The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-07
THE RED MEN OF AYRRICA.
Annual Report OF tho C0nmlsasner o.
Indian Affairs.
onlcH INDIAN A.Ans, Nov; Is, 1854.

tendents, SCENTS sub agents and other communica-
tons for detailed respecting the operations
Of the department and the condition Of the various
Indian tribes.
The remnants Of the Six Nations remaining the State
OF New the interesting spectacle of of
the portions Of the aboriginal OF this
continent still adhering with traditional tenacy aud
iected 10 many trying and adverse BY which
their numbers aud territorial possessions have been
greatly diminished, this barbarous and heather
people devoted only to and the chase have under
gone gratifying change and now generally scknow
ledge, and partially practice the more enobhng and
beneficial principles and pursuits of christianity and
civilization Internal dissensions alluded to in former
reports have materially interfered with their advance
ment and welfare but these il is hoped will all soon
cease, and never hereafter be renewed. .f
The peculiar and unfortunate situation OF the Indians
in the State OF Michigan consisting mainly, OF the
federated bands OF Ottawas and Chiprewas fully
stated last year. and the deemed best for their
preservation and welfare suggested 1t is requisite that
there be new conventional arrangements with them,
psovidng for material changes in their affairs and in
their relations with the Une States and the State Of
Michigan. Such arrangements could not be effected
without more or less expense and the application of
the department the of ten thousand dollars ap
proprated therefor by Congress- Bat in consequence OF
the late period at which the appropriation made,
aud other circumstances 1t has been deemed advisable
TO postpone further proceedings until the next year
BY the convention with the Bknomonees of the 18th
May last they renqush their right to large tract of
country in Minnesota west OF the Mississippi river set
apart for their permanent home BY the treaty OF 164S
but which, proving to be unsuitable for that purpose
was therefore unacceptable for them. In exchange
therefor, they confirmed in the possession OF
portion Of the tract the Wolf and 0conto rivers in
Wisconsin, which, with the assent Of the authorities
of that State had been assigned for their use and TO
which they had removed. The tract granted them
by the treaty Of 1s48 guaranteed to contain not
less than six hundred thousand that secured to
them by the convention OF May last embraces only
hundred and seventy six thousand four hundred and
eighty acres, and is deemed to be than ample for
their comfortable accommodation. The lands retroceded
by them though not suitable for their purposes will be
equally valuable to the government il more So than
those granted in exchange.
In ton f he in he
titles Of the lands thus exchanged and because it
believed that the consideration stipulated for the lands
inadequate in addition to the pecunary and other
beneficial provisions of that treaty which continued
10 MEN, the sum OF one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars stipulated to be paid in fifteen annual install
ments commencing with the year 1867, when the pay
ments in fulment OF the treaty Of 1S4S will expire.
This consideration increased by the Senate in the
additional Of ninety two thousand six hundred and
eghtysix dollars making the aggregate amount Of two
hundred and forty,two thousand six hundred and
most literally provided for and all causes Of discomfort
removed it is hoped and believed that in few years the
MenOmonees will exhibit evidences of moral aud
social advancement.
The department has been perplexed and embarrassed by
the refusal of that portion of the Stockbrdse Indians Of
Wisconsin, parties to the treaty of 1s4S to accept the
tract Of hand selected for Them in accordance with that
treaty, and to which selection they at time gave
their assent They are pretend to be, anxious to
naiu where they now are at Lake wnnebago and ndi.
vdua mbers of the band have repea teddy visited this
city to urge arrangement to that effect For
stated in my special report to OF the 2bth ut their
application could not be granted The only alternative
seems to be- to find them suitable home within the
limits of Wisconsin, and as they require but very
small tract, this be accomplished without prejudice
to the interests of the white population of the State 1t
should not be DONE however, without making provision
fer all belonging to the band those parties to the treaty
Of 1S4S and those who we're not including also their
brethren the Munsees, whose rights and interests
entirely disregarded in that treaty. is much be
GREETED that such arrangement has not heretofore
been effected; the distracted condition Of these Ind
ans and the uncertainty 10 their future destination
han aF .,,,,
visit disclosed manifest evidences OF former state Of
advancement and prosperity, far beyond what they
enjoy.
The only other Indians having territorial rights in
Wisconsin, the band Of Onedas, who occupy q small
reservation near Green Bay, and far advanced in
civilization, to Justify the presumption that like the
Brothcrons, they will at distant day, dissolve their
tribal organization, and become citizens.
There are, however, within the limits Of Wisconsin,
few small bands Of the Chppewas of Lake Superior who
si occupy their former locations lands ed by the
found necessary or practicable to them. They
very unwilling to relinqush their present residences
o. are all the other bands of the same ludaus and It
be necessary to permit them all 10 remain in order
to acquire cesson oil the large tract OF country they
s.ll own east of the Mississippi which, account Of It's
great mineral resources it Is object material i'm
portancc to obtain They would require but small re-
vations and thus permanently settled the efforts
made for their Improvement will be rendered eff
fec;ual.
The Chippewas who reside in Minnesota west OF the
not il is understood DESTROYS Of ceding
such cesson at this time deemed absolutely necessary,
far the wants of our citizens Immediately
cerned yet, in view Of the rapid spread of population in
that direction and OF the future interests OF the Indians
themselves, 1t is believed that early opportunity
should be embraced to crcumscrbe their limits to
concentrate them upon permanent locations as recon-
mened their brethren east side There also
bands Of Chippewa Indians residing in the region north
of the head waters of the Mississippi who from the inn
perfection of former treaties do lot participate in their
benefits and therefore In very destitute condition
Some arrangement should be made to secure to them the
means Of subsistence and improvement.
1t having been found that the country proposed to he
given to the Wnnebagoes By the agreement made with
them last year. for exchange of lands, would, in
many respects, be improper location for them, it
was recommended by the department that the agree
ment should be amended as to assign them location
on the southern branch Of the Grow river 70 include
Red Cedar Island Lake.
The amendment which was adopted by the Senate
authorized the assignment of this location to them
one further West, might on examination be found
most advisable. reconnaissance of the country west,
having thus been rendered necessary the arrangements
for the permanent establishment Of these Indians, I'M
for them have not yet been contaminated
The difficulties connected with our relations with the
Sioux Indians of Minnesota were, year ago, as ex-
planned in the last annual report OF serious character
but they have happily been surmounted; Congress
having at its last session, confirmed to those Indians
the reservations originally intended for them by the
concentrating them Their on, and tor commencing
system of operations calculated to domcstcats and
improve them.
nuring tie rast season articles OF agreement
and convention concluded with the Omaha,
Ottoe and Mssouria, sacs and Fox of Missouri;
lovay, Kickapoo, Delaware, shawnee Kaskaskie,
Peoria, wea, Fankeshaw and Miami Indians all re-
siding within the central superntendcncy and in
the newly organized Territories OF Nebraska and Kansas.
These tribes lands bounded the east by the
western boundare ot the States OF Missouri and Iowa,
and lying between the parallel of 81 ceg and ~ 40 north
latitude embracing the aggregate, nearly III, co., 900
II acres; all OF which, with tie exception OF about
$40 GOO acres, being the amount o. their several reser-
yations, ceded 10 the government All the cessons
vest the title Internationally IA the United Stairs, ex
cept those from the oway the confederate band OF the
kaskaskas and Pcorias Wcas and pankeshaws and the
Delawares The stipuatons with these tribes that
the land ceccd by them, Except the neiswase Out
let) shall, after survey, te offered at pub.
lie sale and sold 10 the highest bidder and
such portions % are not Sold shall be subject TO
entry 81 20 per for the term Of ree years after
which tine Congress may reduce the price of the land
then remaining unsoli. Tie expense Of surveying
managing and selling the land is 10 be- deducted FROM
the proceeds OF the sales ard the residue to De PAID TO
the Indians
The prices stipulated Cor the land acquired in Ne
bra ka not exceed the average prices given herco-
fore Indian lands, whilst those for the acquisition ia
Kansas are greater. This Is attributed TO the higher
,tn4