The New York herald., 1875-11-29
The Rights and Wrongs of the
Indians Outlined.
IMPORTANCE OF THE BLACK HILLS
Suggestions for the improvement and
Ameoraton Of the Tribes
NECESSITY FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION

Its session. The report treats at length the
Indian question and gives the Official survey of that
important question, together with suggestions and
quests for prompt action the part of Congress-
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. l, 1875
SRI have the honor, in accordance with law, to
submit herewith the annual report Of the Indian
Bureau accompanied with reports OF superntendents
and agents Only agent has failed to forward his
report The attention of the honorable Secretary ia
especially invited to the general encouraging tenor OF
these reports, conveying unmisakable evidence OF
year of advance in the civilization OF Indians. This
testimony is entitled 10 great weight 1t comes from
competent witnesses the ground OF ordinary
intelligence and common sense, speaking of per-
sonal knowledge and experience of from to FIVE
years With few exceptions, abuDdanty accounted for
by untoward circumstances their testimony is uniform
to the fact that the civilization OF Indians is not only
entirely practicable but Is fairly under way. While
public attention is being directed principally to the
great Sioux tribe in its disturbed condition tho larger
portion of the remaining 226, 900 Indians, who have
been comparatively unnotced have furnished the neld
OF labor from which the encouraging facts gathered
comparative statement made from statistics cover
ing period OF five years gives ample concurrent testi
mony steady progress year by year The statistics
care furnish important facts for consideration BY the
number Indians returned they substantially verify
the and estimates OF last rear, making total
enumerated of 278, $685. This population is deter
mined by actual count of the tribes, with the excep
tion Of the Navajoes Papagoes Pueos Mission Indians
(roamers in oregon) the Blackfeet Pegans treaty
Sioux and portion of the Utes-in all, less than
50O0o and for these SO Ooo with the exception Of not
exceeding 10000, the estimates have been based on
long acquaintance with the condition and habits
of their tribes and cannot be far from
Taking labor which Indians undertake for them
selves and its results standard Of progress,
the reports show AZ 900 able Indians representing
not far from the same number OF Indian fam
lies, undertaking sefsupport by labor with their own
hands portion of them have labored hardly
enough and with little profit to themselves except that
which the effort but the majority Of these
aborers have procured the larger portion OF their
means OF living, represented in the crop OF
2404 900 bushels OF wheat and other small grains and
AL $50 bushels of potatoes and other vegetables The
field under cultivation by individual Indians planting
for themselves aggregate S2S SS5 acres larger area
by 1000 acres than before reported and nearly
225 600 acres than cultivated in 1871, gain
per Ave years and Of 600 per cent in ten
years Additional lands broken and ready for cultva
year aggregate % LAG acres Five years ago
10 s29 Indian families living houses; there
now 10, o62-a gain of 90 per cent
This report would have shown still moro gratifying
results but the fact that for the of later
turns the statistics for FIVE civilized tribes Indian
Territory taken from the reports of 1872 There is
every reason suppose that among these So 900 peo
pie there has been larger proportion Of gain for the
three years than among any other Indians For gen
eral information concerning the different tribes and the
condition of their agency affairs reference is made to
ummary statement given hereafter
INDIAN WARS
In my last annual report | vcntured the statement
that except under extraordinary provocation, or in
circumstances all to be apprehended II is not
proboble that as many 500 Indians warriors will
again be mustered at one point for a night; and
with the conflicting interests OF the different tribes and
the occupation OF the intervening country by advanc-
ing settlements such event as general Indian war
can occur in tho United States"
During the year passing In review there has been
less conflict with Indians than Tor many previous
years With the exception OF the Cheyennes and
Comanches who at tho close OF the period covered by
my last report had still refused 70 surrender 70 the
the United States troops and complaints OF marauding
have been much less than usual This fact is signih-
can't According to all experience In the management
OF Indians this year should have been marked for
bloody conflicts White settlements have been brought
to wild Indians than ever before Many dis
turbng questions have arisen and with the most war
like and powerful of all the tribes there has been
constant series of rritatons which In any previous
year would have raised the cry along large ex
posed section OF the frontier. The Sioux have been
many times represented about to go out on the war
path at other times they have been reported as dis
affected by bad management OF bad agents and
goaded by desperation or hunger and cold
to an outbreak Nothing shows the utter want
OF truth all these reports clearly than the fact
that when they brought cheerfuy to relnquish
CHERISHED hunting ana S rSsoS e ooS in
saton for this REIMBURSEMENT should be F9pended IN
cows, horses harness and wagons Such use OF money
indicates anything but hostile intent on the part Oh
Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Sioux.
IL will probably DO found necessary to compel the
northern nontreaiy Sioux under the leadership OF Sit
ting Bull who have never yet in any way recognized
the United States government except by snatchng ra
tions occasionally at agency, and such outlaws from
the several agencies have attached themselves to
these same hosties, to cease marauding and settle
down, the other Sioux have done, at some point.
This may occasion some lighting between this band Of
Indians and the soldiers. There Is also a possibility
that the Utes in Northern New Mexico, who with.
out home, and transiently fed at Cimarron and
Abquiu may before long require coercion by force OF
arms But neither OF these bands can bring 300 men
into the field and am led not only to repeat with in
confidence the statement made last year that
general Indian war Is never 70 occur in the United
States, but also to give my opinion that lighting with
separate tribes will hereafter be OF occurrence and
only In the nature Of skirmshng
PROBLEM
For full discussion OF the question OF the future OF
the Sioux attention Is respectfully Invited TO my last
animal report Ii is with no little gratifIcation
that am able to aude 10 the fact that the obser-
vALons and conclusions reached ut that time upon this
subject have been fully sustained and confirmed by tho
report or tho Red Cloud Investigating Commission,
after many weeks spent ia the Sioux country in careful
inquiry into the condition and prospects Of these
preached solution during the year, unless y shall be
found that discussion arising from the Black Hills
excitement and the investigation al Red Cloud agency
have SO awakened the public attention TO the present
necessities and hopeless condition OF the sioux as TO
lead TO Immediate appropriate and vigorous measures
for their relief by removing the Indians AZ Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail agencies to tho Missouri River
and by driving out the squaw men who in
vest tho Indian country, and by compelling
labor as a return for rations. These three impor-
tant essential undertakings will require three things
l. Largely increased appropriations for the sioux DUR
ing the next Two years, which may thereafter be
steadily diminished Till they altogether The
efficient and hearty cooperation OF the war De-
partment 8 In order to afford suitable location for
Red Cloud and his people, the removal Of the Poncas
from their present reservation which is part Of the
Sioux country, and their consolidation with the Oma-
has in Nebraska
Sooner or later these radical measures will be
adopted the only alternative being TO continue 10
ration and clothe the Indians idle and lndolent