Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-18
Letter from Washington.
IFRoM OUR INDIAN CORRESPONDENT.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 1871.
When a man steps out of his old routine he
can scarcely tell where he is to land. Having
only reached good old Worcester on New Years
morning, after an absence of ninety days, the
writer had hoped he would be permitted to
have that kind of rest and comfort that is found
only at ones own hOme,-especially if it is a
good New England home,--for at least a few
weeks; but dispatch summons him to be at
Washington on the 18th concerning the Indians.
As he has so much of Indian on the brain, he
feels it bis duty to start, and safely arrives at
Wizards hotel on the eve of the 18th, and finds
his associates from different parts assembled on
the same kind of summons as his own. We are
all called here by the board of Indian commits
soners. send the following brief account of
the doings of the meeting held on the 18TH
There were present of the board Mr. Bruno of
Pttsburg; R Campbell of St. Louis; John V.
Farwell of Chicago; John D. Lang of Maine;
VIM. +. Dodge, Nathan Bishop and Vincent
Colyer of New York; Geo. Il Stuart of Phila-
delphia, and Edward S. Toby of Boston, being a
full board, and, by invitation, H. A. Spaulding,
the veteran missionary of the NeZ-Perces of Ida
no, Presbyterian; Father De Smet, Roman Cath
| Ole, "a veteran Jesuit missionary of the Upper
Missoui0 Thomas Wister of Philadelphia, Tor.
thodOx Friend who was imprisoned under Gen.
| Taylor for bis attacks on the Indian ring under
Taylor's administration; Benjamin latham New
York; John Garrett and Mr.. Earl, of the 0rtho-
dox Friends; Samuel Townsend of Baltimore
of the Hicksite Friends; DR.. Harris, secretary
Of the Methodist missionary society; DR.. Ferris,
of the Reformed church; DIR. Whipple and Gen.
Howard, of the American missionary society;
DR.. Lowe of Boston and Rev. MIR. Hinkley of
this city, Of the Unitarians; Col, S. S. Tappan,
Secretary Delano, Commissioner Parker and
Hon. VIM. Welcn, were present,
The chairman opened the meeting by propos-
ing the question, What measure of responsible
~ belongs TO the religious body that dominates
agents?
A general discussion cnsued, (which resulted
in the following resolution:
That, in the opinion of this conference, it is
necessary that religious or benevolent assoeia-
tiOns which are called upon to recommend In
dian agents shall be at liberty to select such
agents as they have full confidence in, and shall
be willing to become morally responsible for,
without reference TO the locality of their resi-
dence or their political opinion, provided they
shall be restrained from using Their positions
| Tor partisan purposes.
The second question was, whether western
men residing III the neighborhood If the reser-
va ions only should be nominated as agents.
Rev. DR.. Ferris stated that the reservations in
Arizona had been committed TO the care of his
society by the president and the society felt
moral conduct of their agents, they must nomi-
nate men with whom they were familiar and
they therefore, had TO take men from east of the
Mississippi.
The general sense of the meeting was that the
society should he left free to choose from either
section.
The following resolution was then adopted:
Chat in the opinion of this meeting, it is
very desirable that the agents of any religious
association should be constantly watched by the
I
| the civilization and Christianization of the In
dams"
The third question was, Is it good policy to
| have minister of the gospel as agents? The gem
| eral sense of the meeting was against the prac-
| tice, but that 1t should be left open.
The following resolution was then adopted
THAT in the event Of person recommended
| as an Indian agent not being satisfactory to
the president or to the senate, it be respectfully
| requested that the religious body authorized to
make the recommendation be notified imme-
| dlately ana asked TO suggest another person, in
accordance with the practice of the depart
| ment."
The next question was, should school houses
on reservations be built at the expense of the
| government, or by the missionary societies?
The majority declared that the expense would
| be too heavy for the missionary societies to I'M
dertake. Mr.. WEIGH was, however, in favor OF
| it.
The following was then passed:
| That this conference, composed OF the preSl
| dent, board of Indian commissioners aud the
official representatives of the religious bodies
invited by the government 10 cooperate with
the administration in its efforts to civilize and
Chrisuanze the Indian race, in recommending
agents for the management of the different
tribes, regard the policy Of the president as one
OF the most philanfhropic measures that the
government has ever undertaken, and that
having faith in its success we heartily commend
this policy to the good judgment and cordial Co
operation Of the people of the United States"
Commissioner Toby warmly advocated the
last above mentioned resolution.
Secretary Delano expressed great qualification
at the general character and unanimty Of tht
meeting. He said the presidents policy was al
admirable one, but had great work to do H,
said: "The agents seut to the Indians are you
, own, and we intend that they shall be emphati
cally your own. The only right we reserve /
the right of instantaneous dismissal where the
arc unworthy"
{ The following resolution was passed
Resolved, that as one Of the most effectiy
means of creating a correct public opinion j
support of the presidents policy in reference I
the Indians, and of deeper conviction of mora
accountability 10 ChristaniZe them, il Is dcsir:
BILE that voluntary associations be formed in tn
larger commercial centres in the country, as ha
: already been done in New York Massachusetts
! OREGON. and elsewhere