Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-08

been well posed, and anxious t" cultivate anu P {
: serve friendly relations with Us.
, Several important treaties have been made, en-
Others equally 81 will soom ht ready Tor suhn'ss'o
to ;l.e Senate. Those already IN force are Hu;neioH
I and Of varied character. Many Of them contain oo
iyr,ionnb!c provisions and s:ipua,iuns, which III
Government WAS compelled to insert ut the lnulai'
own urgent solicitation being the production OIL w
vicious influences which too often SURROUND them
treaty occasions. Ii therefore requires great car
, and wisdom to execute them properly. Every e1
ertinn has been made effect this and, though a
, much has not been accomplished as was deslran''
vet il is hoped better state o things has peeh lf"
duced. ,.
TIE late Commissioner of the General Land Oflc
was deputed 10 Join the Superintendent ot Indian al
fairs i'll Wisconsin,, in order that his superior KNOW
. ledge of the land system might be made available i
the settlement Of the various and complicated 4urs
tiop. involved with the Stock bridge and Munsce In
Iians 4 supplemental treaty was mnde Win Them
which has since been dsapproved by the Superh'
tendent aud Immediately after 1t was cNccutrn ny w
Commissioner, for reasons contained IN HIS aoie re
mort herewith transmitted Although persuaded tia
| all was done that could be under the circumstance
then existing yet from perusa OF the treaty an! re
port nlli other reliable information, The stipu'oh
were not considered beneficial either IN III. Gofcril
ment or the Indians: and therefore renewed effort
ARE beng mnGl- 10 arrange more satisfactorily III
pending difficulties.
In order IN anst the unsettled matters e"'s'tn" p
tween the United States and the ChOctaws anu IHh>
asaws and also between these two tribes, triphru
treaty was made early in the past summer witch,
a,scntcd to by the councils oi these ribss ana rie'
by the Senate, will produce much Rooa IN t'e. sec
| ton of the Indian country. Besides nilaylng TIT
anxiety and rcmovn. the embairhssInens that nave
so long disturbed and distracted these intelligent ma
tons Il will open up large portion OF lhe Shocta"
territory for the introduction ana pernaneht 'peo't''
| of the Southern Camuncilts, NlcniIuS, aiu o'u'
Southwestern tribes. I,,os
The law makes provision for the survey IN hansas
Territory OF Indian lands under the treaties "i ie"4
$ lunfl dad
and, wicrs the nett proceeds OF the anu7 p ",'
| authorized to be paid over to the Indians, ms fresi
,,ut il required 10 cause said lands, ar such par
thereof as he may deem proper, /" be valued aN'
classified: and when such valuation ana classification
shall huy. been made To his satisfaction, {" cnlls'
such lands TO be offered ut public sale, by legal subd
visions or town lots, such times and nces and IL
such and quantity rs to INN shall appear pro
u.r aud necessary Ia carry out faithfully the siIpun
lions in said advised that nearly all the
pre- raquisitcs have been completed, umd that the ses
may be- ordered IT. take place during the early part
vi the next spring. Good faith aud sound policy
require that the treaty stpuGlios he strictly adhered
| to.
Many ofthe Texas Indians are being gathered on the
reservations sci apart in that State tnr them, and
conducting themselves with marked propety. These
reservations are TOO small still for time they maya
good purpose Ii may b: proper for Congress To
extend over them the laws regulating trade and inter
course with the Indians ~ their application may be
| found hrrt ssury.
The Indian agents arc instructed 10 reside amongst
the tribes, Ia be constantly Present to advise
! and uid them. II is often impossible 10 ascertain
whether the Instructions are faithfully complied with,
owing 10 the rrinnt.ncss nt the agencies. The rule.
however as thus far operated well, and WILL II Is be.
licyed, be of much service I" the Indians. Ny own
opinion il that il TOai be far better 10 have fewer
agents, and tn give compensation In euGh suitable
Ia the condition AMI circumstances OF his position, ,"
{" bring into rcquisitiun the character, ability AMI
peculiar fitness much required.
The distance of the Indian Bureau from the differ
tribes of Indians is great lhGt frequently il i
very difficult IL obtain correct Information about them,
especially where the agents careless or re-
miss in the discharge of their duties. The present
Commissioned has visited many of them nj much in
convenience, but by doing has acquired n great
deal OF useful information. ! believe il would be nd
vantageous 10 the Indians and the Government to
provide for officer to be attached To the Bureau,
whose duty il should bs 10 Wait the supe:ntendrnts
agents and tribes, examine into all their affairs and
make such general aud detailed reports "a would en-
able the office tn abuses, and submit such
suggestions ns if adopted, would have tendency to
ain.iorate the condition of the lndlnas.
The iucl!lty with which many of the chiefs, heHd-
nen and warriors are overcome bv the temptations
20 which they subjected and thus induced IN sign
important papers without understanding thClr object
purport. la, been productive of much evil. They
are not generally c"rrIpt, but becom: the supple
tools OF cunning, Designing men. Indians are a''-
Icted Ia drinking and gambling. rnd these passions
are minstrrrd 10 by many OF the traders aud EVIL
disposed pcr-,ns The cash system ut payments Is
the GOO Ut most al tue t'i.s tDht bclhI ~
abolish il has been the constant effort "i me Depart
,.n but its success has been only partial, OWING Ia
hr powerful rcssiaucI ul the tra'crs Ii wr-r"-
gu;ttcd system could b. Introduced among them, by
which they could obtain nj cost price what W"nh De,
under fixed rules and regulations, deemed essential
t their comfort and all the Licenses were withdrawn
from the traders, stronger hope of their civilization
md demonstration In;ght be entertained The License
system is III incubus upon al hcnthul action IN Their
behalf, and ntI abandoned VIII continue 10 Gulio-
ralz. and degrade them.
A more simple aud efficient evil and rT!'nliia code
should be provided ,rr them, aad cordial cJ-nPcrn'
ton of the States and Territories in which they are
located invoked. The slightest conflict ci IarlstIc
ton policy leads to disastrous Consequences and
should be sedul1usly avoided.
For some at the tribes permanent homes have
been established aud many Of the Indians have con-
trac;ed habits of industry, sohrirty, ind economy
The effect this upon tu whole IL very pcrccptibie
and encouraging. Their numbers ara inrrcaslilE
their comlnc, improving, and they are BEN" rapidly
prepared ia" hchithlul cNercs" oi the privileges
and the proper discharge ol the duties IT ood cttl
lens.
During the past year many Of the tribes west OF
the Mississippi have had tn contend with tlI" most
unfuyar. circumstances and il really cTtra"r'ilna-
ry that they have been utterly dISpIfIicd yet they
have under the scvercst adversely exhibited degree
O: Iurttule and fcrbearhnce we'll worthy the imitation
OF many of the whites, who boast ut their superior
moral and menin culture. Few OF Il. would 20 nm-
rcsisiingly hare permitted ourselves to be uGcrrcmo-
nousIy thrust from our homes aud deprived 81 our
fresidcs. They necessarily pressed by tie
whites, who. under the plea of necessity, exercise
their superior snyacity devices to invade their
rights an, ,lrsiu :he:A OF their property.
We mus, however provide for the existing state "f
things and n recurrence 10 the events that have
trarspirr, in connection with them for the last few
Years will show that condition of affairs has arisen
that never was contemplated and cnuld not easily
have been anticipated This canno. be changed with
ont an attempt IL stay the onward progress oil our
ueu;,c which would be truitirss. The mode ut trent
la n
..ltiun and the policy fixed "ne it Is not likely
the character vi the circumstances by which they
are now surrounded will ever change.
Many years have not elapsed since it was consider
ed that mixed occupancy at the sam" territory ny
the white and rel man was Incompatible with me
safety aud lnp,:ncss of either. y remedial policy
was adopted, an! the removal oi tie Indians west ol
the Mississippi river determined upon. guarantee
WINS given them that they should have exclusive pos
session Of that country forever, exempt from nI ~
trusinu Of white men. with ample provision Tor :.eir
security against external violence AMI ii'cfllal com
motions and the extension 20 them I" suitable faci
ties for their nj vancrmcm, in the arts of civlzNtioh
! The country WIS congratulated by one OF your pre-
deccssnrs upon their rrnnva! IT, Eelr new homes, ana
the duwning TO them nj Il new ami happy era was
| publicly proclaimed. But this guarantee has h"'
been fulfilled, md that proplons time mas NOT , nt-
rived \ quarter of century has not elapsed before
the same state Of things sd much depinred u ""iia
To exist and the evil that was INTENDED 10 he re'e-
died appears in appalling form. me strong
arIn n the Government is constantly inV"ken 10 sny
lis progress and the guarantee continually nru up
to u for faithful performance. Our only reply 10 al
tie appeals made il, TINT the force otfircnfn''"Ge'
i:aS rendered il imprncticah.c.
C,nrr.s. mas been generous in its more recent mp
uruprja,,ons COR the benefit of tic lusns, AMI dis
play,,l cnn,nenlabe spirit in MD OF their re"!anG'
ion Tic nu!y increase des:rtblc - in what Is ssuhI'
Is dsno,nuatcd the sriviZation fund.-, betiiS an an
nual upnrnrrintiun b. Tie act Of March 3D. 1917 81
SlOu1p. tbs might have been sufficient then but 1t
Is obvious il Is not 50 now. ..o
t Whoever will study their history, in connection
with the conduct OF our people will not be 80 niue"
surnr.rd M many OF the outragcs they commit