The New York herald., 1869-06-28

" Tic trtO6 before t0ey lett nome 10 make no
treaties whatever. Notwithstanding this they were
detained at Washington long time, until at length
they became SO hoHesick and 30 anxious to return
70 their people that In order 10 get away they were
fually induced 10 sign O treaty disposlng OF their
reservation, and although the compact never re-
ceived the sanction OF the tribe they were held to
II, and under Its stipulations were removed 10 Tur
Key river hity miles west OF Prairie du Chen, aud
this they were assured would be their permanent
ment was far from being satisfactory 10 the majority
OF the tribe, yet there was no alternative butt sub
homes, anticipating any further moestati0n; but
70 their astonisnment they were soon encroached
upon mere 0y the white pioneers and were again
I0reed 70 remove to Minnesota under new treaty.
In few years another treaty was brought about
with them, and third removal ensued to different
part OF Minnesota. and similar causes operating
there shortly afterwards caused them TO be removed
TO q reservation on the Upper Missouri ABOVE Fort
Randall, where game was scarce and where the soil
was so arid and barren that but little grain could be
cultivated, and II became necessary subsist them
rom day TO day upon rations issued by the govern
ment The consequence was that the Indians soon
became dissatisfied, and pany OF them deserted the
reservation aud scattered in small parties the
country searching for spots where they could Guilt
The course that has been pursued toward these
Indians, and which may have been the result OF cir
cumstances without the control OF the government,
mas proved most disastrous TO them causing such
rapid dimnution IN their numbers that there Is
only miserable remnant OF hafstarved beggars re-
naming. The history OF the Wlnnebagoes presents
correct type TO that OF many other tribes which
were once numerous and powerful. but which, from
similar causes are now almost totally annlhilated.
The contrast between the present condition OF the
remnants OF tribes that formerly lived In the Eastern
OF Arkansas is most striking. and affords key to
the solution OF 6le troublesome question as to the
wsest policy to be pursued toward the red man.
AS said before the lnsurmounable diiiiculty we
have heretofore encountered In carrying out the
colonZng policy has resulted from the fact that the
Indian reservations have been required for the ex-
tension or our White settlements, and the Indians
have been forced to give way; but II u section OF
country can be found where the white settlers would
not be ukey to lntruQe. and which OOsapegeu the
requisites that have been mentioned, that 1t seems
to me, would be the place to locate the prairie In
dlans. On the 3Oth OF September, 1880, treaty was
entered into with the Choctaw tribe wherein the
United States ceded to them all that vast tract Of
rivers extending from the western boundary Of Ar
kansas to the Tooth meridian OF west long-
tude, embracing an area Of about $1,000
entire area OF the states OF Vermont Massachusetts,
Connecticut ana Rhode Island, and more than a
child in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. The
Choctaws few years since ceded to their neghbors,
the Chtckasaws, portion OF the southeastern part
OF their reservatlon but these two tribes only oc-
cupy the eastern borders OF the tract their sparsey
populated district not extending much beyond the
some 10000 square miles OF territory which they
have no use fOT and winch they have leased to the
United States for the colonization OF other tribes,
and 1t Is upon this tract that our authorities have
recently placed the C0mancnes. Kiowas, Cheyennes
and Arapahoes. The tract embraces the Washita
Mountain range which Is about forty miles in length
and intersected with many fertile valleys aboundlng
In excellent wood, water and grass. Besides this
there Is great extent Of other desirable farming
lands, which are elevated and gently undulatlng In
terspersed with prairie ana tmbered lands and bOun
tfuily supplied with streams OF pure spring water.
The SOIL here Is exceedingly rcn and productive and
everywhere covered with heavy coating of rich
nutritious grass admirably adapted to stock raising
anu the culture or cereals. The climate Is highly
salu6rious and eminently calculated TO promote the
health OF lab0rers.
Tue original Choctaw reservation embraced nearly
all the arabic lands lying between the Red and Cana
dian rivers West OF this the country Is ard, barren
aud almost destitute OF woodland The available
portion OF the reservation Will be ample for all the
tribes that are now being collected upon It, and pro
badly Sufficient in extent also for the numerous
bands or Sioux In the country bordering the Upper
Missouri, should that section prove unsuitable Tor
agriculture. In my opinion the extreme aridity OF the
soil upon the waters OF the Upper Missouri with the
destruction to vegetation resulting from the annual
raids OF tnnumeraDle mult1tudes OF grasshoppers
that have swept over that entire section for TIE
iour years, VIII render this anything but desirable
agricultural locality. Every vestige Of crop Tor
800 miles over which travelled last summer In the
Sioux country, including the settlements along ked
river, in the Hudson Bay Conpanys territory, had
been devoured by grasshoppers. The portion OF the
Choctaw reservation set apart for the wild tribes does
not lie In the track OF emigration upon the south
and west uts up TO the border OF the great American
desert OF the Lano EsracadO over winch roads can
not ge made on account q the entire absence Of
toward the mining districts and California must OF
necessity defect TO the north or south OF this. The
consequence Is that there Is not ROAD passing over
1t west OF Fort Washita that Is tray eed by white
men except for military and indian purposes. Hence
VIII tnat located tnS tract
Will be removed from contguity with the border
white settlements, away from the great overland
thoroughfares, aud with an intermediate connecting
link OF civilized Indians who are friendly TO both
races. aud whose prosperous condition and example
would doubtless have good influence upon the
wild tribes, exhibiting most clearly to them the
culture OF the arts Of Civilization.
Until the Indians are taught the rudimeats OF
by the United States but In the section Of country
under consideration corn and beef are cheap, and
when when II cannot be be procured from the civilized
Texas, and transported during the high stages OF
water up Red river 10 near the reservation.
In conclusion remark that, In my humble judg-
ment, the system OF Indian affairs as recently IN
by the government wil II carried out and
In the same benev oent spirit that IL was
result in lasting benehts to the red
men than anything that has ever before been done
for them, and believe tnat the appointment Of
agents from the philanthropic disciples OF William
Penn, who ever since the first treaty with the
Indians ut Philadelphia, have maintained the kind
est disposition towards them WI prove emlnenty
keen an appreciation OF right and wrong as
any other people, aud they understand perfectly
well that they have often been derauded by dlshon
est agents, and this knowledge has contributed more
than all other combined TO destroy their con-
hdence In authorities. as well as to incite them
TO hostilities; and II the "Frends, pursue their
usual Just and honorable course In their dealings
win the Indians It will doubtless tend greatly
towards the restoration or confidence, harmony and
good leeiing. Payments OF annuities and distribu-
tion OF presents were, previous 10 ls+9 made To the
lnuhiiis Dy OlTCcfS ana nave yet 10 learn
the first complaint having been made by the Indians
against them or OF the first doIar having been
Withheld from the Indians; and II was rare u those
days that Oe had any trouble with them, and In
those instances the difficulties Invariably grew out
of their hostility TO being removed upon new
vations. DO not these Iacts afford u cogent argu-
ment in support OF the wisdom or returning to the
Dld system OF disbursements, with reasonable
guarantee for future fair dcaln9s
The Chociaws, Chickasaws and Cherokees, who
have eyfnced desire to aid In the work OF eiylizng
their untutored brethren OF the plains might be able
10 render very efficient service as farmers and IN
structors in husbandry. " the white missionaries
Instead or searching for heathen In foreign lauds,
would practice tue maxim that ''charty begins at
lomen and turn greater portion OF their attention
10 the savages on the praries who to this moment
with the exception OF some or the Sioux have not
he remotest conception OF the first principles OF the
Christian religion they might In cooperation with
sood agents and farmers, accomplish important re-
luts. The Jealous and dlsinteresed iabors OF
Father De Schmidt among the tribes about the
OF the Columbia and Missouri rivers,
Ind the successful results OF the efforts
~ 4 .