New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-07
TIE INDIAN TRIBES.

We lesln from the Annual Report OF the Commis-
sioner of Indian Affairs, that the endeavors which
have been made to ameilorate the condition of the
Indian tribes OF the country have proved successful IN
many instances while in others the experiment has
met with but partial success
4 change for the better to be taking place in
the condition and prospects of the Indians OF Mime
sofa. The arrangements with the Chippewas ami
Sioux respecting their location &C. will effcctuay
tend to put an end to the hostile and bloody collisions
between them heretofore of 80 frequent occurrence
The Pawnees and POncas OF Nebraska who nave
infested the emgrant roads and have been guilty OF
many depredations, have expressed desire 10 trea,
With the Government 1t Is desirable that they should
be brought under some restraint.
The mass of the Shawnees are not 50 far advanced
in Improvement a. the Wyandotts, end SOME of the
principal men have held i'll former years such relations
of intimacy and confidence with unprinciped white
men a. 10 render il very difficult 10 exercise
salutary control over them. They have very large
money annuities and their lands to be assigned
them will be valuable. Their position is exposed aud
their condition critical and il Is Of the first importance
that their leading be of high integrity 1t is to be
feared from recent indications, that some of them are
still under the influences referred to- and If So they
are very unsafe guardians of the rights and Interests
the Indians.
issippi, although greatly diminished in numbers, are
the two most pOpulOus of the omgrated tribes on the
frontier within the central superlntendcncy They
have for many wears been in the receipt of large annu
tiles and liberal provision has been made for their well
fare and advancement but regret to say with the
exception of of the POtowatomies, and recent
comnendabe act of the Sac and Fox council to sup
press intemperance) they present no evidence of ma
tional Improvement The pernicious and corrupting
effects of their money 0nnultes, which have afforded
them the means Of INDUCING in prolgacy and vice, and
enabled them to live the greater portion of their time
without exertion, and the frequent removal from
ity to her he
Efforts made to domestcate and ciyiZe them. They
de monstrate in striking manner the three great evils
which have attended our Indian policy Large money
annues excessive quantities Of land held IN common,
and continued changes Of location in advance of FROM
tier population. We can hop for no material altera
on tor the better i'll herc0ndit0n and prospects until
they shall have been concentrated upon reservations
of limited extent, and provision made for the division
of the land among them in severaty FAST this
be safely and prudently effected New treaties with
them are necessary for the accomplishment OF these
objects
A number of the chiefs and other leading men among
the Pottowatomies are, from their long contact and
association with corrupt influences, very reckless and
dishonest men. They have been welded and con-
roled by such influences for many years, to temani-
fest destruction of their own morals aud integrity, and
the great injury of the Indians. To save the Potto
waonies from the injurious aud evil effects of these
influences il may be necessary for the Government to
resort to extreme measure, and to cause such chief.
will not their association with unprlnclped
white men, Ia be deposed. Such steps may also be
necessary with the head men OF some other tribes in
Kansas Territory aud elsewhere.
The moral well as physical condition OF eonteder
atcd bands of kankaskla5 and the PeOras Nea5and
Pankishaws and the Misunderstanding the Osage
River Agcncy-bas improved within the last year. 4
vigorous temperance reformation has been on foot IN
which several of the principal men of the Mames are
active and Jealous instruments. An unusual quantity
of seed planted in the Spring which yielded
abundant harvest. Large quantities of hay have
been moved and secured, aud potatoes have yielded
abundant The health of all the Indians within this
Agency has been good. Arrangements have been
made with the Domestic Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention for the education Of the children
within this Agency; and many of the Indians have
mamie sted audable desire for the instruction of their
youth, it is anticipated that favorable results will flow
from has measure
The Kaw, or Kansas tribe of Indians residing
within the Council Grove Agency, III consequence Of
their proximity to the trading posts on the Santa Re
road, whey they can procure intoxicating beverages
from traders and emgrant passing through their
try have become addicted 10 habits OF ntemperonce
and Incidence, and the commission of such m-demean-
AID crimes usually follow in the wake OF the
liquor traffic. The annulties provided for them by
Government have proved rather injury than
blessing, from the fact of their having been squan
deTed for ardent spirits after their reception from
Government agents. Thus exposed 70 influences OF
the most deetenOus character, they have been guilty
in instances, of the commission of depredGtions
upon the property of emerant on the great thorough
fare leading TO Santa Fc II cannot be reasonably ex-
pected that their condition be improved 10 any
consd, rabe extent unless the requisite steps be taken
to ccumscrbe tn" of their present reservation
with view To their being concentrated within a
smaller sphere, where they may be- easily con-
trolled, and Influenced to engage in the cultivation Of
their soil and whatever else may be rewarded az iudi-
pcnsable 10 their civilization.
The difficulties between the Choctaws and Chicka.
saws, explained IN former Reports, Will il is hoped, be-
chectually adjusted and settled by the convention
which was entered Into with the of the
two trb- IN this city the past Summer subject how
ever To the ratification Of their Councils as well az IN.
President and senate Of the United States. This in
-iTumeni ratified, WILL II u believed put an end
to the CALLING relations Of the Choctawr, in which the
Chickasaws have been held under since the Con.
ven'on Of 1897 u viii give 10 the latter independent
jurisdiction aud tho night Of sehgovcrnment, which
they have earnestly sought 10 obtain for wears pat
While Il viii Simplfy the relations OF the two trbcs
with each o,l'r and With the Government and secuvc
"h'T important objects aud advantages not oniy 10
u'm bHi 4" The tnii'd ttnies. iiy the Convention