The New York herald., 1871-12-29
THE INDIAN COMMISSION.
ANNUAL REPORT;
THIRD
Condition of the Different Tribes
of Indians.

~S~S~
| thankfulness and encouragement while reviewing
the condition OF the Indians In the United Statea
| during the past year.
| CONFIDENCE AND GOOD WILL BETWEEN WHITES
AND INDIANS.
| The remarkable spectacle seen this fall on the
| plains Of western Nebraska and Kansas and East.
ern Colorado OF the warlike tribes or the Sioux OF
Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, hunting peacefully
for bufralo without occasionng any serious alarm
among the thousands OF white settlers whose caoins
skirt the borders on both sides OF these pIalnsli
shows clearly that the efforts OF the friends OF peace
in establishing confidence between the white pe0pla
and the Indians in this heretofore greatly disturbed
section OF the country have been eminently success
| fu. We contrast this picture with that presented
by the same tribe, when, five years ago, In conse
| quence OF our governments bad faith In
violating Its treaties with them, they were engaged
| In war made memorable by the s0-called Fort
| Kearney m assacre in which nlnety-eght OF our
soldiers ere killed In sight OF the fort. and IN the
OF which many or the settlers on the frontier
lost their lives, and so many hundreds OF others
were compelled TO abandon their cabins and nee to
! the larger towns for safety.
PEACEFUL RELATIONS WITH RED CLOUD AND THE
SIOUX.
With the exception OF some slight manifestations
Of il-wl against the progress OF the Northern Pa
cilc Railroad caused by a misunderstanding, this
| numerous and powerful tribe has been perfectly
| friendly during the past year. The Chairman OF
| tho Board held council at Fort Laramie with Red
Cloud and his principal chiefs In June, and found
| them unchanged In their professions OF deter MI.
nation to maintain peaceable relations with the
/ whites. He could hear OF no complaints against
| them since they abandoned the warpath In the
spring of 1870. His report VIII be found herewith,
marked az
! Wnen Rcd Cloud visited Washington In July OF
! last year, 1t was maintained by portion OF the
| western press and the people Of the frontier that
| his return would be marked by the renewal or out
RACES upon the settlers. Happily, tue prediction
| was not realized. and peace still continues. The
! Sioux are extremely sensitive In regard TO the
slightest encroacnment upon tnelr reservation, or
the hunting grounds allotted to them in the treaty
| Of 1868, and have objected even TO the establish
| ment Of an agency Tor their own benefit within
its limits. They are impressed with the conviction
| territory many viii inevitably follow. In view OF
their past experience, we cannot think them un-
ticn which led the government to Withdraw
the garrlsons Of Forts Reno, G T. smith
the the proposed Big Horn expeation in 1870 should
induce proper effort to gain their consent by neg0-
stipulaons by Inc INVASION OF Their hunting grounds
by surveying or exploring parties lt Is Del1eved
s e c @ Se ay b
| had by n negotiation at moderate cost. whereas
the attempt to seize without would probably occa-
| sion renewal OF the war.
| PRESENT CONDITION OF CHEYENSES AND AhAPA-
The Cheyennes and Arapaaoc5 are generally con-
tented upon their new reservation. Tne schools,
under care OF The Friends, are gaining their conf
during the last year to warrant the expectation OF
satisfactory advancement ia the future
! The condition OF the Osages is most unsatisfac.
| tory. On the representations or the committee OF
The Board that the government would protect them
In ine proposed new reservation In the Indian
| Territory they consented last year TO remove.
land TO which they were removed. In addition to
tnls trouble . new survey. which assumes 70
e eoe ne o e
Part or the tIliable land upon whichgthcy have
The continuation OF the trespasses on Indian lands.
in spite OF the oitrcpeatcd warning OF the govern
ions IONS " The M ssuassrs sun believe ma, Sere
ciccon will undecclve them. The justice OF your
determination 10 enforce the laws and maintain the
the Indians, cannot fail to be sustained by the
| people OF the country.
with their own money, and the obligation to protect
them has, II possible, additional force. II 1t be
naraei IS correct, II seems 10 ns that the govern.
ment Is pounn in honor 10 compensate the
Cherokces for the land and leave the Osages In pos
THE APAcuEs OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA.
The only other Indians who have caused any
serious trouble are the Apacnes OF New Mexico ana
PARTIALLY CIVILIZED TRIBES.
The condition OF the partially civilized tribes on
established reservations has materially improved.
The covetons desire Of white people, generally
living near these reservations, obtain possession
OF the lands, either for occupation o. speculation,
led TO the Introduction at The last session or Con-
cress Of several bills providing for the removal OF
the Indians ana the sales OF the lands without due
regard TO the rights OF the Indians or the sacred
gress was called to these several acts however W
and their manifest injustice polnted oIt they were
| promptly abandoned.
The condition Of the Indians IN oregon and Wash.
ngton ls vastly better than individual statements
l Il ~ n M IN n ~ Aan
or them arc Industrious and labor on their rcserva.
tIons, AMI others. as at Grand Rondc and along
Pngct Souno labor for the farmers or at the SAW
miils and receive the commenda,ion OF their en-
ploycrs and tho agents. They have adopted the
whites. Some OF them arc Christians and exemplary
for their consistent lives. There are also many who
civilization. This class, attracted they to the
vicinity of towns and railroads are most frequently
taken color to his opinion OF tho race Wien It IS re-.
| mcmbereu that the Indians OF oregon and Washing
Gfcen years ago, but iow Ql lhcm more than twelve,
II must be admitted that their progress towards
| civilization has been wonderfully RAPID.
NEED OF CIVIL LAW OVER INDIANS.
serious detrment 70 tne progress otinc partially
civilized Indians Is found IN the act thai they are
not brought under the domination OF The law, SD
far as regards crimes committed against eccs others
The difference In the characteristics Of the various
trloes together with the differences In the degree OF
| civilization 70 which they nave attained, seem to
render t Impossible To- frame any general law
ment OF ciyi or statue law In tribe OF Indians
when nrst brought Into peaceful relations With the
Il be practicable for the reason lnas the savsges are
uuab!c yet TO distinguish between eucn enforcement
and acts OF war. Bnt when they have adopted CIV.
| lizeI costume ana civilized modes OF subsistence
VIC owe II TO thcm, and TO ourselves TO teach them
the majesty OF civilized law, and 10 cxten 10 them
It's protection against the lawiess among themselves
| some amendment or the laws which pronlblt the
scng or sp,r!inans linnnr. % the indians Is needed
TO remedy inc present dicultics which prevent ttc
conviction OF persons guilty or the crime.
Many OF the partially civilized Indians are ready
for the allotment Of their lands in severalty ana
this should be done rs rapidly as possible under
some regulation which won.d prevent the alicna.
iicn Of such lands lQr tern, q years. IN many
fined by actual survey, ana the uncertainty as to
their exact limits has given color for the encroach-
| mcDt OF whites. The lines should DO distinctly
Established and summary measures should be taken