The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-02
What Shall be Done with
the Indians.
THE CAUSES OF INDIAN WARS,
Important Report Of Gen. Pope.

Ii appears probable now that we shall have
on our hands. in the far West, a great Indian
war. This fact lends fresh interest to the fol-
lowing report of General PorE to the Secretary
OF War. setting forth the policy of the govern
ment towards the Indians in the Northwest,
with It's results, and recommending a substan-
tial change in that policy:
HEADQU AnTEEs
DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
Milwaukee, Wis. Feb. 6, 1864
Sn:-I have submitted to the General-in-
Chief by this mail plan of operations against
the Indians in the territories of Dakota and
Idaho: and in the same connection have the
honor again to invite your attention to some
suggestions as to the policy to be pursued to-
ward the hostile Indians who were directly or
Indirectly &C ncerned in the Minnesota massa.
ores. As well as those tribes of wild indians
with whom treaties have never been made but
whom the troops well rs emigrants will DC
brought into contact during the proposed mil
ItarE movements
Upon the policy adopted will largely depend
the successful results OF any military opera
tions.
The system of Indian policy hitherto pursued
seems to have been the result OF temporary eX-
pcdient. and not of well-cOnsdcred examine
ton OF the subject and, with its results, is
briefly as follows. viz:
As soon rs the march OF emigration ber,n TO
press upon lands claimed or roamed over by
wild tribes of Indians, treaty was made with
them which provided for tie surrender of a
large part OF the lands and the location of small
reservations for the exclusive occupation of the
Indians. OF for the purchase OF that limited
portion of the Indian country bordering on the
white settlements, leaving the Indian the larger
part of the region claimed by him. In consd-
Grafton of this surrender, considerable money
ammunition, &c, were granted to the Indians
and an Indian agent appointed as special Gus
tOdian and discussing agent of the funds and
goods.
THE TWO CLASSES OF INDIANS.
Rv This operation we were placed in contact
with two classes of Indians. First. the Indians
entirely surrounded by white settlements and
living ON small reservations. And second, the
Indians who still maintained their rowing life
and their relations with the wild tribes on the
one hand. while on the other they were COR
nected with the whites through the annuities
of money and goods paid annually Tor the sur
render of that small portion OF their territory
bordering on the white settlements Ut course
the Indian of the first class was no longer able
to maintain himself by hunting IN the circum-
scribed area allotted him. and with his uncOn-
querable dislike to manual labor he grew rap
idly to be an idle vagabond, dependent entirely
upon the government for support. The mon
ey and goods annually furnished him under the
treaty, through the Indian agent, necessarily
attracted all the gamblers, whisky sellers, In
dian traders; and other unprincipled characters
who Infest the frontier, while the purchase and
transportation of large quantities of goods,
brought also into the Indian system q horde of
contractors. The Indian was thus provided
with the worst possible associations and sur
rounded with the most corrupt influences. and
became gambler, drunkard and vagabond,