The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-02

second, if not in the first. generation, such hui
manizing influences would have their full effect.
and the Indian, if he could not be made good
citizen, could at least be made harmless mem
ber of any community in which his lot might
be cast. So long as annuity Indians retain
tribal organization and are treated in their cor
pOrate and not their individual capacity, the
change OF habits and of ideas necessary to
effect this result cannot be accomplished, nor
can these kresults ever be attained under any
circumstances until the Indian is no longer an
object of cupidity to the white man.
By this means also the great barrier to emil
grafton and travel, now constantly accumulat-
moved, and Indian hostilities, such as has
marked our history of late years, would come
to an end.
This system would be very much less expen-
sive to the government than the present, at
tended as the latter is at short intervals with
expensive Indian wars. Certainly, in hu-
name view, such system as is here sketch
ed has every advantage over that hitherto pur-
sued.
While in October, 1862. I did not consider it
my province (as indeed I do not now) to re.
commend the application of this system to any
annuity Indians except such as are within the
limits of my own command, / yet believed then
as do now, that such q system possessed eve
ry advantage over that hitherto pursued, and
was much more worthy of a humane and wise
government.
In proposing it have not undertaken to dis
cuss the question of the rights of few
nOmadic Indians to claim possession of the vast
districts of country which they roam over, to
check the advance of civilization, or to retain
in wildness and unproductiveness, for the scan
ty subsistence of a few thousand savages, re-
OiOOS which wOu1d SuDnOrt many millions Of
civilized men. Howeve such questions may
be decided by abstract reasoning, all history
shows that the result will certainly be in some
way the dispossession of the savage, and the
occupation of his lands by civilized man. The
only practical question, therefore, for the gov
result may be attained with the greatest hui
manity, the least injustice, and the largest ben.
eft to the Indian morally and physically.
REMOVAL EASTWARD. tr-
No government except our own has ever re-
cognized Indian title to lands on this continent.
1t is with just pride that we point to our re-
cord on this subject, but such pride cannot but
be much abated when we come to contemplate
the practical working of the system which is
system is based on the principle of remunera-
ting the Indian for lands taken from him, the
practical result Of it's application has been to
leave him in contact and intercourse with q
class of unscrupulous whites who are attracted
to him only in the hope OF securing the money
which he receives. No measures are omitted
to plunder him, and as the most effective meth
cd of doing this is first to degrade him by drink
and gambling, that process is of course the one
generally pursued.
No sufficient protection from these influences
is afforded to the Indian, and the very princi-
pie of recognizing his title to lands and paying
him for them, upon which we pride ourselves
az hos hoov II, fnof bxy f1,o of
application, the direct cause of his degradation
and OF the temptation to wrong and plunder
him. To the practical operation of principle
which is in itself wise and humane we owe the
constant recurrence of Indian wars and the
deep degradation of the Indian.
propose, therefore, that the annuity In
dians who still observe their treaties be re-
moved to points far in the rear of the frontier
settlements, in the manner and under the con-
ditions above indicated, and that all other In
dians be left to the exclusive management of
the War Department and the military com.
manders in the Indian country.
The application Of o system based upon
these recommendations would, of necessity,
require radical change in our whole Indian
policy and although hardly feel justified in
recommending so extensive a reorganization of
our Indian system, consider it not improper
to present these views for the consideration of
those who have jurisdiction of the subject. l
uoNC pIcoCutcO Luc lOIC$1OluS euSR0SLlOQ6 IOr
the consideration of the War Department. be-
cause believe the time has arrived when, hav-
ing had abundant experience of the evil work
ing OF our present Indian policy, we can re-
model it without confusion, so as best to pro-
mote the interests of the government, and to
secure humane and just treatment of the In
dian tribes. l have sketched the subject thus
briefly, because l only design to present the
outline OF suggestions which can properly be
made the basis of action by the Legislative de-
partment of the government, and to invite at
tentiOn to subject which merits and should
receive careful consideration.
My immediate purpose in giving thus in de-
tail the evil working of our present Indian sys.
TEN is simply that the facts stated may be made
the basis of an urgent request to the War De.
partment in view of militia - operations on the
great plains during the coming spring. These
operations will bring us in contact with tribes
of wild Indians with whom treaties have never
been made, and with powerful bands of annu-
ity Indians belonging to the second class of an
nuity Indians described in this paper, who
have violated their treaties. In view of any
permanently successful results of military
movements, have the honor to request res.
pectfully-but with all earnestneSs-that the
present system of treaty making be not applied
to the wild tribes, and that treaties already vi
Olated be not renewed.
MILITARY POSTS IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY.
I have proposed to establish large military
posts in the midst of the Indian country, which
shall cover the border settlements Of Iowa,
Dacotah and Minnesota at long distance, and
at the same time 80 locate them that they shall
furnish some protection along the emigrant
route to Idaho. Strong cavalry forces will
visit the various tribes Of Indians east, north
and south of the Missouri river, and hold such
conferences with them or take such measures
as shall assure quiet
would ask. therefore, that the military be
left to deal with these Indians without the in
terposition of Indian agents. ask it because
I am convinced that the condition of the In
dian in his wild state is far better than his
status under the present Indian policy. If we
could provide by treaty for the removal of the
Indians to points far within the frontier States,
and could place them in such condition that
they would no longer be temptation to COW
etouP white men, while at the same time they
would be prevented from indulging their wan
dering habits, and subjected under the most