New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-08
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF IN
DIAN Affairs


missioner Of Indian Asis and The hs,ls inserest tia,
would be fell in large portion Of t. We are contest
with see cling the mcss interesting parts, Win an sh-
s,rsc and abridsmert of the remainder.
or the New.York Indians, the Report thus speaks:
"Tbe mpro. ment ia the condition OF the New ork
Indians, though gradual is very perceptoie' tas
fsrus buildings crops and stock, and toe substantial
comfort. surrounding the homes many oil the oneass
OnoDdsgas, Tuscarors., and the Tonawanda CaNe'
raueus and Aegsny Senscas, evidence !. mem Su,
form Advancement The reliance OF the Alegsny sen
ecas upon their timber ana lumber has not made nee
es.sry for Il IN their attention wholly 20 ssri-
culture, and while this resource has furnished 20 IN
tenJorary d. The timber and lumber trade In ~hich
thty ore engage NAV he regarded IS - hnderance
70 heir PEN an. ut Improvement. Churches sad re-
heious influences and schools well sustained smfng
these lnUans and al 10 te impress ed WIZ de-
s. 70 educate tic Children
The Chip. was and Ottawas Of Michigan and Wis
cousn are represented in an improving condition.
The Cbippewss of Lake Superior, who lnhaot
res.ryatoLs in the northern peninsula Of Michigan, the
northern part OF Wscor sin and Il at portion OF Name
sota between the St. Louis River and the Brtsh hne
have bs en- furnished with LIBERAL supply OF farming
in p merts carpeners tools household furniture aud
co. sing ut. nss and every Indian having house AMI
rtsidb in il, has been supplied with good cooking
stove and the usual cooking utensils, table, bureau
chairs, b,estesd lcohiDgEias, and meny smaller
articles for household The effect Of this policy Is
quite lerc, ptble and salutary and has simulated
any 10 erect and provide for erecting houses at
Ba5 RIVER and several other places"
The following encouraging account Is given of the
Nen'mOnets:
- The advancement Of the Me1omonees is constant
and STEADY Although obstacles hsve been thrown in
the way OF Indiana and the vicious and upu
lous bsve tndeav,Ied 10 thwart all the eOrts made fo
u.ir in proven eIt end the ers'piDg avsrce Of uu.
ptit cpled white men, in seeking to obtain their prop
eriy ia defiance of justice and right has rendered
item mtwhSt restless and unea,y; yet notsith
standing all this their prgress is very gratifying aud
The results already attained leave no doubt but the
MCromoIee Indians, in very few years, will conn
vetely and perfectly adopt habits OF industry and
civilization Indian laborers have been exclusively
employed TO do the work of the tribe. The agent,
farmer miller, teacher ard one blacksmi h are the
only white persons located at the agency and employed
On The resery aou All the work in the fields veil
AZ ia the shops is done by Indian hands. number
o. the Young Menomonees have become expert csrpen-
ters providing not only the general carpenter shop
with hsn6s but the different bands have carpenters
smopg them, who are erecting houses for the various
families to facilitate which the council hiss requested
that set of carpenter tools be furnished to each hand
or the WiDnebagoes, formerly so troublesome, we
have the f llowiog account:
In the Southern part Of Minnesota Territory the
Whine bago.s have assigned to them under the treaty
of FEBRUARY, 1853 exce Mt trac, of land for per-
map.pt home: and laudable efforts are now being
made to correct the vicious habits OF these lodaos.
Extensive improvements have been made for them at
their new loo ,ton. White labor has heretofore been
siply relied on but hereafter is expected ths, tue
indians bem elves i'll be more extensively employed
in perfImng The work which will be required to be
cone II is designed next season to ensrge and ex
tend the improvements upon the Wmneo 'go hessfsa
ii,n At late council of the tribe code of laws was
ADOPTED for projection OF their persons and properly
and for the punishment of crimes.
OF the condition of the various tribes of Sioux and
Chippe was in the Northern part of Minnesota the ac-
count is less favorable. They are still engaged in
deadly hostities with each other.
at is hoped that some arrangement may be made by
vi icb the deadly strife between the Sioux and mp
rewa Indians may cease The conviction and eIecu-
ton under our criminal laws of ell Indians guilty OF
he murder OF Indians would it Is believed put stop
10 II war parties OF the Sioux and Chippewa, as well
a. other Indian tribes but there has been no fund pro-
yjd.d by which such prosecutions can be commenced
and carried 3D. II would in my opinion be an act Of
humanity il such fund placed at the disposal OF
TIE Der artmept the prosecution, CONVICTION and ex-
ecutior Of few Indians would, no doubt, have most
sslutaIy influence.
We pas. now to the rid tribes Of the Northwest
The Backfeet, Fsibeads, Nez Perces, and the
other tribes TO the treaty of the Judith residing
Oh or near the he adwaers OF the rsour River have,
since the regoston Of that treaty IN October, 1919,
remained at peace and refused all participation ~ the
hosties of The tribes of Oregon and sshiagon Terri
tories The common bunting ground provided oy tue
t a,y has produced beneficial results and the conflicts
of and Iapihe hsve given place among them u the
GUS com merce. The Blsckfeet although absolutely
bsbsruus are said to be intelligent and tracttbe, and
AMI le pro, ision is made by the treaty for their instruc
III in the arts of CIVILIZED LIE.
The Crows, who inhabit the country bordering on
the Powder Big Horn and Yellowstone are warlike,
possess large bands Of horses, and depend on the
chase for subsistence.
The A.sinabonies speak Sioux dialect, and inhsbit
the country north Of the Missouri, opposite the Yellow
stone They subsi.t by the chase, have few horses,
and use Esquimaux dogs as beasts OF burden. The
Mar daes and Arcksrees the south side Of the Mis-
.ouri cultivate and other vegetables, but a. soon
a. their crops are gathered and "cached" they leave
their dirt lodges, Which they nhabt during Summer
and betake themselves to their skin lodges in the VIM
ter for the purpose Of hunting the buffalo The
"Mandsns speak language dissmlsr to their neigh.
"bors, and are represented as intelligent aud quite
"dignifsd. The Arickarees speak the Pawnee Ian
"guage. These tribes construct their own boats,
(which consist of buffalo skins drawn circular
frame work of willow"
OF the Kansas Indians, the Omshas, the Otoes and
Missouris, the Kkspoos and Delawares, Otawss
and Chippe ses are represented as making improve
me nts in their new or curtaled reserves The Sacs
and Foxes, Kaws, Weas, Iowas and Potawstamies
are less favoraby spoken OF.
The agent of the Potawatamies states that he 10
unable to make full report because Of the loss Of
"bis pspers. He represents that a band Of la"less
"nen drove him from bis house, took everything he
poss essed scattered his official papers, broke open
"the boxes containing the agricultural implements sent
"by the department to the Indians, and carried OF
Large numbers Of them
This We suppose is one Of the Kansas outrages, and
from the significant silence Of the Commissioner as 10
the perpetrators the work probably of Border Rudian'