Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-12

The ta&iau Reservations
TIE prcscnt systeln Of the United States Govern
ment foe the reclamation Of the Indians, h based
upon The sOundCst principles Of public policy snd
humanity, and has been. 70 FAR, vndicated by the
FULLEST success and haPpiest results, both to the In
diaus and the Government. We are pleased to leaSn
frum Washington that there will be no change in
the system, no far a. this State concerned although
a change IRs been recommended byinc0nsjdeTaes
and selfish parties, unae0uaInted with Tie Indian
character and lgnorunt Ut its workings. full in
vestgatiOn If the subject has convinced the Depart
msnt that the Agents have been gFoSsly rIisteprv-
senIed, and that the different Reservations have
bsen conducted economically. .-.
Had the present policy pursued BY the 0overh'
mcnt towards tho Indians, been adopted u au car
er period 10 OHE history, there is little dO"bt that
the wars with the ChOctaws, Greeks, Seminoles and
other tribes, which cost 10 much blOOd'Shed and
treasure in which 20 many valuable lives were lost
and ~ many heurthk LEFT dgsOsatc; might have beea
happily avoided. But what 10 Of much higher i'm.
pOr,anee aud interest in the cause Of humanity,
many tribes Gf Indians, still in wild destitute, and
barbarous cOndisMu, might have been won TO the
embrace Of Christianity, and the eDjoyment "f the
blessings II education and civilization. But diC
ereut course was purSucd they were treated badly.
their rights were di>rcYurded, their feelings out
raged, their customs, to them sacred, treated CON
temptuously. Exasperated and vindcIivc. is 1t re-
markable that they sought revenge! Drive them
from the Reservations now, reduce them Ia their fer
mcr destution, and might VIC not anticipate rcPeii-
ton Of the horrors Of the Indian In the earlier
days? Fortunately, no change is contemplated by
Congress.
The very hAppiest consequences have followed
the efforts Of the Federal Government. directed by
the present cticisnt and indcfatiguble Agents, to
improve the social condition Of the Indiana in Cali
furnia. Many tribes in different parts Of the State,
from San Diego to Klamath, Who have heretofore
led .prccariUus and vngabond exisiancc. or sub
sisted By dcprcdatOuS On the white citizens, have
been partially civilized trimmed to habits of industry
and taught To rely for certain support upon ngricH
tural productions. II may, however, require years
If patient labor and Study To produce tborOUxltre
formation IN their habits. One Of the greatest ad
vautugrs and that which ia must tangibly felt from
the reclamation OF the Indians in California. is the
almost entire cessation 0f indian bostiltcs aud
pensive wars Occaroncd by Indian depredA'ions.
We are also graifcd to learn that, if Col Henely
is mot retained Superintendent Aurthcr st. CaiI
Denver. Of our county, will be appointed in hi
place. If change occur We hope the new Supcrin
tcndent will continue to pursVe successfully th'
policy towards the Indians, Of the present incum
bent. In this connection We would, however, beg
leave to suggest that tho present number and loca
tion Of the Reservations are wholly inadequate Il
the requirements and necessities Of the Indians
More especially would We call the attention Of thos
in authority aud likely to he, to the proTricty, W,
might with justice say nr,.S~ty, Of locating Res
ervaton 10 Fl Dorado county. Such Reservation
properly located, pruden.ly managed, would nice
the necessities Of al the lndnns in Placer, Ell d.
RADIO, A.nador, and perhaps Calaveras cOunties.-
Why the Indians 0f the counties above named hAv
been ~ long and so studiOMHly neglected. 10 qWes
lion that requires explanation. They certainl
| "a much entitled to the protection and bounty a
the Federal Government rs their more fortunate
brothers In ether Counties In Fl Dorado the la
dian populatiOn may be safely estimated at !, 500
in AmlndOr, l,Vlh, and IN Placer, 1000. They ar
= heavy tax our citizens who frequently, raihe
than see them suffer, contribute to their relief L
Ell DOradO county, between the South and Middl
Fork 0f the American River, On Silver Greek. an
. central point in the diStrict composed by ther
counties. we arc informed BY gentleman tauia
with the country, there is beautiful. healthy, well
wAiered and fertile tcrritOrv, well calculated
make suitable Reservation This territory abound
in fine pasture lands, is well tinlbered. and ia II
well adapted for the cultivation Of all cereals an
the various fruits, as is any portion If California
Anticipating TINT new Superintendent will be NJ
printed, ii he has mt already been we enrncstl
call his attention I" this subject matter Of
mount importance in connection With his ofGci
duties.