The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-23
REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

INDIAN AFFAIRS
The Commissioners of Indian Affairs reports
that no change has taken place in our relations
with the various tribes with whom we have had
treaty stipulations, except in the case of the
eCamanches
: The whole number of Indians within our
limits is estimated to be about 100000. The
whole number of tribes and separate bands is
9l75, with Al of which we have treaty engage
ments. The number of ratified Indian treaties
since the adoption of the Constitution is 1898,
nearly all Of which contain provisions still in
force The quantity of land acquired by these
reaties is about 58l l63, lS8 acres The entire
cost offulflng these treaties will be $40 ,344
From part of these lands the Government re-
-ceived no pecuniary advantages, because they
were ceded to the respective States within
whose limits they were situated. From those
sold, the Federal Treasury received not only
the whole of the expense incurred for their ac-
QUESTION, survey, and sale, but surplus of at
least 100000, 900. The amount applicable for
the fulflment of treaties, and for other objects
connected with the Indian policy for the present
fiscal year, was $4,852 4O7.3 ; of which sum,
$2O4,G62.89 was derived from investment of
trust funds.
The whole amount Of trust funds held on
dNNOuhJ Is SlUyOJU,OfJ.OZ OF Wnlcl,
$500, 64l.82 has been invested in stocks
in various States. The remainder, viz ::
S7,0S8, 407.80, is retained in the Treasury, and
the interest thereon annually appropriated by
Congress.
: The Commissioner thinks it worthy of con-
sideration, whether it will not be advisable, when
fhe National Treasury shall be in a condition
TO admit of It, also to invest the above sum Of
'S7 ,OSo,401. 80 III like manner with the other
indian trust funds
The aggregate amount appropriated by Con-
gress for Indian service during the present
fiscal year was $2,659,369; Of which sum.
~ ,3O9,054 was required for the fulfment of
treaties, leaving only Sl,350,335 for recognised
and established objects Of expenditure con-
gected with our Indian policy, over which
economical discretion could be exercised The
Commissioner hopes, by system Of retrench-
ment already commenced in the colonizing pol
icy in Oregon, California, and Texas, to reduce
materially the expenses of the remainder of the
present and during the next fiscal year Every
item in the estimate submitted for the last-men-
toned period has been carefully scrutinized,
and the sum estimated is less by $744,829.5l
than the amount appropriated for the present
fiscal year.
The Commissioner points out three fatal
errors which have marked our policy towards
the Indians from the very beginning
l. Their removal from place to place as our
population advanced.
2. Their assignment Of too great an extent of
country to be held by them in common
3. The allowance of large sums of money as
annuities.
He recommends that the tribes should be
permanently located upon reservations embra-
cling not more land than is necessary for actual
to divide the lands among them in
severalty; to require that they should live upon
and cultivate the land thus assigned to give
them, in lieu of money annuites, stock, animals.
agricultural implements, mechanic shops. and
manualabor schools and inasmuch as most
of the older treaties provide for money annui-
ties, he recommends that Congress shall enact
a law empowering the Department to commute
the money annuities whenever the Indians as
sent, as above set forth. The Indians in Oregon
and Washington number about ~ 000 and are
divided into 35 tribes and bands. Those I'm
Oregon who formerly occupied the Rogue river.
Umpqua and Willamette valleys, are now liv-
ing upon two reservations-one on the western
and one on the eastern side Of the Coast Range
of Mountains. The country to which their titles
were extinguished was rapidly filled up with an
enterprising and thrifty population.
During the year 1855, the Superintendent of
Oregon and Washington made treaties with
various other tribes and bands, by which large
tracts of land were coded to the United States,
for which the Indians were promised benefits
enumerated in said treaties. These treaties.
however, were not ratified consequently. the
benefits therein stipulated for by the Indians
were not and could not be conferred upon them.
The white population entering upon these tracts,
and making settlements thereon. the Indians
believed they were to be dispossesscd without
receiving the stipulated benefits This state of
ot'thipgs exasperated them, and in the opinion
of well informed persons, caused the recent acts
of hostility. He therefore recommends the
ratification of the treaties above mentioned.
He also recommends, on account of the Difficult
ties attending the management of Indian af-
fairs IN Oregon and Washington, the great ex-
tent of country and vast number of Indians
inhabiting it, the appointment of two additional
Superintendents. He also reiterates the rec
onmendation of last year, for the employment
of small war steamer along Puget Sound and
the waters of Admiralty Inlet. The policy OF
concentrating Indians on small reservations.
and of sustaining them there for limited pc
Rod, until they can be fitted to sustain them
selves, was initiated in 1853 The number and
location of reservations to carry out this policy
is as follows: In California FIVE, with IL .23g
indians; IN Oregon two, with 1920 Indians
and in Texas two, with ,483 Indians.
The whole amount thus far expended upon
the. reservations has been $l,l73,OOO in Cali
fornia, and 1901 1878 in Texas.
The amount expended in Oregon for reser
vations has not yet been ascertained. but the
whole amount expended since 1852, for In
dian purposes, in Washington and Oregon, was
81, 1923, 900; the amount disbursed in New Mex
100, for the same period and purpose, was
S2l2,500; and in Utah, since 1853, $4,000.
Thus far the operations for carrying out the
reservation system have been merely expert
mental. Serious errors have already been de-
tected, which will in future be properly RENE
died. In Oregon, for Instance, great mistake
was made in the location Of the reserves in
California, greater number of reserves was
established, and of course greater expenses
we're incurred than circumstances required.
L. was expected that the expenses of all the re
serves would be diminished from year to year,
Ind ~A,,l1 Il ! 1