The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-07


wars. From my own experience
upon the frontier and In the
Indian countries, [ do not hold
either legislation or the conduct
Of the, whites who come most In con-
tact with the Indians, blameless for
those hostilities. The past, however,
cnanot be undone, and the question
must be met as we now ind it. !
have attempted a new policy towards
these wards of the nation-they can
not be regarded in any other light
than as wards-Rith fair results so
far as tried. and which, hope, will be
attended ultimately with great success.
The Society of Friends is we'll known
as having succeeded in living in peace
with Indians, in the early settlement
of Pennsylvania, while their white
neighbors of other sections, were con-
stantly embroiled. They are also
known for their opposition to all
strife, resistance and war, and are
generally noted for their strict integ-
rity and fair dealings. These consid-
eratiOns induced me to give the man
agement of few reservations of Indi-
ans to them, and to throw the burthen
of selecting agents upon the society
itself. The result has proven most
satisfactory. It will be found more
fully set forth in the report of the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. For
Superintendents and Indian Agents,
not on reservations, officers of the
army were selected. The reasons for
this are numerous. When the Indian
Agents are sent there, or near there,
l fr0nWsc hn ell hn M
and the commander of the troops are
Independent of each other, and are
subject to orders from different de-
The army officer holds a posi-
ton for liie-the agent one at the
will of the President. The former one
is personally interested in living In
harmony with the Indians, and in the
establishment of a permanent peace
| to the end that some portion of his
life may be spent within the limits of
a civilized section. The latter has no
such personal interest. Another rea-
son is an economic one, and is still an
other hold which the Government has
upon life officer to secure faithful
discharge of duties in carrying out a
given policy. The building of rail-
roads and the access thereby given to
all agricultural and mineral regions
Of this country is rapidly bringing
| civilized settlements into contact with
all tribes of Indians. No matter
what ought TO be the relations be-
tween such settlements and the abo-
riginees, the fact is, they do not har-
monize we'll, and one or the other has
to give way in the end.
A system which looks to the extermi-
nation of the race is too horrible for
nation to adopt without entailing
ou-itsef the wrath of all Christen-
dom, and engendering in the citizens
a disregard for human life and the
rights of others, which is dangerous
to society. l see no substitute
for such system except
in placing all the Indians on large
reservations as rapidly as can be
done, and giving them absolute pro-
lection there. As soon as they are
fitted for it, they should be induced
to take their lands in severally, and
to set up a Territorial Government
for their own protection. For fall
details on this subject, / call your
special attention to the reports of the
Secretary of the Interior and Com
missioner of Indian Affairs.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows the expenditures of the War
Department for the year ending Both
of June. 1869, to be S80,644, 042, of
which $23, 49,, 80 was disbursed In
the payment of debts contracted dur
ing the war. and is not chargeable to
the current army expenses. The
estimate of $34,5l203l for tho ex-
penses of the army for the next fiscal
year, Is as low as it is believed it can
be. The estimates of the Bureau
officers have been carefully scrutin-
lied and reduced wherever it has been
deemed practicable. If, however, the
condition Of the country should be
such by the beginning of the next
fiscal year as to admit of a greater
concentration of troops, the appro-
priation asked for viii not be needed.
The appropriation estimated for river
and harbor improvements and fortifi-
cations, are submitted separately, and
whatever amount Congress may deem
proper to appropriate for these pur-
poses will be expended. The re-
commentator of the General
of the army, that appropriations be
made for the forts at Boston, Port
land, New York. Philadelphia, New
Orleans and San Francisco, if for no
other, is concurred in. also ask
your special attention to the recon-
mendation of the General command.
ing the Military Division of the Pa
| citic. for the sale of the seal islands of
st. Paul and st. George. Alaska Ter
ritory, and suggest that it
either be complied with or that
legislation be made for the protection
of the seal fisheries from which a rev.
enue should be derived.
The report Of the Secretary of War
contains a synopsis Of the reports
| of the heads of bureaus, of the com
manders of military divisions and of
the districts of Virginia, Mississippi
and Texas, and the report Of the
General of the army in full. The
recommendations therein contained
have been we'll considered and are
submitted for your action. /, howev-
er, call special attention to the
recommendation of the Chief of.
Ordinance for the sale Of arsenals
and lands no longer of use to the
Government; also, to the recommend
alton of the Secretary of War, that
the act of the Sd of March, 1869,
prohibiting promotions and appoint
ments In the staff corps of the army.
be repealed. The extent of country
to be garrisoned and the number of
military posts to be occupied is the
same. With reduced army, as with
large one, the number of
staff officers required is more
dependent upon the latter than the
former condition.