The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-12-10
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE INTERIOR.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE INTERIOR.
n: India. S,;ss..sS = .s.sss
lailis Expedition. Edo.
The following are the main points of the
annual report OF Secretary Delano to the
President:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81, 1874.
SIR:--I have the honor TO submit, for your
information and the consideration Of Con-
gress, the following summary Of the opera
tons, during the fiscal year, Of those branches
OF the public service which are placed by law
under the supervision of this Department,
and for the details thereof to refer to the ac-
companying reports Of the Chief Of Bureaus
and other officers.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The operations of the Indian Bureau dur
ing the past year are highly gratifying. They
furnish conclusive evidence of the justice,
wisdom, and practicability, of the policy in
augurated by TIN present Administration.
The success of this policy Is no longer
problem. IL steadily pursued we shall soon
see all rowing tribes located on reservations.
The disposition of the more restless and
turbulent, to leave such reservations on
hunting and marauding excursions, will
rapidly disappear, and the improvement of
the semi-civilized Indians, already so ap-
parent in many localities, will be greatly ac-
celebrated. We may reasonably expect oc-
casional disturbances in the future caused
by individuals, or by disorderly bodies of
Indians, but with judicious and efficient
execution of the present mode of treatment,
ii Is not believed that we shall see another
general, or even serious Indian war. In my
last annual report a brief but distinct state
ment OF the nature and scope of the Indian
policy was attempted. deem it best to re.
fer to this subject again, in order to avoid
either misapprehension or misrepresenta-
ton.
INDIAN POLICY.
The present method Of dealing with the
Indian race aims to induce, and, when ne
cessary, to compel, the roaming tribes to ac-
cept reservations as rapidly as possibly. On
such reservations they are instructed in
agriculture and other pursuits incident to
civilization, and with the aid of our Chris
tian organizations, their intellectual, moral,
and religious culture is advanced as rapidly
as practicable. When tribe refuses to ac-
cept reservation, and continues to violate
the laws of civilization, it is treated with all
needful severity, and thus made to appreci-
ate the advantages of accepting the kind and
humane treatment which the Government
surely extends TO such as are disposed to
peace. If those who have accepted reserva-
tons leave their homes and commit depre.
dations, they, alss, are treated as offenders,
and taught the necessity, as well as the adj
vantage to themselves, of obedience and
good behavior. BY the judicious exercise of
power and persuasion, as thus indicated, it
is the aim of the Government to deal kindly
and justly with this unfortunate race, and to
make them appreciate, as speedily as posi-
BILE, the real motives and purposes Of the
Government. The execution OF this policy
is necessarily attended with difficulties which
can not at once be entirely overcome. To
distribute the supplies annually authorized
by Congress among the Indians (scattered as
they are over a vast extent of territory in
such manner as to be entirely just, and most
useful, is very difficult undertaking.
Agents employed to do this work must sur
render without adequate consideration the
advantages and comforts of civilized life, and
endure hardships and privations which are
not often appreciated. Nothing but a high
sense of duty is sufficient to induce men of
proper capacity and right motives to under
take this task. feel it a duty to repeat
here what have said on this subject in for
mer reports, that the welfare of this service
would be greatly promoted by increasing the
salaries OF these agents, and in my judgment,
it would be measure of economy, as we'll
as of justice, to make such increase i'm
mediately. / am happy in being able to say
that the earnest, active, and cordial CO.
operation of the several Christian organiza-
tions, to which the right of nominating
agents has been assigned, and upon whose
nominations alone such agents are ap-
pointed, is constantly improving this class
of employees, and thus we are, each year, to
some extent, advancing the service by OBJ.
tanning agents more experienced and intelli
gent, and of greater capacity for their
secular, as well as their moral and religious
work. The Indian population of the United
States, since the first occupation of oul
territory by white men has been compelled
to concede as the white population has nd
vanced. The natural result has been the
creation of feeling among Indians that they
have suffered great injustice ut our hands.
They have strong local attachments, and
adhere with tenacity to the home of their
fathers. They once occupied without dis
pute vast regions of country which have
been wrested from them. Under no circum
stances can it be supposed that they will &c
cept the complete change in their mode oil
life, and in their management by the Gov
eminent which is now being affected, with
out complaint and resistance, which may oc
casionally require the employment of force
or can ii be supposed that time is not re
quircd for the accomplishment of such
change? The complete success of this pol
icy requires the cordial cooperation of the
War Department, which am happy to sa,
has always been unqualliiedly given. II
also needs the support and sympathy of the
leading officers of the army, who are neces
sarily charged occasionally with executing
military orders for the purpose of compel
ling, on the part of the Indians, a complained
with the wishes of the Government. / an
happy to say that such support and sym
pathy have, as a rule, been freely given
But this policy can not be carried on success
fully without the favor and support of Con
gress. The Indian race can not be induced
to abandon nomadic habits, where subsist
ence has been procured by hunting and bt
placed upon reservations, unless supported
and sustained by the Government while
being taught the arts of civilization, ant
habits of industry sufficiently to be self-sup
porting. The present policy, therefore, re
quires, in order TO be successful, liberia
appropriations. II isimpossible to suppress.
the emotions produced by hunger and DIES
titution, and Il is not difficult TO predict the
effects of such emotions among either savage
or civilized races. Undoubtedly, it is wiser
and more humane, just and economical, tC
provide for the welfare of our Indian popu
lation under the existing policy, than to en-
counter the consequences of hostility and
war which the abandonment of the policy
would render inevitable.
Each year this service presents To those
most familiar with IL new subjects, requiring
the favorable consideration and action o.
the legislative department of the Govern
ment, and to some of them, as developed b,
the experience of last year, deem it my
duty TO invite attention.
HoMEsTEADs FOR INDIANS.
To aid in prosecuting the work of Indiar
civilization, i recommend the extension o.
the homestead laws TO Indians with certain
notifications hereafter to be more fully
stated. These laws at present apply to citi
zens of the United States only, and their pro
visions can not be enjoyed except by that
small portion of the Indian race who are le
gally entitled to the privileges of citizen
ship.
The Department has frequently been
compelled TO consider and determine the re
lations held by the Indians to the General
Government, and their rights under the