The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-18
the INDIANS.
30 rnE EDITOR OF rnE HERALD.


WASHINGTON, Nay 4, lse7.
The Indian question being at this really Of tns
very greatest Importance you will hope, pardon me
for making few suggostons ID Ne we'll should let
you know that have selfish interest subeerve In
writing about this basnees Beng Western man by
BIRTH and having had good deal TO do with Indiana
claim 70 know something about them Tho position !
lately held a. Commissioner OF Indian Affairs has also
given me additional meane Of information and has In
. great measure confirmed Tho views entertained be-
fore II 10 also well should say that am mot In.
nuenced BY any sckly feeling Of sentimental sympathy
about Indians Owing 70 the extraordinary rapid sss
tlement Of che Western countyy-the former hunting
grounds Of the Indansthe question forced on ne to
decide, what shall We do with these people There ere
bu, ways and Of them wc must decide to take
FIRST destroy them by carrying var and destruction
among them or secondly provide for them new mode
Of life BY Withdrawing them large reservations and
giving them stock Of cattle and sheep TO raise and in
this way gradually make them pastoral people That
this be accomplished 10 beyond any doubt II will
or course require some time to eject IT, and good adj
MUD 0, this country has been posonod by the nnumer
able lies 70 which hear,css spectators the lives and
peace Of this poor people bsvs given BIRTH There
Doubtless many badly disposed Indians, bat the great
trouble has been that, whenever any wrong psy
pstrAsed by few had men among them, Il has always
been treated OF against the entire tribe
No better illustration Of need be given than the
present war against the Cheyennes and Arrapahoes IL
Is just about SIX months since these Indians ratified
treaty made with Us since this time they have been
peaceable and quet and really SOLICITORS for
peace and extremely desirous Of going on
raising Of stock and in this way gradually give up the
life Of hunters bat there band OF Cheyenne Indians
which 10 headed BY chief OF the Of Black Kettle
that hostile, and consisting OF about hundred and
twenty men, which has committed all the depredations
charged on the Cheyenne tribe. This band has in a
measure been expelled from the main body OF the
nation because o: is bad behaviour Nov under these
circumstances warike expedition 10 made the home
Of The poor miserable Indian s invaded and u s rs-
everything, for there 10 gathered all he owns however
little in our eyes this may be- the wgwam which him
With all their little penaies, for they like Pagan or
Christian have their home attachments Now the ques-
zion arises was the expedition necessary aud how much
win h cost, one two three, four I'VE millions, VINO
knows who csresf General Cook said IN his card
published In your paper fey days AGO that
was expended by The army carrying against The
Indians This fact s appalling, and should excite the
atsenton o. the people OF the whole country. Nov,
onstenth Of this sum, properly expended. would, In
my opinion, settle forever Indian troubea Justice
aud economy eoth combined, in opposition the pre- J..
sent policy have no feeling against the army. and In
this respect General Cook docs injustice Personally,
man in this country has higher regard for II and
here 20 mention have the highest admirat,oa' his
question 10 TOO important 70 be restricted the small
proportions cf q contest between the army and the
apprehension on the subject is beyond any doubt The
law may be wrong II this be so let Congress change
~ but A. II 10 now u NJ purely question OF civil a.
mnisraton and the Iadan agents are the only repre-.
scnsves OF the Indian Bureau rather the Interior
Department. That change IN this respect might BE-
wisely made 10 possible know from my experience
while In once that the present Law very defective
and some change is absolutely necessary.
Unless you, Mr. Editor, and other leading jouyusla
take hold Of this great question and lay I'll the facts
before the country, you may rest assured shall be
plunged 10 terrible Indian war; either this year the
Mountains, and from the north Of the Yellowstons 70
Arizona which will cost mlons OF dollars the lives q
thousands OF people retard for years the settle.
neut OF or Western Territories, and for long tius
sop the building Of The grea. railroads nov rapidly
penetrating that country. This ought 10 avoid Bat
A. there some had Indians that should be cbassed
conane the chastssment 20 thoee deserving IT. and 10
this way rea,oe the AFFAIR 70 small proportions easily
managed and Gostsne bal little money; bat once start
general Indian war over this vsss wldsrncse Il win
last for many yeA,v One thousand indian varrcrs will
keep twenty Ave tNcusaad men actively engaged fer
many years IL viii W hks Al stephan, W ING " osssh
the nss thai siscs him. LEWls v RCuy