Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-12-04
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Report of the Secretary of the Interior.

WASHINGTON, Nov. q.
The following are the main points of the
annual report of the Secretary of the In
terror to the President on the Indian ques-
ton. The report bears date Oct. 81, 1874:
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 the present Administration.
The success of this policy is no longer a
problem. If steadily pursued we shall soon
see all rowing tribes located upon reserva-
tons. 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 appar-
ent in many localities, will be greatly accel-
Grated. We may reasonably expect occasional
disturbances in the future, caused by indi-
viduals, or by disorderly bodies of Indians,
but witG judicious and efficient execution
of the present mode of treatment it is not
believed that we shall see another general or
even serious, Indian war.
The present method of dealing with the
Indian race aims to induce, and when necessary
to compel, the roaming tribes to accept res
ervations as rapidly as possible. On such
reservations they are instructed in agriculture
and in other pursuits incident to civilization,
and with the aid of our Christian organiza-
tions their intellectual, moral and religious
culture is advanced as rapidly as practicable.
When tribe refuses to accept reservation,
and continues to violate the laws of civiiiza-
tion, it is treated with all needful severity,
and thus made to appreciate 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 reservations leave their homes
and commit depredations they also are treated
as offenders, and taught the necessity, as well
as the advantage to themselves, of obedience
and good behavior. By thej ejudicious 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 possible, the
real motives and purposes of the Govern
ment. The execution of this policy is neces-
sarily attended with difficulties which cannot
at once be entirely overcome. TO distribute
the supplies annually authorized by Congress
among the Indians (scattered as they are over
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 surrender without adequate
consideration the advantages and comforts OF
civilized life, and endure hardships and priva-
tions which are not often appreciated. Moth
ing but high sense of duty is sufficient to
induce men of proper capacity and right mo-
to repeat here what / have said on this sub
ject in former reports, that the welfare of this
service would be greatly promoted by increas-
ing the salaries of these agents, and, In my
Judgment it would be measure of economy
as well as of Justice to make such increase inn
mediately arl happy in being able to say
that the earnest active and cordial co-opera-
ton of several Christian organizations, to
which the right of nominating agents has
been assigned, and upon whose nominations
alone such agents are appointed, is constant
ly improving this class of employees, and thus
we are each year, to some extent, advancing
the service by obtaining agents more eXperl-
their secular as we'll as their moral and re-
ligious work.
The Indian population of the United States,
since the first occupation OF our territory by
white men, has been compelled to recede as
the white population has advanced. The nat
ural result has been the creation OF teellng
among Indians that they have suffered great
injustice at our hands. They have strong To-
cal attachments, and adhere with tenaclty to
the home of their fathers. They once occu-
pied without dispute vast regions of country
which have been wrested from them. Under
no circumstances can it be supposed that they
will accept the complete change in their
modes of life and in their management by the
Government which is now being effected
without complaint andresistance, which may
occasionally require the employment OF
force, nor can it be supposed that
time is not required for the accom-
plishment of such change. The complete
success of this policy requires the cordial
cooperation of the War Department. which
has always been unqualifiedly given. 1t also
needs the support and sympathy OF the lead
ing officers of the army, who are necessarily
charged occasionally with executing military
orders for the purpose of compelling, on the
part of the Indians, compliance with the
wishes of the Government. I am happy to
say that such support and sympathy have, as
rule, been freely given. But this policy
cannot be carried on successfully without the
favor and support of Congress. The Indian
race cannot be induced to abandon nOmadlc
habits, where subsistence has been procured
by hunting, and be placed upon reservations,
unless supported and sustained by the Gov
ernment while being taught the arts of civil
ization and habits of industry sufficiently to
be self-supporting. The present policy, there
fore, requires, in order to be successful, lib
eral appropriations.
To aid in the prosecuting of work of Indi-
an civilization | recommend the extension OF
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 cannot be enjoyed except by that
small portion of the Indian race who are
legally entitled to the privileges of citizen
ship.
This department has frequently been COM
PEELED to consider and determine the relations
held by the Indians to the General Govern
ment, and their rights under the Homestead
laws. X
The department has arrived at the con-
clusion that when an Indian tribe is dissolved
and its tribal relations ended, with the consent
of the United States, either by treaty or legis-
1,4 1hnrc of frIh O
become ipso facto citizens of the United States,
and entitled to all the privileges and immuni-
ties belonging to other citizens. 4
The department has also decided that an
Indian cannot voluntarily dissolve his isrelation
with his tribe and thereby become citizen OF
the United States; that before citizenship can
be created the tribal relation must be dis
solved 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, I 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 MS
tribe, to become a citizen without some act
of the Government recognizing his citizen
ship.
Under these circumstances, and in view OF
the importance of this subject, deem 1t
proper to invite the attention of Congress to
the recOmm endaJl0n OF Lne Commissioners Ol
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.
An extension to the Indians of the bene-
fits of the Homestead laws, under the safe
guards mentioned, and such others as the
wisdom of Congress may suggest, win greatly
facilitate the work of their civilization. 1t
will rapidly break up tribal organizations and
Indian communities; it will bring Indians
into subsection to our laws, civil and Grim
inai; it viii induce them to abandon rowing
habits, and teach them the benefits of indus
try and individual ownership, and thus prove
their