Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-09

from it. Simultaneous with that separa-
tiOn the Government acquired California,
Washington, Oregon, Utah and New Mex
leo, with the vast tract embraced within
our lately organized Territories, and there
by Indian population and Indian annuities
were rapidly and wonderfully augmented.
Civil officers took the place of the military
in paying these annuities, but the pile to
steal from increased and has continued to
increase, until it may be said the annual
distributions are now millions on millions,
whereas they were but small sum, COM
parativcly, prior to 1910. The ratio in in
crease of fraud and stealing has probably
exceeded the increase in the annuities.
1t is further argued by the advocates for
the restoration of the Indian Bureau to the
War Department, that thereby Indian wars
will be avoided. That is all sheer nom
sense, if we Judge the future by the past.
The Seminole war in Florida and the Black
Hawk war in the Northwest Che two great
wars) occurred when the War Department
had control of the Bureau, and since the
change the authority of the military i'll the
Indian country has never been successfully
disputed. For the last few years it has had
undiSputed sway. In 1864 and 1860 the
War Department expended upwards of
thirty millions in Indian wars-hOw much
in 1866 | do not know. In the latter part
of 1865 and during the year 1866, we know
that the business of making treaties with
the Indians was almost, il not entirely,
contided to gentlemen of the army, and
the press of the country assured us time
and again, how wonderfully successful
these military commissioners were in max
ing treaties that all was peace, and there
would be no more Indian wars. But now,
at the beginning of 1867, it bursts upon us
from all quarters that general Indian
war is imminent; our troops are slaughter
ed in sight of the forts, and general alarm
prevails OH the frontier.
Considering the gravity of the situation,
we are told by the Washington newsmon-
gers that the Senate committee on Military
Affairs has come to the conclusion to re-
port bill restoring tue Indian Bureau to
the War Department; and this is TO be the
remedy for existing evils. 1t is also said
that Gen. Grant, Secretary Stanton and the
President all agree TO this, and that it will
be speedily done. .....
Now, Mr.. Editor of the Gazette, let me in
woke your instant and energetic opposition
to this measure, believing, as / do, that it
ought not to be consummated. 1t will do
no good; it will not stop Indian war; it will
not prevent the robbery of the Indians; it
will not benefit the whites on the frontier.
nor will it in any shape mitigate the condi-
ton of the Indians.
That radical reform in Indian manage
ment is demanded. no man can doubt; but
that reform will not be achieved by putting
the Red man under the discipline and treat
ment OF the army. would much prefer
as a refOrmatory measure, the withdrawal
n n MI
try; believing as | do that military posts
therein serve no good purpose, and that
the influences going out from them are
vicious in the extreme.
If Congress were to 90 to work and make
the Indian Bureau what it should be-afull
department-witha a Secretary who should
be member of the Cabinet, participating
in the deliberations of the Executive coun-
ellis, and invested by law to organize a mil
iCary or police force sufficiently numerous
to keep order in the Indian country with
out reference to, and Independent of, the
War Department or military commanders,
the beneficial effects resulting therefrOm
would soon be apparent. The analogy
for this is to be found in the revenue cut
ter system under the orders of the Treasury
Department, and Independent of the navy.
The army should only 90 into the Indian
country on some great emergency, and
when called there by the Department Of
Indian Affairs.
Many of the ever-recurring and never
ending difficulties that happen in the man
agement of Indian affairs grow out of mat
ters that are acted upon and decided at
Cabinet councils, upon the representation
of outside parties (having interests that are
concealed from view, who make their
statements to the President or some one of
his Secretaries. and in which the existence
of the Indian Bureau and its head are en-
tirely ignored. Hence the great import
ance of placing the chief officer in charge
of the Indians in the Cabinet. Then let
the country awake to its responsibilities
on this subject-let statesmen and divines
let all feel and realize that the
Indian is the ward of the Government;
that he is a human being, having rights
to be respected, and that obligations rest
upon the people OF the United States in re-
lation to him. Let our law makers under
stand that the Indian is enttl d to and
must haze a fced and permanent home and
that he is not to be driven from that home
by any schemes, preteXts or devices what
ever. Let it be further understC cd as an
unalterable sentiment among the people,
that Indian stealing and oppression in all
lOIIuS 10 OulOuS Gld1 u ildu CdllOb DS u
leading member Of the Senate or House of
Representatives in Congress, and habtual-
ly, nay, at all, dabbe in Indian plunder;
that an individual cannot hold an Indian
agency few years and retire from it rich !;
that sharp men on the frontier cannot with
mpunity rob and Dlunder the Indians at
their pleasure; b'rr let the people be educa-
ted up to the point that they will readily,
| and with one voice, denounce such men as
scoundrels, aud exclude them from respect
| able society.
When that day arrives, and the whole
| country is awake to its duty in the matter,
the honest settlers on the frontier will have
no cause of alarm or fear, the Indians will
have peace, and new order of things in
our Indian relations will prevail.
This article is already too long, / fear for
your columns. As, however, it is but sell
dom that anything in behalf of the Indian
appears, feeble as this is, hope you will
give it u place.
Very resnentfiIllV H.a ...