The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-04-06

NEW INDIAN PoLICY.-We have received the
copy Of bill reported BY Mr. Orr from the committee
on indian Affairs, on the 7th of March, 1854, which
contains provisions closely approximatng to the
true policy for the civilization of the Indians, than
has yet been attempted by the government. The
provisions Of the Bill read as follows:
That the President be, and he is hereby authorized
20 cause negotiations to be entered into with the
Chippewa Indians, for the extiuguishment of their
title 10 all the lands owned and claimed by them in
the Territory Of Minnesota and State Of Wisconsin,
which TREATIES shall contain the following provisions,
and such others NAV be requisite and proper to
carry the same into effect:
First. Granting to each head Of family in fee
s'mpie reservation OF eighty OF land, 10 be
Selected IN the territory ceded surveys
shall he Completed by those entitled, which said re-
srrva,ions shall be patented by the Presiden, Of the
tnlted States. and the patent therefor shall expressly
declare that the said lands shall not be aenated
leased b, the their heirs aud legal rep
resents,ives, until otherwise ordered by Congress,
and change OF location shall Ike ma e without the
assent OF the President Of the United States.
Second The annuities TO which said Indians are
entitled under existing treaties, together with such
may be allowed them for the cession or cessions
der the provisions OF this act, shall be equally dis
'buted and paid them their villages, settlements
within the limits Of the coded territory; but the
President shall be invested with power TO cause said
annnites TO be committed from time time for such ar
ties OF goods provisions, stock, cattle, implements of
agriculture. the clearing and fencing Of land and the
erection Of buildings and other improvements as in
ms discretion viii conduce most TO promote their
comfort, civilization, and permanent welfare.
Third All the benefits and privileges granted TO
said Indians shall be extonsed 10 and enjoyed by the
mixed bloods belonging to connected with the tribe
and who shall permanent, reside on the ceded lands
., Fourth The laws Of The United States aud the
Territory Of Minnesota shall he extended over the
Chippe~a territory whenever the same may be coded
mud the shall cease 10 be " Indian country.''
except that the lands reserved 10 said Indians or
DINER property owncd By them, shall be exempt from
taxation and execution, aud that the act passed
tniriieth June eighteen hundred and thtyfour ''to
regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes"
&c, De imperative over the said coded Territory
except the twentieth section, which prohibits the in.
PRODUCTION and sale Of spiruous liquors 10 Indians.
rim. The President shall have power TO pre-
scribe and enforce such rules and regulations, not in
CONSISTENT with the foregoing provisions as he may
oeein necessar, for the efectua execution Of the
purposes Of this act, which said rules and regulations
shall be annual, reported to Congress.
SEC Z. mi be Il further .aqcted That, for the
purpose OF deirayng the expenses Il said negotiations,
the sum Of ten thousand dollars be, and the same is
hereby. appropriated out OF any money the treasury
not otherwise appropriated.
Ii we mistake not, this bill shows the impress OF
Delegate, than whom few men are better acquain-
ted with the habits, customs, and wants Of the In
dams, and certainly believe that it the prov sious
Of this bill are carried OUT more will be effected in
one year toward the civilization of the Chippewas
than could be accomplished in ages under the SYSTEM
heretofore pursued. We very much regret that the
SINE policy was not pied in the treaties with the
Sioux.
By keeping the Indians separate from the whites,
without providing for them individual rights Of pro-
perry, and recognizing alone, the community system
among them the governme mt has riveted upon the
Indians a state Of barl,arisn, from which exer-
tons on the part OF the missionaries, the officers
of government can ever withdraw them while that
policy is pursued.
Ii the Indians are to be civilized, give them the
means Of enjoying the benefits of civilized lfc-let
each Individual feel that his labor will result in the
amelioraiion of The condition o.. himself and family,
and YOU place before him an inducement to labor;
We, h.m feel that he has undoub,ed indv dual
property in the improvements be makes, and you
induce hun improve. But while his labor is 10 be
devoted TO to the support Of the band, and the i'm
the first Indian oaier who sees proper to occupy it,
there can exist no reasonable hope that beneficial
change will be effected in the habits, or progress
made in the civilization Of the Indians
We can point to Indians, both Sioux and Chip
pewas, who have made considerable progress in civ
ilza,ion after being separated from their bbe, and To-
Gated where they felt secure 10 the enjoyment Of their
~.
been enabled appreciate the advantage OF ciyiliza
ton, but we have never yet seen any advances made
by either tribe towards civilization while they re-
manned in their villages, where the right 10 individ
ual property is not recognized by the tribe,
cured by the Iadian Department; and we venture TO
say that the Mcndewakontan Siogx after the expeud
;twe Of so Oo9 per for sixteen years as
an inpro fund.- at this day advanced
step ia civilization, consequence Of that c1per-
ditWe beyond what they were MISS. True, their
intercourse with the whites, and their observation
Of the habits of the whites, and Of the benefits ar-
sing from civilization, have very much modified their
customs, and wrought change in their habits Of
life, and much in their de Tres but this not
sae result Of the expenditure Of the improvement
tund. Those Indians feel the want Of civilization
and would gladly adopt the habits of the whites, il
the government would clear the rubbish from their
path, and by proper policy lead them TO feel that
they not doomed to gain precarious subsistence,
from the chase, but may rely more directly on the
production of the soil, csnhdep, that they alone
VII! have control over the produce they raise.
We sincerely hope the bily with its provisions for
the future civilization of the Chippewas will pass |
Congress, and he carried out by the government
Il is due the indians who will soon be required to
part with their lands, for the accommodation OF the
white settlements, that asures should he adopted
which will enable them to obtain a more comforta.
bic subsistence from a small portion Of that land,
han their present habits and customs will permit
hem to CLEAN from their present POSSESSIONS.
AUTHORIZATIONS FOR MINSEsorA.-We are |
indebted to our Delegate in Congress for copies Of
The following bill now before Congress:
H;li maxim further anOropr az tions for contln,I-