The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-11-06
The Poor Indian!

" ~
The Poor indian!
We take from the Minutes Of Indiana Yearly Meet
ing Of Friends held at Wa ynesville, Ohio, in epten
Der last the following interesting report made BY
the Committee to the Meeting for Suferings, IN re-
gard to efforts of that branch Of Friends in behalf OF
the Indi ms. We also annex the proceedings of
meeting in New York City, from the New York OBJ
server, having the same object in view, that the
Friends have been diligently and perseveringly
laboring to accomplish:
To the Meeting for SuGerinss for Indiana
Yearly Meeting:
The Conmittee to meet with delegates from the
Yearly Meetings corresponding with ours, report !:
That, ia compiancewith our appointment, we pro-
ceeded to Baltimore. and the 2sth ST the 10th no.
met with delegates from the Meetings for Suffer-
ings from Philsdephia, New York Gsneses, Baltimore
and Ohio Yearly Meetings, and asaer a free inter-
change of sentiment relative to the wrongs perpetra-
ted upon the Iadiau natives of this Centnent, the
Conference united in preparing Memorial to
the Officers having the chief management of Indian
Affairs IL Geoerai Governmen:, sud also to the
Senate aad House sf Representatives, IN which We s
deavCred to call the attention Of the Governments TO
the injustice that bad been przetced spon the West
I.diaHs and especially to the aggressive nature Of
the recently existing ith them the infamous
fauds that trders, agents and officers of the Govern
ment we've practieing upon them, as shown by the
official docuzaeuts published by order OF Congress-
The present cosdt:on of the Indians residing in the
State Of Ne~ York. coutrasted with that Of tribes
towards ~baaa the destructive policy was pursued.
was brought view for the purpose of illustrating
the effect OF the kind and humane treatment which had
NJ. frorn point of
termination, prosperous state, steadily advancing
in population ~ealth, and knowledge; as stating our
firm ceuSictiea that by similar inst mezsuses, espe-
ciay in the proper observance Of treaty sspulations
axd prompt redress of wrongs inflicted upon the In-
dams by snpri.cpled white men, there was ground
for believing that interesting race Of people now
fast fading away-"aling like the ithered leaves OF
the forest to rise more,' might be rescued from
tie impending crisis. and raised TO state OF useful
ness aud cofo and brought to realize that TO con-
tnue bis the precarous subsistence attain
ed by the case xith its pomade habits must be re-
linqxished and tie fruits Of industry arising from
set led habits f life looked to The source OF sus-
tenance Aad il ing this plan, such assist
ance Erieads night be able TO render, was offered
without prospect of remuneration. shorter Memo
rial condensed from the longer one, and embracing
sone Of its most prominent features, also pre-
pared fs@ ta Hue
@. the llth Of the 18th, 1887, ne. part % ss'e
delegassons iron New York and Baltimore, met A.
the City ct Wsshnato for the purpose OF pre-
sentissg these Aeaoriafs. copy OF the larger one
was preseuted - both Houses Of Congress, and =
COPY Of each laid upcn the desk Of each of the
bers interviews also had with the acting Pres
ident of the Uzed States, h the then acting Sec
retaxy of War; he Secretary Of the Interior, under
f};oxa cha Indian. Az
fairs is psced, aud with number Of others directly
connected with the admins Of Indian Concerns
These interviews satisfactory TO the Committee
and some of them particularly interestisg. The Pres
ideht in reply aiverted the difetes that embar-
rass the Indan Question, arising from uoprinciPIed
adventurers, vdo crowd upon the fEsntier and COM
uit depredatins upon the Indians, and then escape,
leaving retaliation fall upon innocest individuals.
The Secretary of War; also referred 70 this class of
uuscrupuo<s persons, and said: "they crowded on
the outskrss Of settlements and were reckless and
.eprincipd ia their intercourse with the Indians,
being desrous of producing outbreak with them.
that they uigat derive benefits from the disburss-
ments Of laeary that would upon the military
power being brought into requision." He expressed
Z deep oepcern in the welfare Of the Indians, and
desire that they should be treated with justice snd
humanity. = sz.s-s.-r sd. a
The Secretary of the Interior, who has the more
immediate charge of Indian AfIairs, expressed HIM
self very fully upon the wrongs and crueties pract
ced upon them, and stated that the military not
in the least needed prevent the Indians from Rgres
sing upoo the whites; but to prevent outragss and
crueties from being perpetrated bv the whites upon
the Indians. It gratifying to End in the views he
expressed, a coincidence Of sentiment with those
pressed in memorial.
The Commiss oner of Indian Aaa;rs, gave pretty
fully his ideas to what course Of policy would
most likely promote the restovasion of peace and
maintain peaceful relations With the Indians, which
was, By the National Government dealing with them
in kind and just manner and protecting them from
the outrages of the unprincipled whites He admit
ted that great wrongs and outrages bad been perpe
trated upon the Red Men by Govercment Agents and
the traders, to which his earnest efforts had
been and weuld be directed. He stated that Indi-
an would give almost any thing be had for pint OF
whiskey, and that the influence Of traders under
existing law in the greatest degree prejudiciai-
that the objectona clause not six lines in
length and was passed TO crafty some political favor
ties who would be pecuniarily benefited by it. The
had just returned from attending the
Peace Commission in the country west of the Misss-
sppi, and gave several interesting incidents of the
journey and intercourse with the Indians. One of
which striking rebuke to the dishonesty and
oppression of the whites. The Chief, "Lttle Raven
desired to know the belief OF the Commissioner in
gard to future life, and Informed by him that he
believed that persons good, and do right and
justly, when they die 20 to Heaven and enjoy hap
pness and possess all they desire forever; but those
who do wrong, when they die, suffer eternal torment
and misery" This pleased the ehie greatly and he
exclaimed "That is right and proper, and gives Indian
much pleasure and hopes tor the fusure for when Ind
ians get to Heaven they will of the reach of the
scksse man. there!'
The delegation also met with the Peace Commission,
and stated the views and wishes of Friends for the
preservation of peaceful relations with the Indian
tribes by pursuing justice and kindness toward then
For printing tine Memorial, the Committee agreed
pay proportonate part Of the expense concluded
upon by the Conference, which amounted to twenty