The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-18

1uu W OtlToy VIII III anu LOT SuCQ presents TO The
Indians as you msy Deem necessary and proper, you
arc authorized 70 draw upon the Department for
such portion of the appropriation of Sd March last
as may be required.
to give orders TO the commanding officers of the
military posts on your route, to provide you with
suitable escorts should you require any, and doubt
not that he will do so.
/ would suggest that you avail yourself of the
opportunity afforded by this visit among the Indians
to inform yourself fully possible in respect to
any matters in which the United States or the In.
dams are interested about which any difficulties are
known to exist
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signeo) r. McCLsLLAND, Secretary.
Col. Gee. W. Maneypenny, Com'r Ind Affairs.
The Report of the COmmI ssfoner
-rAsTMsNT OF THE INTERIOR.
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS NOV. 8, 1881
have the honor TO state that, on the receipt
81 your communication of the 18th August last, in.
forming me that the President had indicated me as
the officer OF the Indian Department to whom WAS
iutrusted the duty of conducting the negotiations
with the Indian tribes west Of the States Of Missouri
and Iowa authorized by the second section of the
act Of Congress of the Sd Of March, 1858, ion ne.
dately left Washington and repaired to the Indian
country to discharge the preliminary duties embraced
in my instructions, and now beg leave respectfully
to report
That l entered the Indian country on the I'd of
September, and left it the 18th of October having
occupied the intervening time in visiting and talking
with various tribes and in obtaining from all sources
OF credit within my reach, such information mig 1t
be useful and necessary in forming the basis of the
treaties contemplated by the act Of Congress.
As approached the borders Of the Indian country
found some OF the people discussing with consi.
deraole warmth, in the press and otherwise, the
question whether that country was not then open
to occupation and settlement by the citizen, of
the United States, and 10 instances those who
held to the right to settle in the Indian country had
gone over to explore it, with the intention to locate
in it. This discussion and the exploration had very
lnfavorable influence on the Indian mind. The In.
lians were alarmed. Reports reached them that
large bodies Of whites were coming into their coun.
Try to take possess, n Of ana drive them from it.
Many Of them were contemplating the ne ,essty OF
defending themselves, aud the proposition was
abroad among some OF the Indians for grand coun.
Gil, at which they should Gas said to me) eight
up their fires after IL old Indian fashion," and con-
Tolerate for defence.
From the time the original Indian title to the
country eXtinguished under the authority of tae
act OF 2sth May, 1880, and the tribes transpanted
from the States are Territories east OF the Misss
sppi and located in it, until after the adjournment
OF the last Congress it had always been considered
country set apart and dedicated to Indian aud
purposes; ard it equally well understood before
that time that person other than an Indian co1ld
reside there except by permission OF the govern
mens, and for specific purpose.
The enunciation therefore, Of the opinion that
the country was open to occupation and settlement,
at the time it was promulgated, was most unfortu.
nate.
Congress bad just before, by &C. of the Sd OF
March, directed the President to enter into
negotiations with the Indian tribes west oil
the States of Missouri and Iowa, for the purpose oil
securing the assent of said tribes to the settlement
the citizens of the United States upon the lands
claimed by them and for the purpose OF extingush-
ing their title to these lands, in whole or in part
found it very difficult to quiet the Indians and
WAS unable fully to restore OF these people to
the tranquil condition they were in before this dis
cusson OF the subject and exploration of their coun-
tW COMM enced.
In many councils the effect of this enunciation
was evident and in some instances / was unable,
while in council, TO obtain the calm consideration of
the Indians to the subject matter Of my talk owing
to the excited state OF their minds resulting from
appreheosions that their country was about to be
taken from them without their consent and witho
any consideration being paid them for it, And some
even supposed tina; the object of my visit was to
favor sucb design.
As progressed In my journey, and the councils
which held with various tribes increased in num-
Der, was happy to perceive better state of feel
ing-a willingness TO listen, to be advised, and an
assurance OF confidence and dependence on their
Great Father, and determ nation to receive favor
ably the message bore from him to them.
While in the Indian country held councils with
the Omahas, Ottoes and Missourans Sacs and Foxes
OF Mi EouI; Kickapoos, Delaxares, wyandot.s
Shawnees, Pottawatomies, SaSs and Foxes, OF the
Mississippi; Chppewss, of Swan Creek and Black
River; Ottawas, Pecrias and Ka,ksskias, Weas and
PiaBkashaws, and Miamis. | was DESTROYS of seeing
and talking with the PawDees Kansas, Osages, Qua
paws Sene cas-, and Sba and 5snecas but found
1t impossible TO do 20 without spending more time ia
the country than Was deemed consistent with my
duties at Washington, in view OF the near approach
OF the meeting Of Congress
The aggregate population Of the tribes with whom
held council, according 10 the hest data is Ii 3S4
souls, and the aggregate quantity OF land held by
them is estimated at IL 900 4S0 acres about 920
acres to each soul.
The aggregate population Of the Pawnees, Kansas
Osages Qlapaws Senecas, and ShawneeS aod Sene.
cas-, according to the data il III j97 SOULS, I'd
the aggregate quantity of land held by them Is esti-
mated at 1889 200 acres, or about $50 acres TO
each soul.
All the tribes that visited and talked with, ex-
cept the Omahas, Ottoes, and Missourians, are In
dams who we're removed from Ohio and other West
ern States to the Indian country and located there
on specific grants of land, in pursuance Of treaty
stipulatons, and with the express uuderst indiDg
that their present were W be their permanent homes
so long as they existed "a tribes or nations.
In some treaties IL was provided that patents
should Issue to them, but in no case was the power
OF alienation granted, or any provision m .de by
which the lands could be divided and held 10 seve-
rally.
Every tribe with whom held council. with the
exception of the Weas and Piankashsws and the
Peoras and Kaskaskias, who own only 256 600 acres
and the Shawnees refused to dispose OF any portion
OF their land, their first response to my talk. The
small tribes above named proposed AZ once to dispose
OF the most OF tbeir land, and ntimaed that If they
could make satisfactory arrangements for homo
they would sell the whole Of it,
The Shawnees, as their only reply, proposed q
sell the United States 600 600 Of acres reserving Il
themselves COO 900 acres adjoining the State Of Mis-
souri,. They number some $50 souls.
The Chippewes, who own 800 acres, and number
thirty sCu' snh the Ottawas who own "a, 900 acres
and number ~ souls, declined to dispose Of theil
lands, or sny portion of them, on the ground thai
they efsca with their location, desired TO re
main, and troaghi in view of the amount Of pra rie
llod IL fheir gtsuis, they had no greater quantity
t1sn wss necessary for them or than the same mum
bei 0, white peope would require.
Fae OmabSs, Offices, Missouriins, 1o.as, snl