Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-10
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Interior Department.

DISCUSSION OF THE INDIAN QUEsTIoN-HE
RECOMMENDS THAT THE HOMESTEAD LAWS
BE EXTENDED TO ISDIANs-CoSDITIoN OF
THE PACIFIC RAILRoADs-THR PUBLIC Do
MAIN-How THE WASTE OF TIMBER LANDS
MAY BE LEssENED.
The annual report of the Secretary of the
Interior to the President is voluminous doc
ument, and We have room for only brief
synopsis of it. The most interesting portion
is that relating to the Indian problem, to the
discussion of which large portion of the re-
port is devoted. Mr.. DelaDo says the opera
tons Of the Indian Bureau during the past
year are highly gratifying. and furnish 50 con-
elusive evidence of the justice, wisdom and
practibility of the policy inaugurated By the
present administration" Tbs Secretary
recommends that the salaries of Indian
Agents be increased mmedistely, with
view OF securing men of proper capacity ard
right motives TO undertake the work of civ
ilizing and ChristianizIEg the savages He
says
= am happy in being able to say that the
earnest, active and cordial cooperation of
several Christian CARNATIONS, to which the
right OF nominating agents has been assigned,
and upon whose nominations alone such
agents are appointed, is constantly improving
this class of employees, and thus we are each
year, to some extent, advancing the service
by obtaining agents more experienced and in
telligent, and of greater capacity for their
secular, as well us their moral aud religious
work"
To aid in prosecuting the work of Indian
civilization, the Secretary recommends the
extension of the Homestead laws to Indians,
with certain notifications and restrictions.
He says:
These laws at present apply to citizens of
the United States only, and their provisions
cannot be employed. except by that small por-
ton OF the Indian race who are legally en-
titled to the privileges of citizenship.
- A common ownership of property is the
nominal condition Of the Indian race, and
with it are found nomadic habits totally in
| consistent with the idea of permanent habita-
tons, individual ownership and domestic in
dustry. The work of civilization can never
| be completed until these habits are aban-
doned. Every proper inducement ought,
therefore, to be offered the Indian which will
prompt him to individual ownership OF prop
/ erty, and such habits of industry and economy
as are incidentto eur civilization.
"Our Homestead laws require residence
and cultivation for five years before the APP
plcant becomes entitled to a patent for his
land. These five years afford considerable
guarantee that no one will apply to make
homestead entries unless he possesses the
qualities essential to citizenship.
SHOULD it be suggested that the exteneion
| of this privilege to Indians would furnish in
| ducements to spectators to use them in ac-
quiring titles to our public lands l would
reply that this danger can be prevented by
providing that the patent to be issued shall
contain clause rendering the title inslienable,
except by consent of the President. This would
insure ample security against the abuse of
this privilege, as we'll as necessary protec-
ton against improvideut sales without ade-
Quate consideration.
An extension to the Indians of the benefits
of the Homestead laws, will greatly facilitate
| the work of their civilization. It will rapidly
break ap tribal organizations and Indian COM
munities; 1t will bring Indians into subsection
OF our laws, civil aHd criminal; it will induce
them to abandon rowing habits, and teach
them the benefits of industry and individual
ownership, and thus prove highly advanta-
geous IN promoting their prosperity.
| The condition of the Indian population il
anomalous, and their relation to the general
government underlined. This is the result OF
necessity, but the time has arrived when, in
the progress of events, it should be remedied
1t may not be possible, at present, to devise
system of laws which shall perfectly define
the relations between indians and the gov
eminent. or that will cure all the defect:
now existing for want of legislation, but il
lie possible to remedy many existing evils
and thus facilitate the work we ave under
! taken,
|
1.-THE work of civilization will be great,
accelerated by enactments which shall defin,
as far as possible the relations between th
race aud the government; which shall fur
nish authority for enforcing the orders anC
acquisitions of agents which shall be suffi
cient to punish Indians for crimes against eacl
other, and against people tcherecer committed
and which shall also inflict adequate punish
ment upon white people who trespass upor
hnln 20 Ind
crimes against them.
1.-THE time has arrived when some genera
laws regulating Indian citizenship is, in my
Judgment, indispensable. Occasionally
treaty stipulations with Indian tribes are ex
piring, among whom is found greater or les
degree of civilization This compels the de
partment to determine the status of such In
dams in regare to citizenship. There are ais
many who desire to separate from thei
tribes, adopt the habits and customs of civil
lied life, and become citizens"
The Secretary refers to the Black Hills re-
connoissance, and the reports regarding tn
discovery of precious metals In that region
Upon this subject he says:
1.-The military reconnaissance of the Blacl
Hills country was regarded by the Indian
, as violation of their treaty, and produced
: turbulent feeling among them. Its objects
, however, were peacefully accomplished. Elk
! travagant statements concerning the minera
wealth. OF the country created great excite
ISent among the people, and exploring partie
| were organized for the purpose Of prospect
{ ing the country. Subsequent information
E establishes the fact that no evidence of valu
able mineral deposits was furnished, and tina
the lands in that region are undesirable TO
cultivation and settlement by white mer
Notwithstanding this, organized parties hav
{ attempted to explore it, and have been al
) tackled aud repulsed by the Indians. 1t is ar
pretended that efforts will be made to Undue
> legislation for tho extinguishment of the In
D dian title to the Black Hills country aud I
r bring the land into market. 1t is hoped ths
such efforts will be without success, becaus
of the general unfitness of the cou TRY Il
settlement, and because any attempt TO dis
possess the Indians at present Of region
| country upon which they located for eecurii
against the entertainments of the white ma
Z would meet with violent AID determined r.
sistance."
: The Secretary gives an extended exhibit
the financial condition of the various Pacif
. railroads. The subscriptions to the stock
. the Union Pacific Railroad Company amour
I to $780, 7,3, 900, OF which ESQ, 1852, 300 has lee
t paid. The receipts for the year ending 30i
!. June, 1874, from the transportation of passel
gers we're 80, 749 99S.12; of freight, S5,672
/, 724 Oh and from miscellaneous sources, 1924