The Nevada Democrat., 1860-02-15
INDIAN Analrs IN Calltornla.


The following is an extract from the report
Of the Secretary of the Interior in regard to IN
dian affairs in California
The management of our Indian affairs in CAL
ifornia has been attended with a variety of diff
hculties. Neither the government of the United
States nor the State of California recognizes in
the Indians any right of exclusive occupancy
to any specific lands. Reservations have been
provided by law; large number of Indians
have from time 10 tims been collected upon
them, and large sums of money have been ex-
pended to establish them, with the hope that
they would soou learu to support themselves by
their own labor, aud gradually become civilized
Through the acknowledgement and neglect Of
our employees, the interference of our citizens
aud the apparent impossibility Of inducing
those Indians to labor thereon, the reservation
system of California has proved failure. Yet
the government cannot relieve itself from all
obligation TO make provision for this destitute
population.
The Indians of California divide themselves
into two general classes by their respective
localities. Those living in Southern California
having already made some progress in civiliza-
ton under the Mexican Mission system, are
scattered in small bands, cultivate the soil, and
subsist in part upon the products of their own
labor. For the security and happiness of these
nothing more need be done by government
than to insure them the quiet, undisturbed pos
session of their present homes, keeping up pos.
sibly single general reservation. And to eff
feet this no additional legislation is required.
The Indians in Northern California, with
some exceptions, are rowing, thriftless, idle and
debased often provoking the vengeance of the
settlers, who are thus provoked to acts Of vio-
lence.
la this division of the State, some reserva-
tlons, some retreats, must be prepared for the
reception of those who cannot obtain employ
ment from our citizens, aud thus become va
grants and nuisanoes to tue community. Such
Indians might be removed by force if necessu-
ry, to the reservations, aud there be compelled
TO labor. With an anxious desire TO devise
some plan of operations which promises to Sc
cure the welfare of the Indians on the one hand,
and relieve the treasury from the support of IA
helpless population on the other, would rec.
ommend, as the most practicable policy, the
abolition of the upeTirtendency, agencies and
subagencies and the division of the State into
two distinct Indian districts. For each dvs.
ion single agent should be provided, with
power to employ such assistants as may be au-
thorized 10y the Department. Wherever it is
possible to procure employment for the Indians
among our own people, the agents should be
required to aid them in obtaining places. 1t
should be the duty of the agents to protect the
bands that are settled down in the quiet posses
sion Of their homes, and TO instruct them in the !
arts of husbandry. 1t should also Ee the duty |
of the agents TO collect all vagrants upon the |
reservations, aud to induce them TO labor |
This plan is recommended by its economy and |
the prospect il holds out for the security of the
Indians