Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-24
publit Document.
Report of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
[C0neiHdsdl
Drp.RrNESr OF THE INTERIOR,

The enforcement against Indians, by erimi-
nal prosecution, of the law to prohibit the In.
PRODUCTION or sale of liquor in the Indian
country, is believed to be contrary, not only TO
the intention of the trainers of that law, but
also to the principle uniformly acted on IN re-
spect to all of the tribes-of as little direct
interference as possible in their internal and
domestic affairs. Hence, offences and other
matters Of even greater concern are left to be
settled entirely by themselves.
By the second and third articles of the
treaty with the Creek Indians of November %,
1888, the sum of four hundred thousand dol
lars was stipulated to be allowed for property
abandoned and lost by individuals of the tribe,
in consequence Of their forced and compulsory
removal west Of the Mississippi river. Fifty
thousand dollars Of the amount was to be fur
nished in stock animals, to be distributed III
proportion to the loss in each case, as set forth
in schedule which accompanied the treaty.
The remaining three hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars were to be invested "for the bene
fit of the individuals of the Creek nation re-
ferred to III the preceding article" so as to
secure them five per cent. annually. by the
fourth article, however, this fund, at the end of
twenty-five years from the date Of the treaty, is
to be wrested from the individuals to whom 1t
really belongs, and given to the nation at large.
This feature of the treaty has long excited
continue to increase with the approach of the
period when the change is to take place.
Those of the chiefs living who signed the
treaty assert that they did not understand this
provision as it is, and deny that they ever
assented to any such arrangement; while the
individuals directly interested aver that they
will never Weld their right to the fund. 1t has
been, and continues to be, regarded as theirs
by the whole tribe; but it is feared such will
not be the feeling when the time arrives for all
to participate in it. To avoid serious difficulty
that may then arise, the chiefs representing the
claimants and the entire tribe have made
strong appeal to have the whole amount paid
over to the individuals to whom it belongs;
and it is highly desirable that this be done,
especially as the Understanding, in many
cases. to but a few cents--is to the great ma
iority of them Of no benefit whatever.
The political connexion between the Choc-
taws and Chickasaws, established through the
agency of the government, by the convention
of 1887, under which the Chickasaws form
component part Of the Choctaw nation, and
are subject to its laws, still continues, notwith
standing the earnest and persevering efforts of
the Chickasaws to induce the Choctaws to con
sent to a dissolution thereof The interests Of
The Chickasaws, particularly of q pecuniary
character, are materially variant from those of
the other tribe, and they are naturally anxious
to enjoy the satisfaction and advantages of a
separate government of their own. The con-
summation of this reasonable desire would,
without doubt, have decided tendency to pro-
mote their advancement and permanent pros
perity. 1t is much to be regretted, however,
that the Choctaws, to whom the union is of no
advantage whatever, still continue indisposed
to yield to the natural and reasonable wishes
of their brethren, and those of the government
on this subject.
The earnest efforts of the department to
effect the emigration of the Seminole Indians
still remaining in Florida under arrangements
heretofore fully reported, having failed of COM
plete success, they have again been placed in
charge of the military branch of the service,
The number detached from Florida and re-
moved to their country west of the Mississippi,
during the short period they were under the
the jurisdiction of this Office was thirty-six.
The three small tribes Of Senecas, Senecas
and Shawnees, and Quapaws, are extending
their agricultural improvements. Members OF
all these tribes apply themselves to cultivating
the soil, but the Senecas and Senecas and
Shawnees are the most thrifty. They will re-
alze from their crops of the past year of grain.
vegetables, &c. suficiency for their own con-
sumption during this winter and some for sale.
Most of them have large stocks of cattle,
horses, and hogs, for which a ready market is
found within their nation. The Quapaws are
harmless, inoffensive people, but, with few
trious and labor on the farm reapa rich harvest
for their toll and are thus enabled to aid their
indolent brethren. The Senecas and Senecas
and Shawnees are opposed to the establishment
of schools in their country. The Quapaws'
school fund las been transferred to the Usage
manual-labor school, where the children of the
Quapaws are educated. The Osages-those
who are adults-are reported by their agent as
wild and untamable, and that it is impossible to
induce them to change their habits of living.
They go twice year out on the grand prairies,
some six or eight hundred miles, in the pursuit
of buffalo, deer, and antelope, and trade with
the wild Indians of the north and northwest
As a measure of economy and greater con
venience, the headquarters of the superintend-
ent for this district have been removed from
Van Buren, to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where, by
the order of the Secretary of War, accommo-
dations for his Office will be afforded in one of
the public buildings connected with the military
post at that place, and where, also, adequate
protection for the large amounts of public
money, at times in the custody of the superin-
tendent, may be had from the military. The
clerkship of this, as well as that of the northern
superintendency, has been discontinued.
The removal from Texas of the various bands
Of Indians belonging to tribes on the frontiers
Of our western States, who, contrary to their
treaty obligations, have for some time been
settled in different localities in that State, has
been nearly, if not entirely, consummated, as
provided by the act of August, 1852, appropri-
ating $4,000 for the purpose 1t will for
some time, however, require constant watch.
fulness on the part Of the agents of their re.
spective tribes, as well as of the military at the
posts in their vicinity and in Texas, to prevent
their return.
In regard to the Indians properly belonging
TO this State, and those generally within our
newly-acquired and remote possessions, there
is, in my judgment, but one plan by which they
can be saved from dire caamities, if not entire
determination, and that is to colonize them in
suitable locations, limited in extent and distant
as possible from the white settlements, and to