Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-10

advancing the service BY obtain;no
more experienced and inteligspt asenh
greater capacity for their secular = shd Of
their moral and religious work. Sshas
The Indian population OF the United
since the first occupation of our terri,steS
white men, has been compelled to reeesss oy
the white population has advanced Is
natural result has been the create. Ire
feeling among Indians that they have sns u
great injustice at our hands Tncred
strong local attachments, and adba.y nave
tenacity TO the home of their father ~ viii
once occupied without dispute vast lsaey
OF country which have been wrestaS ions
them. Under no circumstances can If he I'm
posed that they will accept the coyes sup
change in their modes of life and VG ~
management by the Government wb,o hef
now being effected without complain, ~
resistance, which may occasionally raa' aiu
the employment OF force; nor can L h squfe
posed that zine is not required for the aeo sup
plishment of such change.
To aid In prosecuting the work of IND.
civilization ! recommend the extension !,
the Homestead laws to Indians, with cerf.;r
notifications hereafter to be more t~n nm
stated. These laws at present apply IN eis
zens of the United States only, and ,ba;.
provisions cannot be enjoyed except nv H..
small portion of the Indian race who a aaA
legally entitled to the privileges of eiti,sn
ship. 'D
The department has arrived at the %,
clusion that when an Indian tribe ia dissolraa
and its tribal relations ended, with the cor
sent of the United States, either by treaty y.
legislative enactment, the members of mar
tribe become ipso .facto citizens of the United
States, and entitled to all the privileges ana
immunities belonging to other citizens
The department has also decided that a,
Indian cannot voluntarily dissolve his rea
ton with his tribe, and thereby become
citizen OF the United States; that before cis
zenship can be created the tribal relation
must be dissolved by the tribe as tribe and
that, too, with the consent of the General
Government, as shown by treaty or act Of
Congress.
Reviewing these opinions, / feel assured Of
their correctness. 1t was, in my judgment
inconsistent with sound law, as well as With
public policy, to permit an individual Indian
by voluntarily Withdrawing from his tribe, 10
become citizen without some act of The
Government recognizing his citizenship.
Under these circumstances, and in view of
the importance of this subject, / deem Il
proper to invite the attention of Congress 10
the recommendation Of the Commissioner Of
the General Land Office i'm favor of Legislation
in behalf of Indians who desire to withdraw
from their former associations, become citi
zens of the United States, and avail them
selves of the benefit of the Homestead laws
An extension to the Indians of the benefits
of the Homestead laws, under the safeguards
mentioned and such others as the wisdom Of
Congress may suggest will greatly facilitate
the work Of their civilization.
The time has arrived when some general
law regulating Indian citizenship is, in nv
judgment, indispensable. Occasionally treaty
stipulations with Indian tribes are expiring
among whom is found greater or less de.
gree of civilization. This compels the de.
partment to determine the status of such
Indians in regard to citizenship. There are
also many who desire to separate from their
ilized life, and become citizens.
THE BLACK HILLS.
The military reconnaissance nf the Black
Hills country was regarded by the Indians as
a violation of their treaty, and produced tur.
bulent feeling among them. Its Objects how.
ever, were peacefully accomplished. Extray.
agant statements concerning the mineral
wealth of the country created great excite
ment among the people, and exploring par
ties were organized for the purpose Of pros
pecting the country Subsequent informa-
ton establishes the fact that no evidence Of
valuable mineral deposits was furnished, and
that the lands In that region are undesirable
for cultivation and settlement by white men,
Notwithstanding this, organized parties have
attempted to explore it, and have been at
tackled and repulsed by the Indians. 1t is
apprehended that efforts will be made to
induce legislation for the extinguishment Of
the Indian title to the Black Hills country
and to bring the land into market 1t is
hoped that such efforts will be without sue
cess, because of the general unfitness OF the
country for settlement, and because any at
tempt to dispossess the Indians at present o.
a region of country upon which they located
for security against the encroachments OF the
white man would meet with violent and de-
termined resistance.