New-York tribune., 1870-02-05
like those Of the whites and the young people themselves

like those OF the whites and the young people
equally desire this.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT.
The management Of Indian affairs IN Canada IS com
mitied to the Indian Branch Of the State Department.
the Secretary OF which s ex oico superintendent Gen
era most of the duties OF that Office are dschageu
by the Deputy Superintendent, the Hon. "inh"'
spragge The local affairs OF the Indians are unnf, % e
supervision of Visiting Commissioners VINO nnmites
tribes periodically divide among them ther 20 ~
and take receipts therefor most settlements thele =,
clergyman missionary. who renders % ~ the time
Of payment and in other ways facilitates the duties o,
Commissioners. An important feature IN so NJ reasons
orn made M lie ofcias having TO deal with indians
who hold Office long they appear the
overnment and Indians friendly for 1t is to the n,eIes, yer
OF the officials treat the tribes win mpartay anu
In June 1865 the 81 sOs 2G SC remained IN Ine ua nd
the Government the credit OF the indian nrTp, ,in
care ia taken 10 treat them with exact lnstce Io
years 67s the Government made $40 saios VI @
@ from "a cents TO 81 per acre There yet remains to be
sold for benefit 65565G acres 10 has always oten @ e m
nocy of the Government to take no lana from me III
dans without their legal assent ana te anI e
by the Indians and subdiylded IN INTO ir m s
commissioners appointed to inquire into ana report
upon beet means OF securing the progress anu u,
cation of the Indian tribes IN Cahaaa hne poeS vi
the Government had long been Tor tho eladuti
weaving OF the Indian from his position OF
dependence upon IL, ana the annual presents
had been recently Withdrawn and the Indian Depart
grad
ot subOrinatOn aud far from being realized
that the danger seemed 10 be rather that the Indians
having been so long dependent npon the g9verenlai
guardianship would upon Its withdrawal become apa-
tbetc or discouraged The chief point urged by the
Commissioners WAS the necessity OF concentration ior
the economical supervision and gradual civilization OF
the tribes. The Indians III their opinion could only be
civilized by being settled in permanent homes and Ire.
Guent removals they deemed extremely injurious u
being impossible for the IDdans to take hold with energy
IN any locality with the prospect before them of re-
The testimony OF the Commissioners and of others
ouainted with the subject adverse to their isolation IN
small bands separate and remote from one another In
such situations they are too much exposed to the ev m
huence of contact with the worst portion OF the white
race The entrance Of unauthorized white men among
Indian settlements has been found injurious to the pro
Crcss OF civilization. Being generally dlssolute them
selves they proseyte the Indians 10 their own wees The
giving the cultivation of their farms shares TO the
whites works badly aud is unequivoeay condemned IT.
avoided in large than small settlements.
LEGISLATION
The Legislation OF the Canadian Government with re-
gard to the Indians is careful, specific and just BY
recent legislation the chiefs of the tribes are allowed to
legislate locally on numerous important subjects, their
rules being subject the approval Of the GoyernorGen
era There has been recently enacted plan for the
enfranchsement OF the Indians, ana TO permit their
devising land by will TO children; but II is probable ta
the enfrauchsement idea Will not prove DeneclaI 10 the
Indians the tendency will be to draw their best
from their aililiation with the tribes III making
them. Much Of the legislation hitherto seems TO have
been based on the conviction that the indians were
permitted To ALLEVIATE or convey land many would soon
he reduced a state OF poverty WllIe Otners might
safely be allowed such rights Individual character has
diversties among Indians in quite as marked degree
as m any other race
The Canadian Commissioners OF 1858 stated, OF
the results OF their inquiries, that they they were unable
discern any reason Why III the course O te Indians
should take their place among the rest OF Canadian
populations and the results Of laborious and impartial
Investigation the part Of the writer lead TO The con
clusion that although the Indians cannot be suddenly
sformed from their original condition as savage hunt
ers TO OF farmers and mechanics they are yet eapa
bic OF civilization, and that the efforts made III Cahda
10 this end have been far successful as 10 leave little
room Cor doubt OF the ultimate result Those who have
aided i'm tie honorable work may rest assured that they
and their country will have the enyiabe recognition III
history OF having sriven to do justice TO the ahognes
and Of having founded their dominion IN tAIs respect
upon humane and enlightened principles.