The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-20
DIR. WEEKS, ADDRESS UPON THE
INDIAN QUESTION.

INDIAN 4DESI1ON.
We print to-day the address of DIR.
Granville Weeks upon the Indian Question,
delivered at the great meetingo of the friends
Of the peace policy at the Cooper Institute.
1t gives, as we think, a clear and just idea
of the whole matter. 1t is of great i'm
portance that our people should understand
the merits of this question and become
freed from brutal and savage hate against
race more sinned against than SHINING.
The policy of General Grant is one of the
browning glories Of his administration. 1t
is well set forth in the fine address below.
DIR. Weeks was surgeon on board the
Monitor in Hampton Roads and was
wounded and disabled for life while dis
charging his duty on board of her. He
was formerly surgeon in the army, and
resided long among the tribes of the North
west. Should he be selected to take charge
of the Indian Bureau, the policy of the
Administration would be faithfully and
ably carried out. He is warmly endorsed
by Peter Cooper, of New York, and his
nomination would be most acceptable to
that portion Of the American people who
desire to see the interest of the government
protected, and the Indians fairly treated
and wisely managed:
DR.. Granville NJ. Weeks Address at
the Cooper Institute.
This meeting, and the coming of Red
Cloud and his chiefs before our people, has
been due to the efforts of the earnest
Christian gentlemen who have preceded
me, and to the convention of which they
were part.
As have had the honor of drawing up
plan, which has been approved by the
committee, the carrying out of which | be-
lieve will benefit the Indian, it seems
proper to briefly outline it.
The material features of the scheme are |:
The concentration of all tribes west and
north Of the Mississippi, on not less than
four nor more than seven reservations, al
lowing about eighty acres of good land to
each individual, due regard being had to
the relations Of the different tribes in loca-
ting them no white men to be allowed
to locate on the reservation except those
who are sent to benefit the Indians, and
those to be married and of ''well attested
philanthropic proclivities" and s'Christian
character" and when railroads are built
through these lands, only such stations to be
established as are necessary, and no white
settlements to be allowed near them men to
be sent and money employed to civilize the
Indians and build up industries and educa-
tional institutions among them !; and all
necessary means to be used to protect the
reservations and their occupants in all the
rights, titles, and interest guaranteed to
them under this arrangement.
To the Indians, through the interpreter,
| must still further condense. Turning
from the audience, the Doctor then adj
dressed the Chief, through the interpreter,
as follows: "Red Cloud, we will try and
make strong the hands of your great white
Father and his agents. First, to keep trea-
ties truly second, to keep white men out
of your country, except good men. To
send good men to teach your people to get
food out of the ground, and how to raise
tame cattle when wild ones are gone !; to
sendothers to take care Of your sick, teach
your women how to prepare food properly,
and otherwise care for the children, that
not SO many may die"
The doctor, then turning to the audience,
said:
Itseems desirable that this vast assem-
blage of people should know some of the
main facts on which is based this plan,
now so family outlined to you, because Of
the prejudices that exist SO widely against
the Indian, and still further, because a
knowledge of the important facts of the
vYII a a cxrr,a fbxrf
much admiration of the long misunderstood
Indian character. have lived among the
Indians for nearly three years, and know
will arise storm Of indignation all along
the border when the account of this meet
ing reaches it, for the Indians on the
border have become so contaminated and
repulsive by reason of their intercourse
with white men, that it will be hard for
them to understand such sympathy for such
vile beings as they are, forgetting that bad
white men made them. so.
Those living on the border. Judge the
whole race from those wrecks they see
around them. But /, who have lived
among the interior Indians, know they are
possessed Of many noble qualities. The
records of Indian affairs at Washington at
test the truth OF my assertions.
The United States Indian commission,
and its subcommittee, by an examination
of the records of the Indian bureau fol
over pe-iod of ten years, and in inyesti.
cations by personal vistations of various
Indian nations by Vincent Coly er and
others Of the commission, and by actual
residence Of three members of this special
committee on plan, of three years on the
part of one, and nearly lifetime on the
part of two, in the very midst OIL
both the border Indians, and those
far removed in the interior from
contact with the whites, have learned thu
following facts upon which the plan is based
The facts being, First: That our Indiar
troubles originate in their unjust treatmen
by white men, and are especially aggrava
ted and increased by the propagation il
their midst of the vices of the latter; tn,
large part of said unjust treatment, con
sisting in the seizure of their lands with
out paying for them by railroads an,
landed corporations, by individuals, ant
the government, and also too frequentl,
cruel aggressive action on the part of th
latter, together with its breaking of, and ne
glecting to fulfil its treaty compacts witt
the Indians. Secondly: And as natura
offspring Of the aforementioned state {
things, it has been found that there ar
two great contrasting classes of Indians
namely-First: those who are filthy