10 be found
some educated, intelligent men; and many
are able by the cultivation OF the earth to
subsist themselves. Among these classes
are some sincere professors of religion, but
The mass of the Indians are INDECENT and in
temperate, and many Of them arc degraded
and dcbaSscd.
The transplanting Of these Indians, and
the dedication of tlIeir present country to
their use and their future home, was an en-
anaii5n of the purest bencvolence, and the
dictate Of humanity. Vast sums Of money
have been expended by the Government for
The sustenance, comfort and civilization Of
these unfortunate people, and the missionary
has occupied that field of labor long and
faithfully; but notwithstanding all that has
been doneby the Government and good men,
the experiment has measurably failed.
Located generally on large tracts of land,
separated into small and distinct bands, roam
ing at will and wandering in idleness, The
mass Of thcsc tribes are III degraded state
with no hope Of q considerable degree Of re-
Formation, (evcn with such improvements,
as ere practicable in present management
without change Of residence. Their opin-
ions, habits, customs and pursuits, which
present an almost insumountab!e obstacle
10 their change from a primitive state, find
now bat little resistance, while the advice
Of the agent. and the efforts of the teacher
and divine, are comteractcd, TO a very great
extent, by influences Of an adverse charac-
ter, and which, it is presumed, will predom
mate so long as these Indians are permitted
TO remain where they now reside.
The acquisition Of Texas, New Mexico,
and our Pacific possessions, and the vast
annual emigration which passes through tie
Indian country, and over the Indian rcser-
yations, on lis journey thther, ard which
WAS not anticipated at the time the Indians
were located there, render it absolutely nee
Isary that they be placed out of the paths of
the emigrants as far as practicable. The
interests Of both require ii. In the present
condition Of the Indian, 10 good results to
| him lram his contract with the emigrant,
while the latter is always embarrassed on
hi, journey, and frequently injured by the
presence Of the former. 1892
Except lie WyanIois and Ottoways, who
have u few simple laws, all the Indian tribes
north oi the Cherokee line are without any
prescribed form Of government. The i'll
,rrcoursc act, it Is believed, extends 10 pro-
lection 10 the cmigrantS, and this udyentur-
Gus and valuable class OF our people is,
/ therefore, unprotected while in the Indian
country. This state Of things ought not to
exist. The Intercourse act, if amended,
ana is provisions extended to them, would
IN L., -, g, ;.,,,g 81 ,,,., q, J,,l l.s., L.
reason Of the great distance Of the United
States officers in the States from the Indian
country, In my judgement, the interests Of
/ the Indians require that . civil government
be Immediately organized in the Territory.
( The Executive 0! the Territory discharge
/ ing, BY virtue OF lis office, The duties OF
Superintendent Of Indian Affairs, and hay
ling direct oversight Of the Indian service
,Acgo, would exercise Il happy influence not
only on lie border tribes, but in a brief
space OF time on TIE Indians Of the plains.
I'm the Aanual Report Of the 30lh Nov,
| lsJS, The then Commissioner Of Indian
Aihirs suggested the policy of procuring
/ land keeping open portions Of the lands west
! of alis,ouri and Iowa. Tor the egress and
cyrausion Of orr own population, and the
same measure has been urged in several
annual reports. The necessity of opening
an ample Western outlet for our rapidly in
crea=iug population seems to haye been
clearly forosecn by this Department. The
4 negotiations with the Indians, who will have
to be distributed, and the arrangements
necessary for their peaceful and comfortable
relocation, requiring time and deiberation,
( it is to be regretted that the authority and
means for the accomplishment Of the OBJ
/ cct were not given more in advance of the
exigcncy which has occurred, and which
appears TO require proceedings of a more
,rvr,; Ia ,Ior. oto,, tIon sLo,,IJ L,,.o Iao,,