The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-31

Of another removal The Commissioners had felt the force Of
that precedent and had conceived opinions in accordance
with past policy But be found the Indians to
further removal west sHd the regions further west
s2nyiting in soil and climate and ia possession Of preda
tory banda He that the Indian perish be-
fore Angoaxon destiny become absorbed in European
civilization and he justly deemed the latter end attain
able indicated by the force OF circumstances and conso
nant with religion and morality it adopted The ext
gences Of the time demanded decision whether the at
tempt should thea and there be made prepare the In
dams for citizenship in the future be deferred to future
day, and the expense and cruelty of interediae
moyal further west incurred.
Who can doub. but that to the border tribes, the
decision was wisely made open the way for their nco
poraton with the citizens of the Territories and future
States to be erected in that region2
BY careful perusa of the treaties of 1854 with the
Delawaes Shawnees Iowsys Kiekapoos Sacs OF Missouri
ottoes and omahas it viii be that provision has
been made by which almost any desirable may be
used under those treaties tor the permanent settlement Of
the Indians in the country and the final dissolution of
their tribal organizations where that is practicable
The system of treaties with Indian tribes long pur
sued could precpitaey be abandoned and the good
faith of government preserved Legislation could not
supply the vacuum bring order from the confusion that
would result from indscrimnate disregard of compacts
with Indian tribes But provision by treaty for gradual
dissolution Of tribal relations consonant with past
of the case and the demands Of the destiny of
the AngoSaxon possess and enjoy the continent
and this adopted By the executive branch Of the gov
Every statesman who grapples with the Indian
question of to-day should examine those treaties in this
regard and he should read the official reports of the Off
of the Interior Department who have been engaged in
carrying those treaties into effect Beyond these he might
study the compacts with the Lake Superior Chppewas Of
1854 and with the Wyandots the Chppewas of the Upper
Mississippi the Winnebagoes the oowas and other tribes
of Michigan of 1855
When we condemn treaties with Indians let us con-
denim with discrimination / undertake to say that the
treaties above named have been the meansand the only
means that could be esorted to that at
constitutional available and adapted the emergencies
Of the case whilst strictly consonant with and dictated
by justice and humaniyof connecting past policy with
present necessities.
The leading features Of them are
lst The compounding of perpetual annuites promised
in past years, for few annual payments.
I'd The provision of reservations of land in the present
and future for the families aad individuals Of the tribe and
assistance and instruction during period of pupilage in
which they may learn to manage their individual interests
as members of civilized committeeman and proec-
ons being thrown around their possessions In the mean
time.
All these treaties have been ratified and are printed
Consonan with the policy appears that two other
treaties negotiated in August 1854, with the Senecas
Is,
which tribes, believe, located in Kansas but these
last have failed heretofore far as the public is
informed that approval of the President Senate which
is necessary consummate themISee Elk. Doc No. lo9
Report of Secretary of the Interior the present session
of Congress page sl5
In regard to the Indian policy in Oregon and Washing
Territories for several years past permit
that find that six treaties which negotiated in Ore
gon in 1853 1854 and early in 1855 have received the
uon of the President and Senate and binding unless
they now have void from violation by the Indians
Tpey the following:
With the Rogue-Rivers two, September 1853 and No
vember, 1854. -. .#s. H.u@
With Cow Creek band, one -..
Shastas and others, one. .....
| Umpquas and Others, one. e 81. - 4. .....
| Enthusiastically tribes, one.
On examining them find them to contain provisions
to extent similar to the treaties negotiated in the
year with frontier tribes The annutes to be paid
all to be paid in goods and in amount are inconsd
cradle The payments TO be made and expenditures be
incurred chiefly for establishing the Indians on reser
vaons, and erecting buildings these reservations
for employment of farmers mechanics physicians and
teachers for series of years. and for commencing agr
cultural operations, with view Of learning the Indians
| to work. One treaty, made with tribes on Pugets
Sound Washington Territory, is somewhat similar in i'm
port Some of the Oregon treaties provide for the assign
of separate homes for individuals in future years
found expedien and others for the removal of the indians
other localities if the treaty reservations suit
able.
These treaties, it may be presumed were negotiated
under Instructions the report of the Commissioner
Of Indian Affairs, in 1855, contains the following para
| graph:
From the appropriations made at the session of Con-
gress OF 1885, to defray the expenses of negotiating
treaties with Indian tribes in Oregon aud Washington Ter
rtories remitances made early after the close of the
session. and goods procured and shipped immediate
ly from New York for presents TO the tribes.
Instructions in the month of August 1854, given
Joel Palmer superintendent in Oregon and Isaac Ste
governor of Washington to enter upon the
the settlements of the whites and having for principal
aim the extpguishment of the Indian claims the lands
and the concentration of all the tribes and fragments
tribes few of limited extent naturally suited
the requirements Of the Indians and located
practicable interfere with the settlement of the
Territories respectively. They admonished of the
importance also of adopting but few spulaons be full
hled each behalf which should be simple and we'll un-
derstood by the ndan and of providing that the
paid might the discretion of the President be a-
piled for the establishment of farms the purchase of i'm
plements OF agriculture any other objects of benefit
stances may from time 10 time render proper and advan-
tegeous.
Under these instructions the officers charged with the
negotiations concluded four treaties which transmit
ted in time receive the sanction OF the Senate the last
session of Congress- and several others have subsequently,
been signed and transmitted here
Who that examines the treaties TO which refer can say
that they develop vicious policy2 Who that reads the
foregoing memorandum Of instructions the officers in
those Territories respecting negotiations will condemn
them or will su qgest something more practical