The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-07
INDIAN AfrAfRs. NO. 4.

INDIAN HFfAfRs-No. A.
"E4ti4gaiahihg the hudidn Taep
When our orethers landed on these shores they found
the Indian in possession From the precarous fruits of Che
chase and tn contributions of sponaneos vegetation he
derived his Subsistence anu constructed his rude habta
ton Bat thy not disposed TO recognise his right to
continued occupancy HbeR The sell was wanted for Gull
ture. By brief Argument they dsfsaea bis ute ana
drove him off as an intruder The argument was ptby
but convincing arhe earth is the Lords "He has given
iii to His saints awe the saints" The form 0. The
statement is somewhat ridiculous but the philosophy has
been recognised in every age Of the world and by every
civilization Of pas ana present times God has given the
soil to for CULTURE The Indian race does not use 1t
for that purpose and hence has no right to possess 1t when
required for culture When found he ss Huisdnce to
civilized progression like bog TO be drained or '"se
10 be feled
But in dealing With the Indian race persuasion has gen
orally been found more economical than force There is
something Of the mule in his composition. fotce be an-
derstand and be will submit after being chasiised PEI
suason purchase he understands aud be recognises the
obligation Of promise or Of sale.
Long years Of experience led or revolutionary sags to
rely principally annuitcs and gifts hers Of set
Ting disputes and inducing the Indian to retire further
west So long there was room enough for him to de-
part and follow his old of life the system was cheap
few blankets and trnkes paid for square miles of land
the thousand The Indian was often battered with the
idea that the land his before the SALE and a IL be-
by the purchase But this not The view Of
government II claimed the sole right to buy the In
dian claim As early 1902 it was made an offence for
any citizen company without consent OF the govern
ment, to attempt q purchase. ts.aa.
Having the sole right to buy she has generally paid her
own price In the earliest periods when the government
was poor liitle paid the Indians would accept
Ia Jeersons day the rule enlarged The value OF
the annual products of the chase given section Of
country was assessed by the federal officers and engaed
in the treaty the amount to be paid the indians for
| abandoning it. BY degrees the United States became
more liberal and the expenses of Indian removals ere
paid These two propositions indicated the recognition Of
right of occupancy in Indian nations indigenous to
the SOIL but the recognition to have been
matter Of convenience than of justice when looking to the
differ cnt comEensations made to different tribes For
lands-take the period from 1905 to ls30-wc paid
mill per acre. for others sixteen cents The quality Of the
lands to have been element of the consideration
paid The Indian claims the best lands Of Ohio Indiana
and Illinois were acquired the lowest rates. Nor was
the of the claim considered for that the
| in all the cases.
circumstances foruitous in their character and the feel
ings of the negoators conrold often the spuaons TO
be reformed by government Said the
BILE from Michigan, reporting Of his nege
tiatons q" might hare obtained the land for lees
sdcraon but had not the conscience to deprive these be-
ngs Of their rights for the miserable rttance for which
| they could be obtained" a.
Our legislators and statesmen have with reverese 10
good English which invite the reader to admire, called
this process the extinguishment of Indian tile
purchase. The word purchase involves the idea of price
paida price having relation to the article purchased
But government has always acquired the land when il
decided do and at just such cost the necessities
| the case have involved BIAS,
By reference to the report Of the Commissioner of the
General Land Office for 1885, find that the cost OF exn
gushing the Indian title to the lands within the States
the Territory of Minnesota had been $35
LIST Of January 1885, The number of of public ands