Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-01-20
REPORT OF THE INDIAN DE.
.. PARTMENT.

.... r. PARTMENT. ....u
The Commissioners of Indian Affairs,
in his annual report, combats the opinion
that our whole course of conduct towards
the red men of this country has been
marked by injustice aud inhnnanity.--
He contends that as civilization and bar
barism cannot co-exist together, ii is right
that the superiority of the former should
be asserted; and though the means en-
ployed often wrong the Indian, il is too
often because OF his own preesrse and
vicious nature. The Government has
expended enormous sums of money TO re-
claim and civilize the Indians within our
limits. The results, while triiling in
comparison with the costlness of the eff.
forts, suffice to prove the praclicability
of the Indians redemption, and to slim
ulGie to renewed exertions. The exten-
sion of our settlements, and the inereas-
ing overland intercourse with our Pa
ciic possessions, demonstrate the power
and resources of our Government and
people, and in this way do much to sub
due the widest tribes, and to reconcile all
Of them TO the supremacy of the white
man. Many of the tribes suffer severe
ly from Incidence, vice, and an obstinate
adherence TO aboriginal habits; but the
majority are gradually improving their
condition by peaceful and industrial pur.
suits. The mission and other schools
that have been established are generally
prosperous, those being most SO which
embrace manual labor as part of their
instruction.
The Commissioner thinks poorly of
''the merely book taugh, Indian"
Timely and efficient measures are urg-
ed for the proper disposition aud man
agement OF the Indiaas in California
The Commissioner suggests the plan of
forming them into grand colonies, one to
be located IN the northern aud the other
in the southern portion of the State. A
similar policy is recommended in relation
to the Indians west of the cascade noun
tains, in Oregon. The plan involves the
expenditure of large amount of mon
ey, but it is submitted that objection will
be found to apply to any mode of fixing
satisfactory relations with the tribes con.
cerned.
Mention is made in the report of the
faiiure of the Government for number
OF years to execute certain treaty s,ipu-
lations with various tribes. 1t was stip-
ulated on the part Of the Government
that sums should be paid to the Sioux of
the Mississippi, tue Sacs and Foxes of
Mississippi and Missouri, the Winneba-
goes, and others, amounting in the aggre-
gate to 50 ,396,000; and that the same
should be safely invested in stock
yielding not less than five per cent. The
treasury was exhausted at the time, and
Congress instead of making the invest
menI, decided to vote annually the a
mount Of the interest; allowing the prin.
cipal to remain as debt to be discharc.
ed at a more convenient season. In this
form of interest not less than $l,742,24O
has already been paid from the tire asury
"a sum-equal to two-thirds of the prin-
cipal which remains undiminished. |,
is obvions that such policy, long contin-
ued, would prove most costly one to
the Government; and the Commissioners,
taking advantage of the plethoric cond:-
iIon OF the treasury, proposes that our
treaty obligations in this regard shall be
fully and at once discharged. He thinks,
moreover, that investments on Indian ac-
counts may be advantageously extended
to other cases than those in which they
are expressly required by treaty.
Confusion arises--ihe report further
states--from the wait of uniformity in
our Indian treaties. They are pronounc-
ed "a singular compound of crude and
cumbrous matter, prolific of vexaiious
questions. and incapable OF harmonious
adjustment" Ii is desirable, and the
Commissioner believes that to some ex-
tent il is practicable, to substitute treaties
containing few. plain, and assimiliated
provisions, all tending to the concen,ra-
ton of the several tribes, and to ,hei,
permanent settlement under judicious ane
efficient laws. Such method, he con
ceives, would in a comparatively brief Pc
riod beneiicially change the whole spec
of our Indian affairs.