Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-23

waters of the Mississippi, proved to be not alto
gether suitable. So great has been the dlssat-
isfaction, that it has been impossible to keep
the majority of them upon it. Under these cir
cumstances, and because of their pressing and
constant solicitations and OF promises given
last year, arrangements were made, the past
summer, to assign them another and more sat
isfactory home. The new location fixed upon,
which is further south than their present coun-
try, is objected to, it is understood, on the
ground of its bringing them too near the white
settlements and its close proximity to the
Mississippi river is believed to be prejudicial to
the interests of the Indians The department
has not yet determined whether these objec-
tions are sufficiently well founded to justify the
rejection of this arrangement.
The present situation of that portion of the
Sioux Indians, parties to the treaties OF July
% and August 5, 1851, is peculiar unfortu-
nate, and, to them, must ultimately prove ex-
| tremely injurious. BY these treaties they re-
| luctantly parted with very large extent OF
| valuable country, which it was of the greatest
| importance to the government to acquire. An
insignificant portion of it near its western
| boundary, not deemed necessary or desirable
| for white population for many years, if at all,
was agreed TO be reserved and assigned to them
for their future residence The Senate amend
ed the treaties, striking out this provision, al
lowing ten cents per acre in lieu OF the reser-
vations, and requiring the President, with the
assent of the Indians, if they agreed to the
amendments, to assign them such tracts Of
country beyond the limits of that ceded as
| might be satisfactory for their future home. To
| the amendments was appended q proviso, "that
| the President may by consent Of the Indians,
vary the conditions aforesaid, if deemed expe
dent" The Indians were induced to agree to
the amendments, "confiding in the Justice, libe-
| rality, and humanity of the President and the
Congress of the United States, that such tracts
Of country will be set apart for their future oc-
| cupancy and home as will be to them accep-
table and satisfactory Thus, not only was the
| assent of the Indians made necessary to coun-
| try being assigned to them without the limits
of that ceded but, by the authority given to the
| President to vary the conditions Of the amend
ments to the treaties, he was empowered, with
the consent Of the Indians, to place them upon
| the designated reservations, or upon any other
portion Of the ceded territory, !" if deemed ex-
pedient"
| To avoid collisions and difficulties between
the Indians and the white population, which
| rapidly commenced pouring into the ceded
country, it became necessary that the former
should vacate at least large portion of it
| without delay; whilst there was neither the
| time nor the means to make the requisite ex-
| plorations, to find a suitable location for them
beyond the limits of the cession.
Under these present and embarrassing cir
cumstances, the late president determined to
permit them to remain FIVE years on the desig-
mated reservations, if they were willing to &c
| cept this alternative. They assented, and many
of them have already been removed. However
unavoidable this arrangement it is most nm
fortunate one. The Indians are fully aware Of
its temporary character, and of the uncertainty
as to their future position, and viii conse-
/ quently be disinclined and deferred from any
effort to make themselves comfortable and inn
prove their condition. The inevitable result
must be that at the end of the time limited
they will be in far worse condition than now;
and the efforts and expenditures of years to in
fuse into them spirit of improvement will all
have been in vain. s,
| The large investments in mills, farms, me-
| chanic shops, and otherimprovements required
| by the treaties to be made for their benefit will
be entirely wasted if the Indians are to remain
on these reservations only during the prescri-
bed five years. At the very period when they
would begin to reap the full advantage Of these
beneficial provisions, they would have to re-
| move. Another unfortunate feature of this
arrangement, if temporary, is, that the Indians
will have expended the considerable sums set
apart in the treaties for the expenses of their
removal to permanent home, and for subsist-
ence until they could otherwise provide it;
leaving nothing for these important and neces-
sary purposes in the event Of another emigra-
ton. In view of these facts and considera-
tions, no time should be lost in determining
upon some final and permanent arrangement
in regard to them. M
&c I,
the exception, of the Blackfeet, are represented
as generally quiet and peaceable. Such Of
them as are parties to the treaty of Fort Laramie
have maintained, with but one single exception,
friendly relations among themselves, and mani
tested an increasing confidence in and kindness
towards the whites. Some of the Indians in
this agency raise corn, beans, pumpkins, DC,
to a limited extent, but rely principally on the
hunt for their support. The amendments of
the Senate ofthe Oath Of May, 1852, to the 7th
article of the treaty of Fort Laramie, were
promptly assented to by such Of the tribes as
the agent had conferred with, and there is no
doubt but that the others will readily do so
when he has an opportunity of seeing them,
they being absent at the time of his arrival in
their country on their usual hunts.
The general condition of the Indians within
the limits of the Council Bluff agency is not en-
couraging. The Omahas are represented as
having raised enough corn to last them through
the winter; and by judicious application of
the money paid them by government this sea-
son, it the thought they may to great ex-
tent be saved from suffering.
The Ottoes and Missourias, confederate
tribe, are in state of abject poverty. Reduced
by combination Of causes, and perhaps some
neglect on the part of the government they are
indeed objects of pity.
The Pawnees are also in destitute condition.
Their number now does not exceed one-half of
what it did four years ago. They formerly re-
sided on the north side Of the Platte river, and
on the west side ofthe Loup fork of that stream
A few years ago they were represented to be in
q fourishing condition but the Sioux came
down upon and murdered many ofthem, burned
their houses, stole their horses and other stock
and the survivors were compelled to retreat to
the south side of the Platte, and have thence
forward been unwilling to return to their former
homes Tho Ipdiana af this a0ancy Ike all