Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-03-09
TIE INDIAN TREATIES.


Tmpor,aHt Communications from
the President and Secretary Cox.
The President sent to the House Of Repre-
sentatlves yesterday q letter inclosing a
communication from the Secretary OF the
Interior In. relation 70 the obligations Of
Congress to make the necessary appropria-
lions to carry out tho Indian treaties made
by what Is known Is the "Peaee Commits
Honers " Of 1867. The President says;
THE history Of these treaties and the con
sequences Of noncompliance with them BY
the Government are so.oleafly set forth In
this statement that I deem IL better TO com
munioAte II In full than to ask the necessary
appropriation 10 = shorter statement Of the
Indian war becomes Inevitable, the Govern
ment OF the u e. states At least should not
be responsible for IT, P'ins will be taken and
force uacd, II Necessary, to prevent the de-
parture OF the expeditions rcfefted TO by the
Secretory Of the Interior"
In his communication, which IL quite
lengthy, the Secretary OF the Interior In.
forms the President that he has sent to the
House, In compliance With q resolution OF
that body, the documents In relation to the
Piegan, and says the condition OF thlnEs
along tho whole border Is such that he 70
CARDS II as q nc time TO call the attention OF
the President 10 the Imminent danger OF gen.
sral hostllltles with the Indians, and 10 sug-
gest that the lively Interest In the subject
manifested by Congress, warrants the laying
before them Of . more comprehensive view
Of the subject than could DO done In re.
spouse TO the single Inquiry which had just
been answered.
From tho extreme northern border to
Mexico, complaints Of what they call lack
Of faith, come from all the tribes. Major
laperaI 9tapInv wrfttny from naeoiah n. -
that he IL ashamed longer to appear In
tho presence Of the chiefs OF the different
tribes Of SlouI, who Inquire why we are not
doing az we promised In 1857, and their Wig
orous language over that, We have "lied"
to them, when telling them Of the benefits
we Intended to confer on them.
In Wyoming an organised band Of white
men Is prepared TO move Into Big Horn re.
glon to prospect for mines, despite warnings
Of the military authorities that that region
Is reserved for the use Of the Indians.
In Colorado similar expeditions, though
| not so large In numbers, are preparing to
enter the Ute reserve nation.
In New Mexico portions OF the Utes arc
dissatisfied at tho arrangements made for
the location Of their reservation, and say
that they have been deceived.
In Kansas the 0sages are lncensed at the
encroachments Of the white settlers who
occupied their lands while they were absent
on their summer hunt.
Tho reports from every quarter show that
the uncertainty 10 regard TO the policy TO be
pursued by the Government, especially In
reference to the treaties made In 1897 and
1868, has produced a general disorganlEa-
ton, tho whites and settlers denying the
rights Of the Indians, and the Indians up
braldlng the whites with breach Of faith.
Tho Secretary expresses the belief that q
fair investigation would show that 1t 10 un-
lust TO put the whole blame on the savages.
lie says tho great cause Of all our din.
culties with the Wild tribes IL the fact that
the clyiliHed settlements and our internal i'm
proyements arc constantly narrowing the
boundaries Of their hunting grounds and
| erowding them out OF regions by which they
their own, whilst no thoroughly conIlstsu,
good faith is kept In redeoming the promises
which We make TO them a. the condition o
their aCquieseuce In the new order Of things
he quotes the statute 10 show the author
lty given the Peace Commissioners, and say
concerning the treaty made BY them;
"Ths treaties made by them were duly rat
ned, snd as ! confess %Eselt unable TO 90
Of the Government Of the Uoitod States ooul
be created by law, l think the IndiAnB ma
we'll be pGrdonsd a they regard the failure 4
/
breach OF faith on our pArti but IL any gteA
reasons Of public policy lhGll be held TO pre-
vent the leeognltiOn OF the national obliga
tlon, II 10 at least essential that the eGAc
meaning Of the Government should be defined
and to understand precisely what they maj
| expect and be relieved OF every doubt a. Il
the purpose and policy Of the Government"
The Secretary recommends that the at.
tention OF Congress should be called to thu
necessity OF immediate and explicit dehdi
ton Of tho purposes Of the Government Of
the subject OF Indian treaties aud TO sucl
action as In their wisdom may be likely /
avert the evils which now seem Imminent
He concludes as follows;
"It We were to waive all inquiry as TO IN
! moral obligations Of = Christian nation unds
such circumstances, l think II would b
Economically clear that a. . mere question
peeuniAry economy II will be cheaper to fee
= every adult Indian now living, even to sleep
auFfsiting, during his natural life, whit
their children are educated to self-support
} | agriculture, than II would be to carry on
general Indian war for = single year. tn
shocking bAFbaritieG and mutilAtions OF III
dead ARd OF prisoners, which are 80 often n
kerred to, are the usual Accomplishments {
IudIAn warfare. by preserving peace we m =
| hope to avoid them, and cannot belieV
| that It 10 beyond the wisdom and the rG
sources OF great nation like our own to Civ
peace policy thorough TRIAL"