The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-29

8 We published yesterday an interesting report |
on our Indian troubles by special HERALD |
correspondent, who has just returned from
Eve months trip on tho Plains The reporter |
details the causes OF the recent outbreak. and
suggests that radical change must be made
in the administration Of Indian affairs before
peace can be restored and maintained with
the Indians. The occasion OF the present
troubles with the Northern tribes inhabiting
the Territory of Dakota and the section OF
country not yet named, situated between the
Territories of Dakota and Montana, was the
opening by government of road from Fort
Laramie, in Dakota, to Virginia City, in Nom
tana. Red Cloud, Red Leaf and other chiefs
and leading men of the bands now hostile, re-
fused in June, last year, to sign treaty. for
that road, protesting that 1t would drive Oh al
the game left in that section and destroy their
best hunting grounds. Driven from one hunt
;no Ground to another as the whites encroach
mon their country, they feel that their last
alternative is to fight for The only one remain
inc to them or TO become wholly dependent
on Government charity. There are probably
not more than Ave thousand actually engaged
in hostilities but ii the clamor OF interested
agents and contractors for supplies were 70 re-
suit in general war of extermination, the
whole lighting eiement-that IS TO say, Al ieas'
| 6f,v.ei0ht tbouuand, or one-sixth OF the entire
number Of Indians. which is estimated at about
| three hundred and fifty thousand, would nave
| to be resisted. Florida experiences suggest
| how protracl cd and intellectually expensive q
general Ineian war would be. Our CORE
spoudent mentions tho fact that the Indians
profess to regard the road from Fort Laramie
to virgn City as the only bone OF conten
ton, and to be willing to abandon hostliiue'
"a soon n the troops shall have been Withdrawn
from its vicinity. He thinks that as matter
expedtsncy the government would saw
mllio, is Of dollars by giving up this road ant
set,in apart the barren and unproductive re
zion which it traverses as permanent hom
Oh r sservation for Indians. A still more efiet
tua and general solution of our Indian dimeu
|, tic !, has been brought forward by the HEnAI
n recommending itself to the attention {
| government and Of the people at large
. nolicv that shall result, not in cxterminatin
, !. The Indians. bat in emancipatng them, Tx
, the negroes, from political disabilities, and thu
: | merging them into the great common nation
a,itv Of United States citizens We should the
, ace which of the two races would most speed
= cease TO be "the nations wards" and prov
v most capable of taking care Of themselves lii
"a white folks. Meanwhile, our correspondent
o in favor Of guaranteeing reservations that she
10 no nermanent homes for the Indians, encou
"a .cinr agriculture among themand establishil
"a schools for the education Of their children.
4. insists on the necessity Of radical change
ir the administration Of Indian affairs. y
"a things now are one department OF the govel
Of ment is sending men out to make peace "
N them, and each doing their best to defeat
n. purposes of the other. Either the whole mi
la arement OF Indian matters should
,c placed in the hands OF the military or
I'M troops occupying the Indian coun
,w should be subject to the direction OF the "
me missioner of Indian Affairs" A conflict
pm authorities involves confusion and 10 aiw
"a fatal to good mans. cement Napoleon useo
en-. say that two good generals Of equal ana
&c, dictirg powers were worse than one oad sc
u,t raj. 1t Il high time that unity OF purp
the should lend efficiency to the management
ry, our Indian Affairs