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

DEPARrMEST or THE lnTERioR,
Office Indian Affairs, November 26, 1853.

DEpARrMssT or THE InrERioR,
Office Indian Affairs, November 20, 1858.
SuR: have the honor TO submit general view OF The
uresrn condition OF tadian relations. and statement
ot the operations oil ihs bfanch OF tue pupHc service
during the past year -
Reiefrms to the accompany ing reports OF the dieren.
.endsnls, agrnr, and Other persons employed or
e benefit Of the Indians Tor more detailed aud SPECIFIC
nfoTmatoa regard To their present condition and pros
qecls, would remark that peace aud tranquility have
prevailed generally among the enigaled and other tribes
along the cxi&asve inner iroDers from Lake Superior
and our northern boundary TO Texas, with whom we
have conventional relations and intcrcoafse of long
slaading IN regard to those more REMOTE and more re-
xenlly brought under the supervision OF Tho department.
fewer OF painful nature have been reported
than might have been anticipated.
The whole number OF Indians wilhia our limits Is
maled al 400 900. About lS 900 yet nket in some oil
The States east Of The Mississpp rvefprincipally in
New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin; the remainder,
consisting oi Cherokees ChsCaws, and Semnolss, be-
ns IN North Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida.
The number Minnesota and along the frontiers OF
the western States to rexas, comprising mainly e.gra-
ted tribes, is estimated ~ li0O0o those Of The plains
aud Rocky mOun,aios and not within any OF our or
ganzrd Territories al those in Texas al $4,000
,nose in New Mexico at 450o0 those in California at
oO.ooo; those ia Utah Al i20oo and those in The Ter
rlor,es Of Osexon aud Washington at 230Oe.
The uGioruhale and distrac,ng controversy for
sime existing among the Seneca Indians OF New York.
regard 10 their torn Of government. seems happily 10
terminatei the republican system, adopted by the
najoy in lS4S being apparently Row acquiesced in BY
the remander by whom Il was long and slrenuoasy op-
posed,
The dictates of humanity and good policy alike req uire
she early and elective inierpos,on OF the government
ia respect the lndians OF Michigan. These Indians,
thousand IN number, are represented to be
divided into than sixty separate communities, aud
are 10 be found in nearly every county OF the State.
Many oil them being without any settled places OF hab
lalion, and gradually mbbing the worst wees OF CIVIL
aton are becoming vitiated and degraded, pest and
nuisance the neis hborhOos where they resort In this
unsettled dispersed, and Otherwise Hntavorable condi-
lon, nothing be done 10 reclaim and improve them.
than hnh h,pa
ioy the advantages OF fixed locations, present much
more favorable aspect. Most OF them have comfortable
homes and, under the influence OF the devoted efforts of
several Christian denominations. arc gradually improving
and acquiring tue habits aud tastes OF civilized HE BY
PROVISION OF the Stale constitution, they entitled
czcnship becoming qualified therefor by intelligence
and good character, and abandoning their tribal
ION and numbers have infested proper appreciation
OF this high pr 20, ana q laudable ambition TO til
themselves Tor A.
B, tteaty these Indians have the right to home west
o the Mississippi should they desire 10 engrale but
there is 10 prospec, OF their being willing do So
and the czens OF Michigan, is understood, entertain
no desire have them expelled from The country and
home Of their forefathers. Suitable locations, it
derslooG be found for them the State where they
caa De concentrated under circumstances favorable TO
their comfort aud Improvement wi,hou, delriment 10
State individual interests, aud early Tor that
purpose should be adopted.
portion OF the united tribes Of Slockbrdgcs and
Munsees, OF Wisconsin, are under treaty obligations to
emsrae west OF the Mississippi river but their removal
has necessarily been delayed from want of adequate
means 10 dcray lbe expense thereof and OF their years
suteislence further appropriation will therefore be
requisite These Indians are lew 10 number and should
mol be disunied AS soon II be done, an effort
should be made place them, aud those OF their brethren
west OF the Mississippi river, all comfortably TO-
yeher.
In IS4S the Menomonees ceded their entire country in
Wisconsin, and agreed to remove 10 aaoher stipulated
gwen them in Minnesota west OF the Mississippi
From this obligation they were exempted by the late
President oi The United States the ground OF The un
suitability OF the new country intended or them and,
with the appreciation of the proper authorities OF Wis
consn, they were assigned and removed to por
ton OF the extensive tract which they had ceded, en-
bracing about 3l5 900 acres. The information pos
session OF the department leads 10 the conclusion that
this location in all respects, suitable for them and
that they probably remain there Tor many years
wiihou, interference with The advancement or interests
OF the white population. i however, this arrangement
is 10 be oil a permanent character, new convention
with them will be necessary for their REIMBURSEMENT of
the county given 10 Them by the treaty OF sas and that
the various beneficial provisions ol tina, treaty may be
made operative and applicable to them where they are
The Oneidas. OF Wisconsin, have permanent location
near Green Bay, where they will probably remain and
eventually become citizens, as the Tribe Of Broher,owns
has done The ouly other Indians The Stale consist
OF lew bands OF those known as The Chippew was OF
Lake Superior. stl living on lands heretofore oeded
The United States bat where has been thus far deemed
proper 10 permit lhem 10 remain. for reasons materially
adecng their preservation aud welfare.
Should be deemed necessary 10 continue the super
,nendeney created ty ihs act OF 21h February, 1851,
hereoiore confined 10 the Indians in Wisconsin ii should
be made to embrace also those in Michigan and differ.
cnt location assigned 10 The superintendent.
The large and populous tribe OF Chippewas The great
body OF whom ATE IN Minnesota. still own an extensive
tract OF country east OF the Mississippi. Of which, on
account OF ITS great mineral wealth. will become
oeSsary 10 obaIn possession al early day. Their
lands west OF the Mississippi sufficiently AMPLE for
the whole ifbe and Their concentration there would be
an arrangement advantageous both 10 them aud the gov
eminent
The country assigned 10 the Winnebasoes by the treaty
Of ists, in The region Of the head OF The Ms.s
sp proved 10 be not altogether suitable So great has
been The dissatisfaction that il has been impossible 10
Keep majority OF them upon II. Under these crcum
Stances and because oil their pressing and constant so
were made the past sumner TO assign Them another and
more satisfactory home. The new location fixed upon
which IA further south than their present county, OBJ
jsc,ed 10. is understood, the ground OF lis bringing
them too the white settlements aud its close prox
inly the M,sssIppi believed to be prendicia
10 the interests OF the Indians The department has not
yet determined whether these objections ae sufficiently
well lounded 10 Justify the rejection OF this arrangement
The present stas,on Of thai portion Of the Sioux In
diane, parues TO the treaties OF July 49, and August s.
1851. pecu,af. unfortunate, and TO Them must u-
msiey prove extremely nIurioos BY these treaties hey
reluctantly Iated with very large extent OF valuable
oouoy. which 1t was Of The greatest importance to The
government 10 acquire. An insignificant portion OF ii
near s western boundary, not deemed necessary deaf
rsble or white population for many years. VI at all was
agreed 10 be reserved and assigned them for their f
t,re residence The Senate amended the treaties s,r
king oui this pfovision allowing per acre in
lieu OF the reservations. and requiring the President with
s assent ot ihe Indians II they agreed to the amend
fnens, 10 assign them such tracts OF country beyond The
limits Of that cede might be satisfactory for Their a-
tnre home, To the amendments appended provso
that the President may, by the consent OF the ndiaus
Indians were induced 10 agree 10 the amendments con.
hiding IN the justice, hbealy and humanity Of The Pres