The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-07
TIE INDIAN WAR.
Opinions Of Inspector General Marcy ON tho
Way Co Treat the Sayages.
CIR InrfIa Mo-. Nov. 90 1855.

TO rHR EDITOR OF Tue HERALD .A +.
The calculation or the problem involving the man
agement and treatment OF our western indian tribes
has engaged the attention OF our authorities, both
avn and military for many years but thus FAR all
efforts towards civilizing tho prairie tribes have
proved abortve and we are to-day nearly as remote
ycm practical solution Of this perplaxng question
~ we were nifty years ago. sts
Ats meeting in Chicago Of the Indian Peace Com
missaon in October last, resolution was introduced
Droposing to recommend that the "Indian Bureau
Should bs transferred to the war Department.
This resolution was passed with but one dissent-
ing vote and that was given by Mr.. N. G. Taylor.
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, who then declared
MS INTENTION In case OF defeat, ito appeal to Con-
gross ana the country and convince them that the
proposal Yves wrongs
That appeal has been promulgated In the form OF ,
printed pamphlet which u now before tho public.
and, I'm accordance with the determination ex-
pressed By the author, win probably he brought to
che notice Of every member OF Congress at its next
session. AZ many Of the members Of that body can
have but little personal knowledge Of Indian aairs
they must mainly be dependent upon others for in
formation, and the position occupied by Mr. Taylor
necessarily gives great weight to his opinions and
rec0mn sndatio
have the highest respect for the sincerity and
honorable gentleman, and think many OF his views
araexceilent ana Will conduce to the best interests
OF the Indians; but some OF his opinions diner very
materially from those I have been constrained to
adopt after personal experiences OF thlrty.nve
years the greater portion OF which has been passed
In the Indian Territory.
For instance ne says the transfer proposed "would
at once create q necessity for maintaining largo
standing army in the field"
An understand the proposition, 1t merely gives
the War instead Of the Interior Department the adj
administrative control OF the Bureau and substitutes
army officers for the civil agents now IN office.
Az It would only require few onicers to I'LL these
positions there would be NO necessity for having
large army from which to make appointments.
! II has always heretofore been found necessary TO
keep less troops upon our Indian border In
order to give protection TO pioneer settlers against
hostile Indians, and it Is not how that sxgency
has ceased to exist or been diminished during the
administration Of Mr.. Taylor. On the contrary,
there are a greater number OF savages now at war
than there ever were before at any tune in the
history OF our government, pnd consequent neces-
eity for an increased force in the field.
Within tne last decade the miners have penetrated
almost every nook and crevice of the extensive
mountain ranges within the limits Of entire pos
sessions ana the importance OF the results Of their
conceded by ALL but without the protection afforded
by the army TO these people In transit to the mines
ana while they are prospecting and working them
they would soon be assassinated driven from the
country by the savages.
The numerous and continual applications
which have been made to the authorities Tor
additional forces In Kansas, New Mexico Colorado
Montana aud other places, clearly prove this, and
until the honorable Commissioner succeeds in m
Angurating aud perfecting ms peace millennium
among tho Indians the prediction Is hazarded that 1t
win be necessary to keep troops In the country,
whether civil or military agents are employed.
Tha change proposed would certainly result in a
saving to the government Of the salaries Of all the
ofcers Of the Civil Bureau, as the military officers
would receive no increased compensation for this
service.
1t must be admitted also that It would tend to pro
duce harmony Of policy and action but IL is not seen
how 1t could have any possible bearing upon the
magnitude OF the standing army necessary to DO
tsined In service. nHt
Another objection urged by the Commissioner
against tho change is "because 1t is inbuman, IN
christian, &c.
If humanity and Christianity inculcate o
peace policy which will cause tho massacr o
or every white man IN the Indian country
and fato moro horrible for the women and chill
drawai OF the troops), Its teachings have not been
understood by the majority OF mankind.
Tho truth is, the peace policy has thus rnr proved
most signal failure. Everybody admits that it Is q
very humane, benevolent ana worthy project to
civze and Chrisanize the natives; but this cannot
be done In day or q year. IL Win require the
GRADUAL incubation or new ideas into the mind OF
tho savage and the eradication OF firmly seated he
4editary supersttions and prejudices for several
generations before they can DO made to think and
act In accordance with the predictions OF the Com
missioner.
The Peace Commissioners made liberal treaties
with the prairie tribes and held out every induce
ent for them TO GO upon reservations cultivate the
soil and receive instruction. and upon the request OF
Red Cloud and his followers. who had murdered q
largo number OF soldiers and citizens upon Pow
der river they consented to remove the troops
from three military posts in that country, and
although the officers on the commission yielded
their assent to this concession In order to give the
humane peace policy OF Congress fair trial, It IL
believed that they had but little confidence in its
efficacy.
Now, what was the effect OF this upon the Indians
who, the Commissioner says, "with rare excep-
tsona neye- break the peace without power.
ful provocaton or actnal wrong perpetratcd
against them Hrsts' No wrong whatever was COM
Eited upon them after they had promised to behave
themselves IL the posts were broken up; vet no
sooner were the troops Withdrawn, In accordance
with their demands, than those treacherous savages
attacked and slaughtered several men In the trains
engaged in removing the government property
and they soon afterwards sent o messenger
70 tho Indians south OF the Platte In.
forming them that they had succeeded IN
driving the troops and citizens out OF their coun-
cry, and urged tnenfto make war upon tho people
along the Pacific railroads, which advice was
followed.
Ghe Vncpapas and other fraementary bands OF
Sioux on the Upper Missouri with whom treaties Of
stnlty and peace were made ana who ever since
have been fed and otherwise Kindly treated ut the
military posts instead OF carrying out their treaty
obligations had recently and without the Sigh test
provocation. attacked and killed orr people ne ar
FORT Rice: and AZ the only condition Of cessation
of their atrocities they demand that all the troops
shall be removed from the river and steamboat COM
munication to Montana thus closed.
OF course 10 is TO be expected that such people
would not want the troops In their vicinity, mr. the
aimplc that they Interfere with the