The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-12-10


From the foundation of the government
10 the present time the management OF the
original inhabitants Of this continent, the
indians has been "a subject Of embarrassment
and expense, auG il has been attended with
continuous rObi'ericS, murders, and wars.
from my own experience upon the frontiers
AMI lh ihui1h cGa"irieS 40 not hold either
legislation o. the conduct 81 tile whites who
;,u.ls most in cOutact with the Indians
hiameless for these hosiilities. The uaSt
however can no; b. undone, and the question
ii.u>I D.. met we now md it. | have
attempted new policy toward these wards of
-le nation tthey can not he regarded in any
other light than as wards, with fair results so
lttf a. tlcti, ana winch nope viii Oe attended
ultimately with great S;icceS>- The Society of
Friends j. well known as having succeeded in
living in peace with the Indians in the early
>Cttisment of Pennsylvania, while their white
Hsi-s.ILGIs Gf Gtner scots in other sections
were constantly emhTOiled- They are also
known 70. their opposition To all strife, Vio-
Cuce, ana war, and are generally noted for
jlleIT strict iHIegrits Gai fair dealings These
considerations induced me to give the man
lsemcng oI Il few reservations OF Indians to
them, and throw the burden of the selection
of agents upon the Society itself The result
i;as proven satisfactory. IL will be found
more fuily set forth in the report of the
Com an iOneT OF Indian affairs. For suparin-
tendeniS ami Indian agents, not on reserya- |
lions officers OF the army were selected. The |
reasons iof this are numerous and when
indian agents are sent there, or near there, |
troops must he sent also. The agent and COM |
inaIicr OE the troops are indie ndent of each |
other, and are subject To orders from different
apartments of The government The army
officer hOidS a position for life. The agent Is /
)ne ai the Will of the President. The former
IS personally Interested in living in harmony
WIN IKE indiailS, ana ~ tile S,.anilsltient OF
4 permanent ptace ~ thc end that some por-
ion of his life Ha$ az spent within tho limits
IF civilized section. Tie latter has no such
IeTSonal interest. AHnihcr reason is an
.agnomic one; and still another hold which
ie government has upon a life officer
u secure faithful disciarge Of duties in
ailrO4dS and the access thereby given to all
agricultural and mineral regions of the
country Is rapidly bringing civilized settle
nentS into contact with all tribes of Indians
SO matter what ought to be the relations
'etWeen such settlements and the abOrigines
ne TACT Is that they do not harnnnize we'll
iid one or the other has tn give way in the :
mi. A system which looks TO the extermin- :.
tiOH Gi "a race is too horrible for nation TO
dopt without eCtailins upon itself the wrath
{ all JnTis;endom, and engcndering in the .
;tiz,ns n disrrg;lrd for human Iifs snJ II tbe 7
ightS of others. Being dangerous TO society
no substitute for such a system except in ,
iacing all the indians on large reservations :
5 rapidly as can be done, and giving them I
b>Olute protection there As soon as they
re fitted fOT il they should be induced to take r
ieir lands in ScYerally, and to set un terri IL
or fuii details this subject, / call yonr Il
leciai attention 10 the reports of the Secre- 81
Ty Of tie Interior and the Commissioner of =,
ldian affairs. al
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of Var shows "a
c expenditures of the war department for
C year ending June 81, 1873. To he SSD6ifci2 IN
which s33,SS2,3lJ was diSbursed in the pay-
ent OF debts contracted during the war and 90
not chargeahle TO current army expenses
Is estimate of 81, ,lSl OA for the expenses of r,
Z army for the next fiscal year is as low as p,
"a ls. relied upon. The estimates of bureau .
icerS have been carefully scrutiniZed and =
iuced wherever il has been deemed practi-
bic. Ii, however, the condition of the
untry should he Such by the beginning oil A
z next fiscal year as to admit of a greater n
ntraction oftroops, the appropriation asked
will not be expended The appropriations
imated for river and haTbor Improvement
a for Qualifications ares omitted separateIy -
ilateVer amount Congress may deem proDsr u
appropriate for these PURPOSES will ba X
pended The recommendation OF the
neral Of the army, that appropriations be