New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-05
ru1r SHALL I'VE DO WITH TIE INDIANS


II nc Editor Of TIE 7rt1anr - -
c., . Whom wa last met in Minnesota, you may
ro,nombcr that I urged upon your attention some
,.;o 81 onr Indian policy which desire to repeat
with special reference to the situation OF the west
ern Plains.
cross Of the United States that they will announce
and adhere to this OF all the
Indians between the Mississippi River and the long-
tdo Of Great Salt Lake City within the Indian conn
trv. now partly occupied by the Choctaws Chero-
| kees Creeks. and Seminoles. Make that an lndlan
Territory, with Government and such Governor
"a Col. Parker of Gen. Grants staff Give Kansans
Arkansans and Texans to understand once for all,
that the region on the sources of the Red
| River and tho Arkansas River is to be held
! sternly and inGexibly as an Indian community
and as rapidly as possible, transport thither all the
| tribes and fragments of tribes which rove uncoh-
trolled and unconquered from the Rio Grande to the
British frontier If an Indian council Is held let
such deportation be the only proposition OF tho
Government If tho army make Indian prisoners
nut them instantly in motion for this Indian Terri
tory Proclaim to the authorities and people OF the
Territories that Indian campaigns and Indian trai-
fc are at the earliest moment consistent WIN INC
defense of tho settlements to be discontinued, ana
| invite their earnest cooperation III the proposed
change of policy. 1t might take some time 10 get
the Indians within reach and under motion; Dut L
have confidence that if the present policy Oh ulSpor
sion, under show of treaties, was onco completeiy
abandoned that the work of concentration wouiu 20
rapidly forward.
Iwould keep faith with the Indians Dut "ou'o
substitute tho will of the nation Tor trealcs' Inc
nation would simply assign reasonable space anu t
limits TO 100000 savages and restrain them as wen
| 100, far
settlers within such space and limits. Thus concen-
trated devote to their welfare every dollar OF exist
inc finds TO be recruited by the proceeds oil reserVa-
| tions hitherto assigned to their use. BRING them
within reach of the benevolent and Christian public
Plant them in villages, if necessary; Tor the Govern
mcnt would save money by housing, feeding ana
clothing them in the heart of the Mississippi Valley
BETTER lodge the whole Indian population at the ST.
Nicholas or Continental hotels, than suffer the terrible
waste of nnumeTable Indian agencies scattered over
third of tho continentiwith the addition OF an In
dian war almost annually,
ouietly and without ostentation President Johnson
has negotiated n series of treaties with the Chcro-
KEGS Choctaws. and other occupants of this Indian
Territory which opens the way for such an expert
| mcnt Their slaves arc emancipatcd and incor-
poratcd in every sense members of the tribes. l
am of the impression that other freedmen emil
grating from other States are assured OF the same
rights, with tho privilege of entering 4Oacre home
steads The present Indian population is $1,000 souls
Ia 30 600 900 acres of land The Government has OK
pressly reserved 100000 acres for the colonization
of other mot now RESIDENT tribes. Arrangements arc
well advanced 10 remove all the Indians OF Kansas 70
this country. Why not extend the pohcy1 How
could We consistently refuse the people Of Colorado.
for instance if they should ask the removal thither
Of their Indian population Let US consumnato by
4 T.. oct 20, nat ha
by Gen. Jackson 80 years ago and which was pro-
ductive OF so much advantage to the Cherokee and
other Southern Indians.
Ii will be no hardship TO transfer these Indian no
madcs accustomed 10 the Plains over 10 degrees
of latitude to healthy fertile, ample district where
stock-raisng 1.-THE next stage toward civilization
from tho life of huntcrl Is tho most rcmuneratye
pursuit, and now almost exclusively followed by the
Indian residents. Lot the country announce It's pur-
pose: and although the Indians may at first. cyadc
us like quicksilver, yet time and persistence would
soon make the measure practicable.
For must not suppress my conviction. that extcr-
minaton Of the Indians il the only alternative. The
Whites already outnumber thom, three to one; soon
like the Texan Rangers of ten years since the Dor
derers will organize their own campaigns, fighting
fire with fire. out Icroding Ilerod and thcn now,
the best use Of outposs and regular troops will
be what propose 10 gather and guard the Indians
| TO nov and permanent home on the Arkansas,
where, concentrated aud controlled by the strictest
military surveillance they can bc saved from cNter-
minatOn and forced into the habits Of civilization.
Ineed not dwell upon the simplicity and diIectness
with which our Indian affairs could be administered
in the colorcd community which would thus be as
tablished. No treaties, intrusion Of whites, no
demoralizng traffic by the worst of our population.
but all things firmly and economically ordered, 80
far as the intervention of the Federal Government
continued 20 be necessary. With such man as
| Gerrit Smith of NowYork in the Office of Superin-
tendent sweeping away the whole present scailold-
ing of Indian agencies and Indian trade justice to
the Indian would be possible and the obligations of
the Government would be honOrably discharged
! may resume this subject with more system and
in detail but for tho present feel sure that
you will pardon tho impulsiycness with which havo
written. / remain, very respectfully.
| JAMES w TAYLOR.
| ST. Paul, Nay 27, 1867.