The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-13

F. lr T. Y. !. i q
ducon The two great difficulties to be encountered in
eectng the civilization of the Indian his patience
Of restraint and his aversion TO labor and these not
TO be overcome by abstract teachings He must be
taught practically If at ALL the immense superiority OF
settled over rowing life and the value and dignity OF
labor This the colonization system appears to be ac-
complishing and il IL certainly the most efectual and
economical plan yet devised for his reclamation.
The Indians along the west bank of the Missouri
those of Kansas and the four great tribes occupying the
territory west Of Arkansas form third class differing
in many particulars from either Of the others Generally
true and reliable they constitute people for whom we
justly feel the deepest sympathy and the greatest so
tude The degree of civilization to which these tribes
have attained varies greatly in different localities Some
OF them stepped In ignorance, thoroughly Degraded see
in their contact with people TO have lost the rude
virtues that characterized them in savage state and
acquired from civilization only its vices. Others have
rapidly advanced, socially morally, and in the knowL
edge of the useful arts until they have become fit to be
recognised citizens Here and there found one whose
talents, attainments and integrity constitute him an or
nament to his race, and while he challenges admia
ton and respect furnishes practical evidence of the
pacity Of the Indian for high civilization.
When those tribes who resided east OF the Misss
sippi river induced to leave the graves of their
fathers and eigrae to the west the Congress OF the
United States gave them solemn pledge that the
try where they reside should be forever secured
and guaranteed to them. The westward march of emi
grafton however, has overaken the Indian, and now be-
gins to press upon him. and 1t IL evident that critical
period in his history has been reached To attempt his
removal still further west mpaccable The country
Is unsuited to his wants it has no sufficient supply OF
wood or water, and removal there would but be the
means of Fastening his bitter fate. Where he now Is
he must make stand and struggle for existence his
doom sealed If he cannot adopt the habits and rise to
the level of his white neghbor he must pass away and
the necessity of devsng policy which shall meet the
emergency presses itself upon the government at this
time with peculiar force So far the Indians of the
central and northern superntendences concerned the
question is especially embarrassing Treaties have within
the last three years been negotiated with most of these
tribes by which their lands with the exception of small
reservations have been ccded to the United States Other
treaties have been made by which individual reservations
have been secured in the expectation that the Indian
would settle down. each upon his farm and gradually
and nsensiby attain the level of neghbos Unhappiy
for the success Of this scheme unprecedented tide
emigration pressed into Kansas and Nebraska The fer
tty of the reservations, greatly enhanced in value by
the rapid settlement OF the country, tempted alike the
cupdity of the land specuator and Of class of set
tiers by puncous in their respect for the right
Of the Indian. The result has been disastrous Tres
passed upon everywhere his timber spoiled, himself
threatened with personal violence feeling unable to cope
with the superior that surrounded and pressed upon
him. the Indian proprietor has become dishcartened
Many of them have abandoned their reserves and still
desire to SELL These Indians ask for patents
they have right to do, for their selections The
treaties vest in Congress the power of providing for their
issuance, with such guards and restrictions may
advisable for their protection heren. There can be no
doubt that people will succeed in getting possession
of these homes of the Indians Congress shall fail to
act, and thus open door by which the Indians
dvest themselves of their titles it may be apprehended
that unscrupulous WILL without law obtain possess
sion of their lands for trHing consideration and stand
the chances of ultimate title, The interest of the
requires the passage OF law regulating the aiena
tion of his right to his land and securing him the pay
ment of q fair equivalent for the same.
For their numbers the income of most of these tribes
in the way of annuity, is large but experience has
shown that the system heretofore pursued, of paying
them In money at stated periods has been productive
evil rather than good repesses industry and self
reliance it encourages idleness and extravaganza, and
draws around them swarm of unprncipled traders In
many of the treaties which have lately been negotiated
with these tribes this provision has been inserted @
" The object of this instrument being to advance the
interests of said Indians it is agreed that Congress
hereafter make such provision by law experience
shall prove to be necessary tEeH.1
Ii Congress- in the exercise of this power should clothe
this department with discretion in the payment of
annuities so that the could be used of
their moral reform and elevation instead of the injurious
system now prevailing of distributing money per caa
decided advantages may be reasonably anticipated.
The plan which has suggested itself the most likely
to arrest the demorlzon rapidly increasing, and,
at the same time lay solid foundation for their ultimate
civilization, may be briefly outlined thus
They should be gathered smaller reservations and
in denser settlements They must be familarzed with
the idea Of separate property by encouraging them to
erect houses as homes for themselves and their families
For this purpose the reservations should be divided into
farms of suitable size and distributed among the ndi
vduas of the tribes to hold in severalty as their sepa
rate and private estate but without the power of selling
norgagng, leasing, in any manner alternating the
same except to members Of the tribe with them
selves. Settlements by white men within the reserves
should be prohibited, and the prohibition rgidy enforced
and increased efforts should be made to suppress the sale
of ardent spirits to effect which the corporation of the
Indian authorities should be secured Farms should be
established in central POSITIONS at which oil the children
of the tribe should be collected and required to labor
and where they could be taught the ruments of an ed
ucaon. certain portion of them should be appren-
iced to useful trades and the surplus of the proceeds of
their labor whether the farm or In the workshop
should be divided among their parents Here they would
be taught the great tthsthat labor is honorable and
that want and suffering inevitably follow in the train of
improvdence and idleness. Implements of husbandry
blankets and clothing useful articles of furniture books
and indeed everything which promises to give comfort
to their homes, should be purchased and divided per
capita 8etH fEu a .Hg at \
Should their income be more than sufficient to meet
the outlay required for these purposes then the re-
mainder might be paid in money. Now the annual
ndiscminate distribution of their national funds among
the Indians is gradually working their ruin where
rs wise policy, such any parental government
should adopt would necessarily produce the happest
suits.
The details of the system should of course be modi-
fed TO suit the varied conditions Of the several tribes but
the uniform application of its leading ideas to the govern
men of the tribes in the central and northern supern-
tendencies is, conceive, Indispensable.
The condition Of affairs In the southern superintendent
cy presents gratifying spectacle The four great tribes
of Chocaws Cbickasaws, Cherokees, and Creeks with
the kindred band of Semnoles occupying the territory
west of Arkansas, have steadily improved in morals
in education, in the comprehension Of and respect for
the rights Of persons and of property in knowledge
OF the theory and principles Of government They have