The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-17
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF IN
laAE q 41 DIAN AFFAIRS 44AE &
DErAnnrSr or TIN IssraIoa,


siR: The accompanying reports and statements from
the several supentendent agents and teachers furnish
valuable and interesting information in regard 10 the
dton and prospects of our various Indian tribes and ex
hibt ia detail the operations OF this branch OF the public
service during the past year. /
The New York Indians continue gradually to improve
they have generally adopted agricultural and mechanical
SUITS and considerable extent the habits and
toms Of their white brethren treaty recently entered
into with the Tonawanda band of Senetzs should il
ccve the favorable consideration of the Senate will 1t is
hoped, terminate the complicated and embarrassing diff
cultie which, for years have materially intereed
with their happiness and welfare.
The treaties OF July 3lst and August I'd 1856 with the
several bands Of Indians n Michigan provided for
tera change in their condition and relations They
relieved from the obligation to west of the Misss
sipp river secured limited but sufficient quantities Of
land, TO be held in seyeray, and provfc
pie means for educational purposes Under the liberal
legislation of the State they attain to citizenship and
is hoped that by discreet and udcious supervision of
their affairs the part Of the general government and
such cooperation may be requisite by the authorities
OF the State aided by the kindness and benevoence of her
citizens they soon be prepared for the enjoyment Of
that high privilege
The treaty Of 1854 with the Menomonees and that of
1856 with the Stockbdges of Wisconsin, released those
tribes from their engagements to emigrae of the
Mississippi to which they opposed, and located
them in other positions within the State where hoped
they win improve, and eventually become fitted for and
invested with citizenship.
The small band Of Oneidas formerly of New York.
main in the vicinity of Green Bay where they placed
by the treaty of 1887 They advanced In civilization,
and there is good why they should not thrive
and prosper if the State authorities would gidy prohibit
| the traffic with them in ardent spirits '
BY the treaties of September 30 1854 and February,
22 1855, the great Chippewa tribe residing in Wiscon
sin, Minnesota and the northern peninsula of Michigan,
ceed nearly the whole of the lands owned by them to
the government there being apart for the different
bands however, suitable number of reservations mi-
ted in extent where it should be the policy to
rate and confine them, and every exertion used to
hatf
| life .s
As stated in the last annual report of my predecessor
have treaty arrangements with the Red Lake Chip
pewas and few other scattered bands of Indians next to
the British possessions and in the valley the Red River
OF the North They poor and need assistance and it
would be good policy to extngush their title to lands
in that region, and to locate them small reser-
vation where they could be suitably and humaney pro
vided for ...E t...
The other Indians in Minnesota consist of the various
bands of the Dacotahs, Sioux and the Wnnebagoes
the latter located in the southern portion OF the Territory
and reported to be doing we'll The agent is, however,
of opinion that their reservation is too large and that
it would contribute materially their advancement
reduce it, and to assign them limited quantity of land
/ in severaty, to give them idea of individual
property and greater incentive to personal exerton and
| industry. .t- aaHA q
The principal body of the Sioux consist of the
bands OF Media wah kan toans and Wah pah-c tabs
known the lower Mississippi Sioux and the Wai-
pa toans and Se-see-t -toans, Upper Sioux These
located two reservations set apart for them by the
treaties July and August 1851 where strenuous efforts
being made to induce them to improve their habits
and condition. r ........ .. ..... .s..
1t was small outIawed and reckless band of these In
dans that committed the murders and outragos at the
white settlement at Spirit Lake in March last but who
the requirement of the department. have since been
severely punished by their brethren for their awess and
atrocous conduct this having been determined to be
better than to the chastsement to be nic
ed by troops. .a.. ... q, ..1.a.. s..s... "
Aporon Of the Indians embraced within the two agen
cies the tribes and in the vicinity of the upper and
headwaters Of the Missouri river have within the past
year been severely scourged by the small many
as two thousand of them having, it is estimated been
carried off by that disease otherwise nothing of
usual character has taken place amongst them These
Indians comprise eight different bands of restless and
wandering Sioux, with the Arckarees Gros Ventres Man
dams, Assnabones and Crows all within the lower and
the Blackfeet who within the upper agency But
small portions Of the country occupied by them suited
for agricultural pursuits and long the buffalo and
other game within their reach afford them subsistence II
will be difficult not impossible, to break them of Their
wandering and unsettled habits The agent reports that
the Sioux, to whom Gen. Harney promised presents Of
clothing for their soldiers very much dissatisfied with
the non compliance with that promise and he recon-
mcnds that Congress make provision for its fulment
An estimate for 5000 O00 to be placed at the disposal
the department for that purpose presented by you
predecessor to Congress at the last session Of that body
but appropriation made concurng in the pro-
priety and Importance of the measure respectfully
recommend that the amount necessary to carry it out be
! appropriated ..s.ss
negotiations with the Indians west of Missouri and Iowa
for the purpose of procuring their assent to the settle
ment of citizens of the United States their lands and
of extngushing their title thereto in whole in part
treaties were made during the preceding administration
4 with the ottoes and Missourias Omahas, Deawarcs
Shawnees Ioways Sacs and Foxes of the Missouri Kick
apoos Mamies and the united tribes of Kaskaskas Pc
i orias Weas and Pankeshaws The title of these In.
dians thus extnguished to all the lands owned
claimed by them, except such portions reserved
for their future homes the lands acquired for
pancy by citizens In Kansas and Nebraska amounting
to about l3 900 acres and the lands retained for the
use Of the Indians to about 1,342, 900 acres.
The lands ceded by the Delawares except the strip
known the outlet for which they allowed stp
Alaed amount and those acquired from the Ioways and
the upitsd tribes of Kaskasias Peoras Weas and Pian
keshaws were be- and have been sold for their bene
fit The amount realized for those of the Deawares is
ST. 054 943 III for those Of the Ioways s1s4 437 s5
and for those Of the four united tribes $685. $50 From
hee amounts is TO be deducted the cost of surveying and
qued to be invested in safe and profitable stocks except
so much the President may deem proper TO be applied
relieve the temporary necessities of the Indians during
the time OF their becoming settled and established on
their reservations The interest derived from the invest
ents is TO be annually paid over to them judicousy
appled for their benefit "
The trsaty Of January 81, 1855, with the wyandott
Indians residing at the junction Of the Missouri and Kan
rivers provided foF their Investment with citizenship
and division OF the tribal lands amongst them This
division IL Is understood has been made and resulted in
giving TO each soul about forty This measure the
agent reports has been attended with good results
snrit OF Improvement having manifested itself beyond
anything OF ths kind previously known amongst the