New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-13
MEETING IN BEHALF OF AMERICAN
INDIANS.

called 10 tho CHAIR, ana w. VI douid erected oecTe-
tary.
Dr. GouLD stated the object Of the meeting, and
introduced Judge W attlss Of Kansas.
Mr.. WAITLEs said: The American nation cannot
afford TO lose the Indian race. The earth sees no
other like il. SO much Of calm courage, so much OF
native eloQuepce much Of true no ility, 80 much
Of unsesh friendship Is not found IN any other race
or people. There In Kansas the remnants OF nj
teen Iites once part owners Of this Western conti-
nent now living on small reserves secured by trea-
ties with the United States These tribes, having
sold out their interest in the States moved TO Kansas
from twenty to thirty years ago. Congress acted a
liberal annuiies. But the Administration bong III
tho interest OF Slavery, all the Indian agents 30 far
rs 1 can learn, were ultra Pro-Slavery men, and
looked upon the Indians az they do upon tie ne
groes-fair sabjects for speculation and fraud. 80
fac has this been carried, that several tribes have
become nearly extinct by dsesse and starvation, Ia
consequence Of their prvations, while in reali'
! ty they were wealthy people, and sup
posed TO DO living in afiiuence. The various
tribes in Kansas have attained 10 different degrees
Of progress ond civilized customs. The Sac and Fox
Indisns are The old Black Hawk trtes, aud a
brave and noble race OF men. Twenty years ago,
after the Black Hawk war, the Government pur-
chssei their lards In Iowa, giving them about
400 coo acres in Kansas ana an annuity Of 81 600
! per annurn for ten years and s7l,OO0 per annum
sioce. They also act apart large sum for improve
merits. Eighteen years ago, when fairly settled on
this land they numbered SOO. L was sent there ne
a special agent lasi spring TO examine INTO their
aaalrs and found only 80 persons alive, aud not
farm yoke Of oxen, Dor a COW, calf, or pig 10
the tribe aud oily two small plows. Not one full
blood who dressed in citizens costume or spoke tie
Englsb language, and traders claiming debts OF
them for goods amounting to about $4,000. To
psy this debt, they have already treated away u
large part of their domain. Here Ii Tribe without
u fsult-tbe Government aiming TO deal generously
with them, having spent on them, including faaries
of agents, 800 900 for civil purposes dnriDg
their residence IN Kahsas-nOw nearly extinct, hav-
ing been reduced by rckness and starvation at the
rate OF more than Il hundred year over and above
the births for the last eighteen years. This has been
done by arrangement OF the traders with the
Agent, by which goods have been sold, including
pr0vsions aud groceries, at an eXorbtant PRICE, thus
absorbing the money Of the Indisns, which seldom
| If ever passed into their hands. 4 found ut
the Sac and Fox agency very interesting state OF
things concerning Secession aud the Southern re-
bellion. Geu Rains, who CO ilrDauds one division |
of The Southern Army in Missouri, wac once Indian
Agent lcie; SO were Judge Chenault Of Carthage, |
No., and Judge james OF Wes'pOrt, all now active
Secessonis,s. The former Commissioner OF Indian
Afiairs, Mr. Greenwood and bis son.in-taw, Hobbs,
living in Arkansas, aud warm Seeessonists, are
largely interested IN the contracts and lands OF the
Sac and Fox Indians. These men, being well ac-
9uainied in Washington with the old clerks OF tfe
Indian Department, reserved Tor sono 'iule o1rlng
army news and all that could he communicated OF
the purposes Of the Department concerning the In
diane, which has enabled them 81 cessiuy TO thwaTt
the beDetCent purposes Of our Government. At the
close Of Mr. Duchannns Administration, Mr.. Green
wood made contract with paTt es, amounting to
about 400 CO0 10 build houses for The Sac and Fox
aud Kan.as indiana. IL 10 estimated toat half
of this is profits, which is TO be divided between
the ortenrbc contra. tor and The secoDd parties, |
Greenwood, Hobbs Il Co. The Indians protected
loudly and long against such poor temporary dwellings
on their lands. They were not built when they
wanted them, nor were they such ss they wanted
and they declare they will never occupy them
a large part of tie Tribe are anxious 10 sell ont
and move south, in tho hope OF escaping fur
thor annoyance. Ncre there time, | could go
iuto details showing tie ruin brought upon the
lndians aud their consequent extinction 10 be the
natural Tcsult OF ouch saurfe. They teing ignorant
oftbe Engish language, It !, very diGeult TO under
stand them perfectly, md consequently they are
great sufferers ~ many WAYS. Lest Fall the Agent
defrudsd them Ont OF OVO mt the tine q payment
by making them receipt 1or more than they received.
HEY lore large amounts Of property by THEFT which
they cannot recover IN our Courts 10y law. Other
tubes have lost large suus OF money merely by the
OF Agents. The Incians being looked
uI on BY tle popular nind i aliens and enemies,
t6esc atrocities IN. but partially condemned, and the
fogues 40 unpunished. For twenty years past the
dOlngs OF the Indian Department have been secret
us tne inquision, and also az cruel. They have
conn He'd Tie Indians TO ~ reuI 10 treaties made by
IHn1, Oi Ghut hhpIil III W hHlilDkiOH AOn-
,uiins tie tribes for which they detigned, aud
have forced an unwilling obedience. When large
Gums Of money have been awarded TO the Indiana
for valuable e0nsideraiion the parties lnifustcd
with iis disbursement have taken large sums, and
thus deprived the Irdans Of all means Of sheller
agIicull uIal Improvement. Our present COmmis-
sloner of In, ian Aliaiis will undoubtedly break up
this Whole system of Indian swindng, 10 far as IL
can he officially doLe; but many things will remain
which he viii not DO able TO reach in his
best efforts The Indian reserves ike small
i-lands in the ocean, 10 be swallowed up by the
rising tide a immigration and the Indians la them
seek safety by flight several tlbes have com
meneed settlements IN the Indian territories south
Of Kansas, aud have rent PETITIONS 10 the Govern
ent TO sssign them land there and 10 allow them 10
reiuove on to it. The Commifsioner suggested
whether, In OrGer 10 The Indians. II would not
be better 10 organize them into one nation on
mon territory. made inquiry, and found that most
OF them desired il. Tns viii not only save them AZ
people, but will reduce tie annual Indian expeEdl-
tuIee IL the Government several millions An esti
male OF annual expenditures OF the Governmeut
in various ways account Of Indians mas been
made, amounting 10 from & 600 600 10 SlJ,O00O0Ol
for the ast forty years. Ii this estimate Il correct
(of which 1 have ho doubtl, l venture TO assume
that II the foregoing poioy should he adopted toward
the Indians the vust cum OF ifem SJ,UCO,UO0 to
s. GOT, OO0 per annum can bo saved 10 the Gov
ernment.
Many more interesting facts were stated respect.
Jog other tribes, after which the following preamble
AUD resolutions were presented:
Bhoeas The efforts Of tho Government Of the United
ssss made for the benefit 81 the Indian tribes o.
this eonn.nt have failed to pIodue- results
with The large amount OF mos ty snGed ana We eva hu
military smp0yedi and tehe1eas, sucn failure can be
attributed TO an mpeiee. An9wedse Of indian ana
Rso!re That there should now BE- d-i.ed snd adopted
laws Of sho o,rnmsnt concerning The Indians pa,I
erpcncs sld pce1t knowledge indcse as beo.ssHy to
enable the psneneen desgbs Of The people and ooEennenI
h'srsa 1hs Tho idea q the utter extinction o. TIE lndsn