Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-14

on the chase for subsistence.
The Chppewas and Otawas depend for subsistence on
the cultivation of the SOIL and comparatively IN an
advanced of civilization 1t is the opinion of their
agent that they will this year have surplus Of agrcus
tural productions The 0ttawas have adopted simple
code of laws for their government.
The Weas and Piankeshaws, Kaskaskias and Peorias
are known to be doing reasonably well. They depend
principally agriculture for their support. The Mia
mics not doing well Their village is SO convenient
to the white settlements that they have at all times the
opportunity crafty their appetite for ardent spirits
and they may be said indulge habuay and very free
y in its use.
The Chppewas, Ottawas, Weas and Piankeshaws Kas-
kaskas and Peoras and the Mamies all complain of the
depredaons of the Sac and Fox Indians and express the
hope that they may be removed far away from them
There is doubt but the complaints Of these small tribes
considerable extent well founded, and that the
location Of the Sacs and Foxes in their vicinity has been
injurious TO their interests.
By q provision contained in act of Congress ap
proved the Sd of March the President authorized
to enter into negotiations with the Indian tribes Of
the States of Missouri and Iowa. fer the purpose OF pro-
curing their assent to the settlement OF our citizens upon
the lands claimed by them and Of extingushng their
title in whole in part, those lands The Commits
sioner Of Indian Affairs designated by the President
as the officer of the Indian Department conduct the
necessary negotiations and that duty undertaken by
him at the earliest period consistent with his other official
engagements preliminary visit to the Indian country
with view to explore it, and to obtain such information
would be useful and necessary in preparing full and
detailed instructions the and conditions of
the treaties be negotiated deemed necessary and
made by that officer in obedience to his instructions
While thus engaged he visited the Omahas, Ottoes, and
Missourias Ioways Sacs and Foxes of Missouri kicka-
poos, Delawares, Shawnees Wyandotts Potawatomies,
Sacs and Foxes of the Mississippi Chippewas of Swan
creek and Black river, 0towas of Roche de B9uf and
Blanchards fork Weas and Piankeshaws Kaskaskas and
Peoras, and Mames These embrace all the tribes To-
Immediately of Missouri and Iowa. except the
bands of Quapaws Senecas and Shawnees and Senecas
who have small adjacent to the southwest
of the State of Missouri and who for want Of time, the
rated to prevent his seeing the Pawnees, kanzas and
Usage Indians with whom although their lands are not
contiguous to the boundaries of either of these States it
is desirable that treaties also be made, should civil
government be established and the country opened for
/ settlement. m ...as Y. ."
! The Commissioner held councils with every tribe whom
he visited and disclosed them the object of his journey
to their country He found the Indian mind in uniu
vorabe condition to receive and calmly consider his mes
sage For time previous to his arrival in the In
dian country individuals from the States had been
ploring portions of it, with the intention, was under
Stood Of attempting make locations and settlements.
The discussion Of the subject and the exploration OF the
country by citizens Of the States alarmed and excited
the Indians. Some of them were proposing grand
council at which it was designed to light up the old In
dian fires and confederate for defence against the white
people, who they believed coming in force to drive
them from their country and to occupy it without their
consent and without consideration Under such circum
stances was very difficult to quiet the Indians dvest
their minds Of impression that the Commissioner
visit was not in some way or other intended to aid the
whites in forcible occupation of the country As he
progressed in his journey and conferred with the tribes
i the difficulty was gradually removed.
With but few exceptions the Indians were opposed to
selling any part of their lands announced in their
plies to the speeches Of the Commissioner Finally, how
ever many tribes expressed their willingness to SELL but
the condition that they could retain tribal
their present tracts of land This policy was deemed
Objectionable and not to be adopted if it could be avoid
ed and with such tribes the time of treating was de-
ferred until spring, with the hope that the Indians
by that time might that their interests
quired entire transfer of oil their lands and their
moval to home Some tribes declined to dispose
Of any portion and ALL with the exception of the Wyan-
dots and ottowas who expressed opinion the sub
ect of organization of civil government in that ter
ritory, opposed to the They have, with
but few exceptions, very crude and unintelgble idea
Of the "white mans laws" deeming them engines Of
tyranny and oppression and they dread well fea,
them Before the Commissioner left the country quite
change perceptibe among the Indians and it is be-
ieved that with but few exceptions the tribes will next
spring into treaties and dispose of large portions Of
their country, and Of them will sell the whole OF
their land The idea of retaining reservations, which
seemed to be generally entertained not deemed to be
consistent with their true interests and every good in
fuence ought to be exercised enlghten them the
subject If they dispose of their lands reservations
should if it be avoided be granted allowed
There Indians in various tribes who occupy
ing farms comfortably situated, and who in such an
advanced state of civilization that if they desired to
main the privilege might well and ought perhaps to be
granted and their farms in each reserved for their
homes. Such Indians would be qualified to enjoy the
privileges of citizenship But to make reservations for
an entire tribe the which it would, il
believed, be injurious to the future peace prosperity
i and advancement of these people The Commissioner
far he judged it prudent, endeavored to
them this point and abored to convince them that il
consistent with the interest of themselves
and their postery that they should have tribal reserva
tions within their present limits.
The Commissioner recommends that far practca-
bic the Indians be located, in whatever changes might
hereafter ensue far from the roads leading to New
Mexico, Utah. California, SC. possible. He also ad
vses the erection Of civil in the Indian
risory at the earliest As touching this subject
he says: M
is respectfully suggested that the of money ap
proprated by Congress the last session is not deemed
adequate in view of the and magnitude of the OBJ
ects contemplated and Is recommended that further
appropriation be made early in the session for the
purpose Of treating with the tribes Indicated by the law
Of the last session. and extension OF that authority
that treaties II deemed necessary either to supply the
emgrated tribes with new. homes otherwise, may be
made With other Indians in what is known Nebraska
These treaties can, is believed all be made in the
months Of April and May and submitted to the Sen
ate in ample time for Congress to establish civil gov
i crnment at its next session.
As stated in the last annual report the negotiations
Il with the Comanches, Kioways, and other Indians
the Arkansas river, contemplated by an act passed
40 the preceding session Of Congress, had
Iriiy TO be postponed till the present session AT
Suitable period last spring they confded to the agent
in that quarter lie also charged with the duty Of
procuring from such Of the Indians Of his agency
parties TO the treaty Of Fort Laramie their
the amendment made 20 that treaty by the Senate where
the supplies CT goods provisions and other articles Of
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