Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-10
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Abstract OF the Annual Report of the Com.
missioner of Indian Affairs


and prospects OF the various Indian tribes and
exhibiting in detail the operations of the past
year, says that the New York Indians continue
TO improve, generally adopting agricultural and
mechanical pursuits. and even the habits and
customs Of the whites
BY treaties concluded in July and August
1893, the Indians in Michigan were relieved
from their obligation to remove west of the Mis-
sisSippi river; they received limited but suffi
clent quantities OF land. held by them in sever
atty. and ample means for educa tional purposes
The MenOmOnees and Stock bridges of Wis
eonsln, under advantages similar to those en-
Joyed by the Indians in Michigan are gradu-
ally preparing themselves to be admitted as
citizeDs of the United States
The Indians in Minnesota are doing well Ii
IL however. thought that their reservations are
too large, and ought to be curtailed, so as to
give to each one a limited quantity in seyeraIty
whereby, it is thought, they would receive
greater incentive to personal exertion and in
dustry.
A small outlawed band of Sioux committed
murders and outrages at the white settlement
at Spirit Lake, in March last for which they
have been punished by their own brethren
portion of the Indians at the headwaters of
the Missouri were severely scOurged by the
smallpox, losing by that malady 1000 souls
Treaties have been made with the tribes west
of Missouri, by which the title Of these Indians
to all the lands owned and claimed by them
except such portions as were reserved for their
future homes, was extinguished. Thus IL. 65S, 900
acres were acquired for occupancy by our cit-
Zens In Nebraska and Kansas, whilst 342 600
acres were reserved for the use of the Indians
The lands ceded by the Delawarss were sold
for their benefit, realizing 81 .05i. 9i37I those
of the IOways Sl64 ,437 50 and those of the
four united tribes S335 $50.
The tribal lands of the Wyandotts, at the
Junction of the Missouri and Kansas rivers,
were divided amongst them, giving to each
soul about forty acres
During the past summer n treaty was made
with the Pawnees, which is calculated, if ap-
proved by the Senate, 10 place these restless
and lawless Indians in a settled condition.
where they can easily be controlled
The Commissioner concurs fully with the
statements of his predecessors that our Indian
policy has two radical mistakes first, the lands
assigned to them are entirely too large Sec
Ondly, the payment of large annuities. The
former prevents the Indians from acquiring
settled habits; the latter causes them to foster
feeling of dependence and habits of idleness
exposing them 10 the wiles and Vaccinations of
inhumsn trafhckers in ardent spirits. unprin-
ciPled gamblers, and greedy and ayariciOus
traders and spectators. No more land ought
to be given them than they can cultivate they
should not be allowed 10 lease or sell their
lands except to members of their own respec-
tive tribes; and their annuities should be used
for the erection of schools and mechanics
shops especially they should be relieved of
Tue presence OF worthless l0leTS and yagrants
OF their own tribes, whose idle habits and rOv-
ing dispositions preclude them from settling
down quietly and orderly. For all such rest
less characters colonies should be erected
somewhere about Fort Bent and the heads of
the Arkansas and Platte rivers
The reports in regard to the four great South
Western tribes, the CherOkees Creeks ChOc-
taWs, and Chckasaws, are very favorable
They have regularly organized Governments
and laws, well suited TO their condition and
circumstances.
The tribes OF the Southern Superintendency
have, for some years, severely suffered of
drought; but the present season was very
abundant, and they have ample supplies of all
necessaries Of life
1t is expected that the SeminOles will soon
remove and settle within the district assigned
them in the treaty Of 1896. A delegation of
SeminOles will soon visit their brethren in
Florida to induce them to emigrate to their
own new homes.
The Commissioner recommends the repeal of
the law requiring that the monies due TO In
dians should he paid by the Superintendents
instead OF the Agents. lie also assigns ut
length his reasons. with great force why the
per cGPtLd payments should be abolished
The Commissioner suggests the prOpriety of
acquiring from the CherOkees 500 900 acres, on
which the whites make already settlements,
entirely against ;he laws, and which the In
dians are willing to dispose Of.
The colonization Of the Texas Indians on the
reservations SET apart by that State is favor
ably progressing.
The Indians in New Mexico are beginning to
have some understanding and appreciation of
our power and resources. and the necessity Of
preserving peace with one another, and with
the whites
The Indians on the Upper Arkansas and Up
per Platte, with the exception of the Cheyennes
and hioways, have been quiet and peacefully
disposed during the year The Cheyennes were
hostility and fhous,b oh al -,
troops. commanded b. Col. Sumner, are not yet
sufficiently subdued
The Information concerning the Indians in
Utah Is but scanty. 1t is feared that they have
been tampered with by the MOrmOns and that
the larger portion OF them will probably be
found to eide with those enemies Of the Govern
ment and laws.
The Superintendent Of California reports that
. universal peace prevails among the tribes
throughout the State" and that the progress
Of the reservations is such as the most sanguine
friends Ot the Indians could wish for. Among
other facts, he states that the Nome Lackee
reservation raised over ten thousand bushels of
wheat and that the work was done by Indians,
having only two white men oYerseers
On the reservations in the southern part Of
the state the drought has injured the crops
Five reservations have been established-Se-
bastisn, OF Scion, klamath, Nome Lackee, Men
d0unO and Fresno farm-On which about III 239
Indians have been coloniZed.
most rePrehensible practice has prevailed
to some extent in California, of kidnapping and
selling Indian children only few persons acted
thus inhumsnly, and the voice of the people
has unanimously denounced il. The malefac-
tors were punished according to the require
ments Of the law
large numbers Of claims have been pre-
sented for payment for supplies furnished the
Indian service in California, during the years
1851 and 1852, which have not been paid for
want Of appropriations. A special appropria-
ton was made July 20, 1874, Z" with interest
from the first day Of June, 1851, at the rate Of
ten per cent 10 pay Col Fremont Congress
having thus acknowledged the validity Of the
claims, the Commissioner recommends that
they should be investigated with a view to
their final settlement.
The Indian affairs in Oregon and Washing
ton Territories are in n very critical condition,