The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-10

service IT, instead of allowing contractors the right
purchase, limited quantities of land, at proper distances
reserved for the Of the postal service along those
routes by which each successive contractor should have
tho and control Of the reservations during the
tnuance of his contract, and longer, it IL believed
that In the future letting of contracts great economy
would be effected for the service and cannot but
mend such change in the law to the favorable consider
alton Of Congress.
Much labor and pcrplexity have grown out of the
ecution of the graduation law approved August 1854
The third section Of that act required tho party applying
to make entry at the graduated price, to make aida
Wit that he she enters the for his or her own
and for the purpose OF actual settlement and cultiva
ton or for the use Of adjoining farm or plantation
owned occupied by him herself !" and that to-
gohcr with said entry he she has not acquired from
the United States under the provisions of this act
than three hundred and twenty Of land 1t is idle
to make these requirements and not enforce them and
therefore, the action of the land Office has been to
qure proof Of compliance with the conditions of the
law before delivering the patents to the respective claim
ants Purchasers neglect or fail to make the proof ia
very many cases. hence suspensions become numerous
and progress with business Is prevented to the injury OF
tie citizen and tho government On the 30 OF March,
1851 Congress interposed and confirmed all the entries
made at graduated prices prior to that date, with few
exceptions the great relief Of the claimants and the
Land Office Since then other similar entries have been
allowed and in regular order carried into patents which
have been forwarded to the local officers for delivery upon
satisfactory proof being adduced of compliance with the
! terms OF the law.
It believed that the graduation law will continue to
prove fruitful Of fraud and annoyance unless
some change Is made In its terms Congress should
que proof settlement and cultivation prior to the adj
mission the entry should release the purchaser from
| the conditions now imposed
INDIAN AFFAIRS,
For full information in respect to Indian relations
refer you the report of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs and the accompanying reports Of the different sn
| perntendents and agents. ff
During the past year there has been much excitement
among the wild tribes in tho ntcrisr Of the continent
The withdrawal of the troops from the military posts on
the frontier and their march through the Indian coun-
try the Territory of Utah the passage of tie many
supply trains of great magnitude with their numerous
attendants the long route to the same destination
and the discovery of gold mines in the territories OF
New Mexico Kansas, and Washington, and In the Brit
sh possessions adjacent to northern bndaries west
Of the Rocky mountains have set in motion large class
of adyenturers who have tayerscd extensive tracts OF
country heretofore untrod by Indian tribes The
opening of three wagon roads, and The establishment OF
the overland mail routes the continent have pre-
sented inducements and facilities for travelling over
the plains of the interior and oil hese causes combined
have had little influence in disturbing our amcable
relations with those nomadic tribes, that snbsist almost
exclusively upon the spells of she chase Although acts
of hostility have resulted In localities, it Ia grat
flying fact that with tifing exceptions the tribes with
which we have existing treaty stpulations have kept
their faith and have enjoyed season OF peace and COM
| parativo plenty
When the exigencics of the service compelled the War
Department TO withdraw the troops stationed among the
tribes on the frontier, agents expressed serious ap
prehensons of outbreaks but those fears have for the
most part proved groundess. In those in which
the celing of some, and the dishonesty OF Others have
led open hostility, gallant army, by timely chas
tsenen has taught the delinquents lesson which will
not DO forgotten. Conquest has thus paved the
way for the introduction of our policy OF peace, on
wick rests the only hope Of the friend OF the red man
that there is any good in store for him and his pos
terity
With the exception Of the marauding bands that wan
der about the boundary between the United States and
eloulI md
decisive policy the great Of the Indians in
condition and temper to inspire the hope that increased
success will crown the efforts now making for their inn
| provement
They are becoming too well acquainted with power
to be willing 10 measure their strength with tho
bnttle field wholesome fear Of, and respect for,
government have been inspired and they will not, as
tribes wantony incur displeasure. The sword Is e
ectuay opening the way for the poughshare and little
now remains to be done to perpetual amity with
several tribes and give fair scope to their growth in
civilization except to have full and explicit under
standing with them, and to prevent If possible, their
being msed by hwess and dishonest white men.
In a our dealings with the Indians, in treaties
laws and policy the end sought to be attained has been
the welfare and elevation of the rncc to induce them to
abandon their thrtless life and ba-barous manners and
adopt the faith and practices of the Christian Our
cess thus has not been commensurate with our efforts
and expenditures but cannot with truth, be said
that the attempt to cvilize the Indian is altogether
| failure.
In reviewing the past it is easy to point out errors
which have been committed, but difficult to designate
general policy which, in all respects, would have been
/ better and the introduction of system at any
time would not be without its drawbacks and difficulties
! due regard to the interests of people has
compelled the government to remove the Indian tribes
originally nhabiting the middle southern and western
States to babitaons further west In instances
one removal has followed another change has succeeded
change this unsettled state Of affairs has been der-
mental the progress of the tribes in civilization and
antagonistic to the efforts made to convert the Indian
from the ways Of his foefathes to the faith and habits of
| our own people.
When reservations have been assigned to tribes
too often the boundaries allowed have been dspropor-
tonatey large and their situation has thus invited them
to continue the hunter life. Their extensive domain has
been held in common and therefore separate individual
property essential to individual exertion and general
industry has been comparatively unknown among them
The heavy ANIMAL argesses that have been given to
tribes when divided among their people at stated pc
riods amount to stipend which, without furnishing an
adequate support is yet large enough to destroy their
otherwise compel and create taste for pronigacy, which
strengthens their natural aversion constant labor
employment
These characteristics of past policy should be
changed. Removals Of tribes should be avoided Scpa
lands should be assigned TO individuals without the
power aicnatc cucumber them and money annui-
tics should be expended the good instead Of
being divided per capita.
Upon this limo Of policy this department has acted in
the negotiation of the recent treaties with the fawnees
Poncas and Yancton Sioux and in the administration Of
the Indian service generally, far the provisions Of
existing treaties will admit 1t is now proposed that
Congress shall authorize the substitution of mechanical
and agricultural Implements seeds clothing, household
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