The New York herald., 1869-10-14

How IL Has Opernted-COmmissaoner Parker
Bampered by Superior Authority-Curious
Blunder Of Commissioner Cooley In Regard
20 n Treaty-Lisht Required from sidney
Clarke and Senator Pemeroy.
WASHINGTON, Oct. II, 1859.
Some newspapers tell us that the Quaker Indian
have wonderful success In dealing with
The Indians and the Quakers themselves tell us that
they are fast tanning our American savages ana
bringing them within the pale OF civilization 1t is
to be hoped that this is true President Grant wanted
an honest administration OF Indian anairs' he
wanted to put an end to ali presentations from the
Indians. and as the first step In that direction,
determined to crush and annihilate the So
called "Indlan ring.n To do this he appointed
General Parker himself OF Indian blood, Comms-
sioner OF Indian Affairs. This was good appoint
ment., no DOUBT and n the General could have his
own way his administration would most likely
prove success, but he Is SO trammelled by superior
powers as to make him but little more than an
ordinary clerk.
In further carrying out this Indian policy Presl-
dent Grant determined to yield TO the long and
stant opportunities OF the Quakers 10 let them try
hand at the civilization Of the Indian. and forever
put an END TO our Indian wars which they ihe
Quakers) were sure they could and would accom-
pish. The administration seemed to believe that
and within a shadbellied coal, and nowhere
else to be found except IN army officers.
Acting upon this belief. council Of Quakers
was summoned TO meet in this City last
spring. The council was large and highly
respectable. President Grant told the QuaKers that
he had made up his mind to try the experiment OF
managing the Indians In part by Quaker snperln-
tendents and agents ana in part by army officers, In
order TO determine which stem OF management
would be the best for the Indians and thereupon he
caused to be laid before them list OF all the Indian
superntendencies aud agencies, with request that
they should indicate which they would take TO man.
age and experiment upon The sagacious Quakers,
instead OF selecting the hostile Indian tribes, to
whom no money is due and with whom there was no
chance for trade and money making, wisely chose the
Southern, Central and Northern superintendencies,
the Indians belonging to which were all at peace
and most Of whom were eitaer civilized or Wen ad
vanced IN civilization. The Indian trade in these three
superntendeneles comprises all that Is OF any value
among theslndan tribes, including. as they do, the
Indian Territory, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska. Minne-
sofa and Wisconsin, and also nearly all the Indians
to whom annuites are paid The trade with these
Indians, being under the absolute control OF the
perintendents and agents, Is o rich mine OF wealth
to those who fortunate enough to be licensed
Indian traders President Grant further yielded to
the Quakers, ana appointed Quaker superintendents
and agents for and within the superlntendencIes
referred TO- who at once qualified and entered upon
the discharge OF their duties Now, while 1t must
bic Dooy OF people, and are quite as honest as man.
kind generally, to Claim that being Quakeis makes
them any more honest than men who are not qua
kers, IS simply rdculous-too ABSURD 70 be seriously
insisted upon.
Friend Enoch Hoag was appointed superintende ut
for the Central Snperntehdency Friend En0ch ID
very good and clever man, end is believed TO pe as
honest as other men; but he ls doubt like other
men-numan. Within Friend Enocn's superin-
tendency. in the State Of Kansas, is tribe known as
the Shawnees, once powerful and warlke tribe,
but now reduced to few thousand, over wnom
year 1854 the Shawnees made treaty with the gov
ernment, by the terms OF which tney ceded To the
United States most or their valuable lands for sum
Of money named in the treaty. TO be paid to them III
yearly annutes They, however, reserved for theul-
selves an amount OF land equal to 200 acres Tor each
man, and child of the tribe. portion OF the
tribe known as Black BOb5 band, less civilized than
the rest elected TO nod their proportion OF their lands
in common, but by far the largest portion OF them
elected TO hold tneir lands III severaity and the
treaty was framed accordingly. subsequently the
lands were duly selected and set apart TO both
branches OF the tribe those for Black Bob's band
be held III common, were properly designated, and
those for the portion OF the tribe we're divided
and patented to the individual members. 200 acres
TO each as provided for IN the treaty. The patents,
however, contained the restriction that the lands
should not be sold by the Indians without the
sent OF the Secretary OF the Interior and here IS
proper 10 remark that most OF the lands pat anted
have within the past ten years been sold by the In
dians for lar less than their value, the little money
received for the same has been squandered and the
former Indian owners are now poor and homeless,
illustrating the superior wisdom OF Black Bob's
band, which elected TO hold their lands in COM
mon. The treaty also provides that whenever
the members OF Black Bobs band so elect their
lands should be divided I'D severalty, zoo acres to
each, ana that patents therefor should be issued.
For years the severalty portion OF the tribe have
been endeavorlng to have Black Bob's band DIVIDE
their lands ana take patents therefor but 1t gener
ally believed that they put up to this by wnlte
spectators, who looked with longing eyes upon
these valuable lands. The Black Bobs, however,
steadfastiy refused to SO divide their lands.
AS has been the case with nearly all other good
Indian lands they were squatted upon by White
men, who, although warned Off bY the Indian
department, persistently held to their occupa-
ton OF the lands, believing as has almost univer.
sally been the case IN regard TO other Indian lands
that way would eventually be provided for acquir
ing title to tue same. Early In the year 1865 the
Hon. sidney Clarke, OF Kansas NOW an NJ C1
became, IT Is sad, the champion for the squatieis
upon these lands and wrote TO the indian
Ohice Tor information in regard to their rights.
treaty. a" ass 1es sk lss g sa
tained liberal provision for the settlers upon the
Back B0ps' iandsa mistake however, for the treaty
contained no such provision. Mr.. Clarke immedi
atey published this letter IN the Kansas newspapers
tne enect OF which was to give new impetus TO
sqaattng on the lands aud to justify the settlers in
making extensive and valuable improvements
thereon. Although the settlement upon these Indian
lands was in violation Of law, the Information from
the indian once that treaty had been negotiated,
by which a liberal provision had been made Tor the
Settlers should certainly from and after thai time
Indian Department: bul tie amount OF such consd-
eratlon Will be presently seen.
AT this time Mr., James b. Abbott was their Shaw
nee agent, he having held that position then nearly
Jour years, auFlh2 HHich ubie ne had acquired
unbounded influence over the Indians. which, IL Is
alleged, enabled MIN and his friends TO improve
opportunities TO acquire title to the Indian lands.
AbbolI II is alleged, wrote deeds, 10 which the iadi
ans put their marks, and took the acknoweds-
ment thereof as United states indian agent, and
certified that the consideration specified was fair
price for the land conveyed that the same mad been
paid the Indians IN his presence, IN gold and SUI
yer coin OF the Uued States, and that the transac
ton was free nom fraud or deception. The deeds
were tnen sent 10 the Indian ONCE for approval. and
when approved the title became perfect IL
n
ga.n with an Indian Tor hls land, agree
Ing to give him an old horse wagon, gun,
&C.; put in order 10 comply with tue
rules OF tue indian once, the purchaser would baud
to the indian an amount OF com In the presence OF
the agent, who would certify TO that fact aIter |
which the purchaser would receive back the coin,
give the lllap his barter m lieu thereof and the
deed would be Sent to the Indian once by the !
agent with hts certificate as aforesaid. Those fraud.