Washington sentinel., 1854-05-03
mashin gtnn gentimel.
Terms Of Treaties hereafter to be made
with certain Tribes of Indians.

Mr.. ORR, from the Committee on Indian Affairs,
made the following report,
The Committee on Indian Affairs, 10 whom was
referred House bill No. 2l0. defining the terms
ON which treaties shall hereafter be made with
certain tribes of Indians, and for other purposes,
report
Thai they have given the bill that consideration
which its novelty and importance merit, and have
determined with unanimity TO commend il 10 the
favorable action ofthe House. There is much in
The history of The aborigines of the western coni
nent TO challenge the investigation Of the phioso
pher and 10 excite the warmest sympathy of the
phlanthropst. The rapid decay of this noble
race OF native Americans should arrest the at
iention OF the statesman, and some policy be
adopted TO save the remnant of this once proud
and powerful people from annihilaiion. II would
be prompted by considerations of mere humanity
but when We recur 10 the first discovery OF The
New World by Coumbus-an event which has
exercised so potent an influence in the history OF
our race-when remember the progress of its
early settlement, and the kind hospitality an,
cestors enjoyed in the rude wigwams Of the red
men ofthe forest; gratitude alone imperiously de-
mands that we should now spare his posterity an
extinction which our policy towards them is hast
ening with certainty. Your committee entertain
a sangune hope that the policy shadowed forth in
the bill may stay that destruction which our former
system is rapidly accomplishing.
II is proposed 10 extend it, as an experiment TO
those tribes who have heretofore been removed
from the States TO the west ofthe Mississippi and
who are now located in the projected Territories
of Kansas and Nebraska as also TO the Usage and
Kansas tribes, who are Indigenous, but who have
conveyed heretofore most Of their lands to the
United States reserving only small portion Of
their once extended possessions, on which they
now reside
Ifthe experiment succeeds with the emgrated
tribes, some of whom already have a partial
knowledge Of agriculture and the civilization of
the whites, il can be extended as settlements
progress westward, TO the wild tribes who now
have no experience in ting the soil, and who
rely exclusively upon the chase for the means Of
subsistence.
The present destitute condition of most Of the
emgrated tribes west Of and contiguous TO Mis-.
souri, and Iowa is melancholy memorial Of the
sad failure of our misjudged eiorsto civilize this
faied race.
Enlightened philanthropy now suggests an aban-
donment of our former system, and the institution
of new one which will ALLEVIATE the Indian from
the precarous fortunes ofthe chase and attach him
10 the more stable and happy pursuits Of agricul-
ture
In their new homes they have been disappoint-
ed in the permanent and abundant supplies OF
game furnished by the forests and praires of the
west. When they removed far towards the set
ting sun, and abandoned the wigwams and graves
oflheir fathers, we told them they would get be-
yond the reach of the vices. deceptions, and OPP
pressons of bad white men, and that the Great
Spirit they reverenced would bounteously supply
them abundantly with the deer, elk, and buffalo
TO the stories which we told them Of this
promised hand. Their hearts saddened, doubtless
when they turned and gazed for the last time on
their native hearth and still they were cheered in
The hope OF bright future, TO be realized in the
stiffness Of that wild 10 which they were treading
their way.
The policy towards the Indians, when adopted
seemed wise and humane. Its authors never anti
cpated The rapid progress of the extension of our
settlements and population westward. TWAS sup
posed the Mississippi would for many long years
mark the western confines of this Union and pre-
sent a barrier 10 western expansion not TO be
overcome. Soon, however the illusion was dissi-
pated; for the sturdy poineer eaped the rolling
flood of the father of waters and began 10 fell
and conquer the forests the western slopes of IL
great valleys. In few brief years tier Of States
was formed " over the waters = and then il was
confidently believed that The broad plains and
praires. mountains, and valleys. westward 10 The
Pacific would only be trod by the wild beasts o
the forest and his natural enemy, the red hunter
A few more years, however demonstrates the i'm
potency Of the most sanguine imagination TO fl,
limits TO our march westward. The acquisition
and settlement Of California and Oregon ha.
created the necessity of converting much of The
Indian wilderness into great highway and tho
roughfare. Not less than seventy-ive thousant
of our citizens annually traverse the Indian coun
try on their Journeyings 10 and from the Pacific
coast. The red man is no longer permitted tc
roam the wilderness free from the balefu pres
ence Of the hated pae-iace. He sees the buffalo
driven farther and farther from his lands, his
lodges, and his wigwams. He finds that the an
nual slaughter of this noble animal for his own
subsistence, that Of the white caravans that dot
and eliven the plains, and for the robes 10 supply
the wants Of civilized and savage life, amount TO
upwards of four hundred thousand
Unforeseen circumstances, such as no human
foresight could have anticipated have defeated
the great object sought TO be attained by the re-
moval of these tribes. Want, we may Justly say
famine, is gripping at their heels. The rapid de-
structon of the buffalo is exhausting the only
larder from whence they draw their support. The
broad prairie Yields them nothing but game, which
Is now taken only by labor, toll and privation
and, when found, lis quantity is so meagre as to
rather tantalize than appease the dreadful gnaw-
Jugs Of hunger.
Some Of the tribes on the frontiers Of Missouri
when they leave their lodges in the spring and
fall 10 enter upon the precarous hunt for food
traverse several hundred miles of foodless desert
before reaching their harvest -feld--the herds O
buffalo. Very soon they will cease 10 gather
harvest for the buffalo will only be known in the
natural history OF a past age.
An increasing emigration and settlement aon.
these great highways and the large number o
laborers and employees the Pacific railroads
soon 10 be constructed, will destroy all the gam,
supporting the Indian; and what will be his fate
If he should rob and murder TO procure food, tha
his broken spirit and tortured body may be post
poned dissolution, should il excite surprise
And if justice required cxpation for the crime
would not even a calous Judge melt in tears o
pity when gaunt famine pleads its justification fol
Ihe deed?
When the buffalo is exhausted, the small game
will feed them but very brief season. Having
neither breadstufs nor vegetables, with nothing
but meat TO subsist upon, The ordinary demands
Of nature would not be appeased by less than from
five 10 len pounds per day. The deer is already
growing scarce, and il cannot be depended on to
subsist the Indians when the buffalo is gone.
Il idle then, TO look longer 10 the chase as a
means of support for the Indian tribes. They are
reduced TO one of three alternalives-either 10
starve plunder, or labor
Humanity revos at the prospect OF perishing
for food in country where old mother earth so
generously rewards the labor of the husbandman
but the second is volative of every social and
moral duty, and its perpetraton must bring igno-
mnous punishment The adoption, by his own
free choice, of the last alternative should if posi-
bic, be secured; and il is the solemn duty of Con
gress, by its legislation, aid this consumma,ion
for the benefit of its wards and thereby discharge
its 6duciary trust 10 the Indians, now weak and
powerless. II can only be done by giving 10 the
red man an incentive 10 labor. Your committee
eqnne confident the result will be approximated
py the passage ofthe bill under consideration. Ii