The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-11-20
A STEP TOWARDS REFORM.

]
"rhat the time had come when the
\ government should cease To recognize
the Indian tribes as a domestic depead>
ant nation, except so far as 10 may be
| required to recognize them as such by
treaties, and by treaties made and not
! yet ratified: that hereafter all Indians
should be considered and held individu-
! ally subject 10 the laws of the United
/ States, except where and while il is
otherwise provided in such treaties: and
that they should be entitled To the same
! protection from said laws as other per
sons owing allegiance To the government
they enjoy"
This resolution was unanimously
adopted. II is the entering wedge TO a
new and much needed policy, uron a
subject that has cost the nation millions
of money and thousands of lives. From
the commencement of the government
down to the present day, there has not
been a single Territory settled without
first passing through all the multiplied
and varied horrors of Indian warfare
and Indian depreciation. The plea has
invariably been the Poor Indian" un-
der which these fiends in human shape
have been permitted 20 carry on their
trade of violence, bloodshed and robbery
10 an extent never before known in the
annals of civilization. Whites, negroes,
foreigners, and all other classes, savage
or civilized, have been properly dealt
with by law, but the Indian, except in
extreme cases has been excused and
generally glorified. Why? Simply be-
cause he was the Poor Indian" lie
must be treated with He was the pro-
per subject of paternai policy. He was
the original owner of the soil. lie was
ignorant and had been badly treated.
And tor these reasons his work of mas.
sacre was justifiable, and only increased
the pity for his condition. This loose.
cruel and equivocal policy has infused
the belief into the Indian mind. that our
government fears them. and that what
ever cnormities they commit, only in
creases the disposition on our
part TO conciliate them by new
treaties, and additional anuuitjes
We have paid the Indian long enongh
tor committing massacre and robbery,
let US now mete out justice to hiin as 10
others, when he breaks our laws. Ii is
-
law. He can readily learn what Is by
experience, as readily as he can learn TO
believe that we dare not punish him. /
Place the Indian Department under a
supervision that will see the law en-
forced, and we ask no better protection \
than that will give us. But if il is to l
continue in charge Of the Indian Bu- |
reau, as at present constituted, and the /
constant temptations offered To Indian /
Agents, Commissioners and Superin- /
tendents for swindiing, that ever has /
been, the work OF massacre will go ON 4
without abatement and without pun
ishment. Human life, no matter how I
great the enOrmity involved in the de-
struction, is of no value in the view of \
those officials. who can make annual \
fortunes by permitting the scOurge 10 /
continue. If charge of cruelty a ainst ,
the whites will preserve that scOurge in .
existence, that charge will be made-if /
Misrepresentation Will perpetuate it, if .
perjury is necessary, these will be EN-
plOyed as they ever have been when
any opportunity was offered 10 swindle
the Government We have little hope
OF any permanent reform in our Indian
Department, until the Bureau is turned
over TO the War Department. Nearly
all our difficulties grow out Of the swind-
ling operations of agents, and the con-
sequent retaliation OF the Indians upon
the heads of unofending settlers. The
resolution above set forth, cannot and
will not be enforced by the Indian Bus
reau, but il Is nevertheless leading step
towards the retornI which every settler
in the new territories desires. Indians
are treacherous, and many of our Indian
Agents thieves and tricksters. They
vie with each other in the work Of dev-
iltry. while the Government looks on,
hears the complaints, sees the crimes,
and is powerless TO afford any redress
The agent goes unwhipped OF Justice
the Indian is regarded with
and the blood of
victims is shed, and
crimes which would make Heaven weep
are committed with perfect impunity.
If this policy is to be continued, is it too
much 10 ask TO be permitted TO protect
Durselvesg The Government has row
given the best portion of our Territory
10 the Indians. Posts erected within
the past two years TO protect 1t, costing
millions. have been abandoned and de-
stroyed by Indians, and its bound
aries border upon one OF the best
agricultural valleys in the Ter
ritory. which is constantly subjected to
ibeir forays and depredations. No ad-
iitional protection LAS been provided
or our people iD this portion Is it
ightg Is il what the settlers of this
new. exposed and distant country have :
. right TO expect from their Govern-
nentg Is it not enough that we are
aid under tribute TO the Internal Reve-
lue Bureau-tht.t we are denied the
leedful means for carrying on the gov
.rnment OF our own TerritoTy-that we
ire yearly adding many millions 10 the
wealth of the nation from our mines
hat we are paving the way for the or
,anization of one of the richest States I
n the Confederacy, but must we have !
he element of disaster, blOOdshed and \
obberv forced upon as in addition, to