Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-04-18
RTTLANp HERALD.
THURSDAY, APRIL IL, 1867.
Of the Indian Tribes.

rhs treaties with the Indians, and the
vsmovsl OF the various tribes TO some
mint further west, and the collateral
questions which spring naturally from
these subjects, occupied much Of the at
teution of the last congress, and have
been vexed problem upon which there
are many points of dispute between in
terested parties as to the proper policy
to be pursued in relation tothem. Large
sums Of money have been squandered by
the department OF Indian affairs, and
us agents, and great portion OF II In
the removal OF the tribes from one local.
itv 20 smother, and most Of it by pick
ing up Indians without authority OF law
or treaty stipulation, A few agents or
men, and even army officers, in the ter
ritory, combine together and form ring
Tor the purpose Of making money out OF
them. They make representations to
the department that they must be re-
moved 10 some other locality, and or
ders are issued to pick them up, and
they are taken five hundred or thou
sand miles distant, and sum per head
S charged for Transporting and feeding,
a. the same time the Indian walks the
entire distance, much to his physical in
Jury, and really with no cost to the gov
ernmen. This course OF policy should
ne checked for it is wrong that the in
terests o. the growing communities on
our western borders should be left to
the adjustment either OF individuals in
the department at Washington, or agents
Oh the frontiers. They should not De
removed. unless under some restrictions
and supervisors laid down by statute
Jaw, that the enormous frauds and great
Injustice done to the Indians themselves
NAV be put to an end. The course that
mas been pursued by these spectators
will soon arrest the emigration which is
now tending to the western boundaries
o. Minnesota and other States, and will
eventually result in conflict and loss of
life TO both the white and red men.
The strOCiOus conduct Of the Sioux In
dams against the people OF Minnesota
in 1852. which resulted in the slaughter
o. over seven hundred men, women and
children, cannot have been forgotten,
and is an example OF the deeds which
these wanderers are prompted to com
nit under the dallying and specializing
movements on the part Of the agents Of
the government.
The question OF removal IS one which
OF late has been attracting the serious
consideration of Congress, and causes
much vexation, for the point to, and the
method by which they shall be removed
is one full of complications. Minnesota
having suffered from the depredations
o. these tribes, asks that they be removed
TO Dakota, and many Of them have been
already, and Dakota protests that her
last developing territory shall be made
a renewal Of the massaCres Of the for
mer, and that it unjust on the part Of the
government to ask it, and thus make her
soil the trading ground Of the licensed
agents who traffic in the removal of the
red men, and thereby creating distrust
which will ere long place within her
boundaries hostile tribes, iDjuring that
people immeasurably, and jeopardizine
their lives and property, which, if forced
upon them will depopulate the Territory
We Of the east may have but little ap-
parent interest in the subject aside from
the general waste Of the public money
yet it Is our people who are emigratiue
to this section of the far west to occupy
the lands which the government have
opened to settlement and have invited
them to establish their homes there
This consideration gives US more direct
interest IN the settlement of this trouble
some question, and we should feel ar
anxiety for its early conclusion. VIZ
have not been aware Of these specula
lions and arrangements until the recent
investigation OF the Indian Bureau
called forth on the demand of oul
eastern settlers, For this reason we
have thought it proper to call attention
10 the facts as they have developed
themselves, that the people of the cas-
may understand, and not be mere idle
spectators Of the frauds which are
being perpetrated not only on the gov
eminent, but on the tribes OF Indians
and white settlers upon our Western
frontiers.