The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-02-14
OUR RELATIONS WITH THE INDIANS.

II is doubtless true, that our present relations
| with the Indians are not such as they ought to
be- Almost any thoughtful man can see serious
defects. But how to apply the needful remedy.
it is not easy to determine. 1t seems, however,
to be time that the subject should be carefully
examined. In this discussion, perhaps we who
live on the frontier have some advantages over
persons whose location is remote from the Indi-
ans. Certainly we feel q deep interest in the
matter.
l shall venture to suggest plan of dealing
with the Indians, which, perhaps, may be adopt
ed with advantage 1t is substantially that the
Government establish among them a sufficient
number Of military colonies to keep them in due
subjection, These colonies should he composed
of men selected for their moral worth. Indolent
and vicious men should not be allowed among
them. None but philanthropists aud patriots are
qualified for such an undertaking. They should
lie allowed to select some good locations, which
they could make their homes. Of course, they
will take their families along with them. The
! Government must afford them such assistance as
will be necessary to render their condition pleas
ant and prosperous. They should be well armed
and drilled, and live in such close proximity
that they can defend themselves against the In
dians. In the meantime, the Indians should not
be allowed firearms. except to very limited ex.
tent and to a select number, who should be held
personally responsible for their right use. More
over they should not be permitted to 60 beyond
certain limits, under penalty of severe punish
ment. Every tribe should be kept on its own
reservation, except occasionally, as when they
wished to go on buffalo hunt. At such time
they should be accompanied by guard of white
soldiers. Schools should be established among
them, aud the children should be REQUIRED to
lgous bodies should also be allowed facilities in
establishing among them the institutions Of
Christianity. Thus you have brief outline oi
my plan. Allow me now to give few reasons
for it.
1t will afford security to our frontier settlers
The Indians could not combine their scattered
tribes, and would be almos. certain of punish
ment if they should commit any depredations
They could not 60 to war among themselves, and
thus they would lose much of the spirit of war
Their confinement within limited space would
force them to engage in agricultural pursuits (ol
they could not otherwise subsist), and the prox
Unity and example Of the colonies would afford
them stimulus and facilities in such pursuits
! As their children should be educated in English
they would naturally be brought into much closer
contact with US. in habits of thought and modes
l Of action. f,f-ss
These colonies would also form the nucleus Of
extensive white settlements ali over our wide do
main. The logic of events teaches US most con-
clusively, that ere long the vast extent of country
now occupied by rowing bands Of Indians. will
be peopled by civilized men. To mourn over
the gradual extinction of the aborigines betrays
a feeling Of o8f better natures which highly
respect but this sentimentality will not change
facts and besides, the Indians have no moral
right to such large tracts of country. when that
country shall be needed by the teeming millions
of the human race. Our Maker evidently de-
signed the earth for the support of the great mass
OF the family of man, and not for the convenience
OF privileged few. We must then regard it as
Fixed fact, that the Indian tribes must sooner or
later become extinct. Some of them may be in
existence, but it win be in some new relation.
They cannot become incorporated with the
whites, and cease to be known as distinct from
us. This future fact should at once be feeor
uized, and form the basis Of our relations with
them. Their good, no less than our own, ~
quires that we should keep this fact steadily in
view. Hence We should labor to make them