The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-21
Proposed Civilization or Indiana,

The consequences of the late action OF the United
states towards the Indians Of Michigan are Of 50
deem 1t proper to lay the main feature of the treaty
just negotiated in this city before readers The
object OF the Government is TO locate these Indians
upon permanent homes. IN such manner ~ viii best
prepare them to enjoy the wise and humane pr0vis-
ion Of our constitution for their citizenship. When
We reflect that they number quite seven thousand
souls scattered throughout the Lower and part Of tbs
Upper Peninsula that they are divided Into small
bands under the direction OF separate chiefs and are
In various stages Of civilization, we perceive how
difficult and delicate task the agents OF the govern
ment had to perform The principal matters Of tle
]. A permanent home, or farm, to consist Of
eighty acres for each head Of family, Of forty
acres for each single person twenty-one years II
sge Of eighty acres for each family Of two more
These lands are all to DO located by the individ-
uals, each selecting his own piece, within certain
tracts chosen By the Indians and reserved from sale
next five years. The person locating is 70 reside
upon his farm and Is to receive q certificate Of sale
from government In usual form. save that the patent
shall not i'sue upon y before the expiration Of ten
years. During this ten years the President may,
upon the recommendation Of the Indian Agent, issue
the patent to any who are manifestly capable Al
managing their property with prudence, while, on
years, are not 80 capable shan wait stin longer f
their patent.
At the expiration of the first Eve years, and until
the end Of ten years from the ratification of the
treaty, the Indians shall have the exclusive right 10
enter and pay for lands within the tracts reserved
from sale, the object Of this provision being to ena
BILE those who can, to acquire lands In addition to
years the holders Of these certificates cannot sell
contract to sell, OF in any manner, dispose OF their
land.
We remark that the tracts to be reserved, IN
all cases designated by the Indians themselves, no
further effort being made to influence them than ~
point out manifest Disadvantages, IL any existed.
IN the country they chose, and to urge upon them
gregating in az large numbers a. possible. The
localities designated arc az follows, viz -
At Neaw.me-con, on Lake Superior; Whashey's
Bay. or utequa.ne.nor, Sugar Island, and near
Sailors Encampment, on the Ste Marie river the
Chenoose, back Of tho Island Of Mackinac the
Beaver Islands, In Lake Michigan; Emmett and
Isabella counties, In the Lower Peninsula At all
these points sufficient numbers will locate for
educational. religious and municipal purposes AT
some OF these points the Indians already have Hou.
rishiDg settlements, where they own large tracts Of
@nd sno nare made great advances IN civilization.
q In addition to the lands the government gives
70 them $500 600 dupward, of which sum $500 600
were due to them Tor reservations under the
treaty OF Washington Of 1885, $4,000 for principal
anu interest oil reserved annuity under that treaty;
$50 o00 as the value Of certain permanent annuities
end about 100000 for improvements upon Indian
lends csded under that treaty. BY the treaty OF
1855 the Indians bound themselves TO remove west
the United States was TO furneh them one years
subsistence and an outfit, besides paying the ex.
Iense OF their removal They have never been re.
moved; and the commissioner, taking INTO cousj
deration the fact that their removal would have cost
the government over 800 00O and that the expense
thereof must have been regarded az part OF the
price OF their land, gave them, upon equitable
grounds, enough more to make up the total giver
above.
The manner In which this sum is TO be extended
% as foows;.s7o 900, In five equal annual install
ments, for building materials and other things no
cessary 10 locate upon the lands granted to them b,
the treaty; about 100000 for the support Of -four
blacksmith shops ten years; large amount for the
support Of schools ten years; and the residue TO b.
paid IN instalments OF 10000 per sunum, with u.
terest total amount unpaid for ten years; which
leaves, at the expiration OF that time large FUND
70 be disposed Of for any purpose Of utility the In
dams may designate.
3 Al the end Of ten years the tribal organize
ton shall cease.
Thee are the essential particulars of the treaty:
and In view OF the deep interest our state has in he
welfare OF the Indians, we cannot refrain from ex
pressing DOR appreciation Of the liberaty Of lis pro
visions.