, 1857-05-22

service, and the Superintendent is the
proper person. He is presumed to have
the special knowledge and experience
which qualities him for the duty and this
presupposcs a practical acquaintance not
only with the Indians, but with the Terri
tory they inhabit, and can be gained only
but by frequent visits and much journey
ing and exploring.
Independent Of the duties deyolying by
law upon the Superintendent. requiring
long and many journeyings, it is absolutely
necessary in the present conjuncture of
affairs, that in the exercise of a sound dis
cretion, he should visit the several tribes
become personally acquainted with them,
and use his utmost exertions to quiet and
protect them, treated as they have been
by the most marked neglect and injustice
by the government itself.
We have no hesitation in saying that the
duties Of the joint Superintendency will be
so great, as things have and are now trans
piring, that the Superintendent can be but
little more than bureau officer. Should
he undertake to pay the annuities in per-
son, the business of the agents will be
greatly neglected in bis absence Should
be be called upon to make treaties, all his
other duties will be neglected we affirm
he will have no time to make visits of in
spection, and that the public service will
be without unity and influence, confusion
and difficulty Of all sorts will characterize
the service, and the Indian will, practically,
be pretty much left to himself.
According to all the Information we
have upon the subject, the present system
in this Territory is one Of rigid and minute
supervision of oil parts Of the Territory by
the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. The
late Superintendent has visited often all
sections Of the country within his jurisdic-
tion. He has become familiar with the
wants, condition aud disposition of the
several tribes. The agents of the several
tribes oil report to him in person, and are
held to a rigid and minute accountability.
The result is, that disafection has been
kept down on the Sound-on the river, and
in the eastern portion Of the Territory.
Where bis plans have not been interfered
with by the military, the peace OF every
tribe has been not only maintained, but its
I friendly disposition strengthened
This system has been adopted for unity
and dispatch. 1t has involved the employ
ment Of express officers. Agents are re-
quired to make semi-monthly reports 3.
formerly they were required to report
weekly and it is, in our judgment, still
necessary to keep up the system to prevent
things going backward.
With a joint Superintendent thus remote,
all careful supervision will be mpracticable,
great delay will occur in the public bust
ness, and in our judgment would require
largely increased expenditures.
But again The Indians of Washing
ton Territory have relations with the
Northern Indians, and with the Indians
east Of the Cascade mountains, which it
will be pertinent to allude to. Every one
, is aware that the Oregon Indians have no
relations whatever with the Indian bands
to the northward. But except few In
dians on the boundary line Of the two Ter
ritories, it is not generally as well known
that the relations Of the tribes of the two
Territories are entirely distinct. 1t is the
Indians Of Washington that go to Buffalo
east Of the mountains. 1t is the Indians
Of Washington for whose benefit the Black
foot treaty provided hunting ground east
Of the Rocky mountains, at the head waters
Of the Missouri and Yellowstone. The
, tribes go to and return from this hunting
ground over the soil Of Washington Terri
tory.
, In conclusion, we are Of opinion, that
I instead OF JOINT superintendent, II any
change were made, it should have been to
provide an additional Superintendent for
the tribes east of the Cascades On Puget
T Sound, alone, the duties, we are well aware,
are sufficient for one Superintendent, acting
under the immediate orders of the Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs. But taking
tail the tribes Of our Territory west of the
Cascades, it would afford him ample en-
ployment for these tribes number some
ten thousand, and for their proper manage
ment, we are of opinion that at least six
, agents and many employees might be very
! pro6tably and advantageously employed.
BS- We have no further intelligence con.
cernng the meditated invasion of the ter