The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-12-10
Report Of the Secretary Of the Inte.
riOr on Indian Affairs.
W ASIIINGTOS, Nov

NASHINGTON. Nov. q.
The following are the main points of
the annual report of the Secretary of the
Interior to the President on the Indian
question. The report bears date Oct. 81.
1874: 0 ' W.
The operations of the Indian Bureau dur
ing me past year are highly gratifying. They
furnish conclusive evidence of the justice,
wisdom and practicability of the policy in
augurated by the present Administration
Inc success of this policy is no longer prob
lem. II steadily pursued, we shall soon see
All rowing tribes located upon reservations.
we may reasonably expect occasional dis
turbances in the future caused by individuals.
or ny dlsordcrly bodies of Indians, but with a
ent mode Of treatment it is not believed that
We snail see another general, or even serious.
Indian war;
The present method of dealing with the
lholah race aims to induce, and when neccs
sary to compel, the roaming tribes to accept
reservations as rapidly as possible On such
reservations they are instructed in arricul.
ture and in other pursuits incident to ciyilza.
tlon, and with the aid Of our Christian organ
izatlons their intellectual, moral and relig
iouS culture is advanced as rapidly as practi.
caole: When Il tribe refuses to accept res.
eI'atlon and continues to violate the laws of
cNlii.ation, 1t is treated with all needful
se, uto ana thus made to appreciate the adj
vahtages OF accepting the kind and humane
treatment which the Government surely ex-
! !t 10 such as are disposed to peace. By the
Juolcious exercise of power and persuasion it is
!he ann ni the Government to deal kindly and
Justly with this unfortunate race and to make
tnem appreciate, as speedily as possible, the
1SaI notl'es and purposes of the Government
attended with difficulties which cannot at
once DC entirely overcome. am happy in
beng able to say that the earnest. active and
corolal cooperation of several Christian or
sanlzatlons to which the right of nominating
agents has been assigned, and upon whose
mountainous 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 Intelligent, and of
greater capacity for their secular as we'll as
their moral and religious work.
Inc indian population of the United States,
since the hrst occupation of our territory by
the white population has advanced. The
natural result has been the creation of
feeling among Indians that they have suffered
great injustice at our hands. They have
strong local attachments, and adhere with
tenacity to the home of their fathers. They
once occupied without dispute vast regions
OF country which have been wrested from
them. Under no circumstances can it be SIM
posed that they will accept the complete
change in their modes of life and in their
by the Government which Is
now being effected without complaint and
resistance, which may occasionally require
the employment of force; nor can it be sup
posed that zine is not required for the accom-. |
plishment of such change.
10 aid in prosecuting the work of Indian
civilization l recommend the extension Of
the Homestead laws to Indians, with certain
notifications hereafter to be more fullv
stated. These laws at present apply to citi. |
zens OF the United States only, and their
provisions cannot be enjoyed except by that
small portion Of the Indian race who are
ship. ~'"'
The department has arrived at the con.
clusion that when an Indian tribe is dissolved
and its tribal relations ended, with the con-
sent OF the United States, either by treaty or
legislative enactment, the members of such
tribe become ipso .tacto citizens of the United
States, and entitled to all the privileges and
belonging to other citizens
The department. has also decided that an
Indian cannot voluntarily dissolve his rela-
ton with his tribe, and thereby become
citizen of the United States; that before citi-
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,
with sound law, as well as with
public policy, to permit an individual Indian.
by voluntarily Withdrawing from his tribe, to
become citizen without some act of the |
recognizing his citizenship.
Under these circumstances, and in view of |
the importance of this subject, deem it |
proper to invite the attention Of Congress to |
the recommendation of the Commissioner of |
the General Land Office in 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.