The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-12-10

70 the rrouhu.
Gewerss Fspe's Repsvs.
The report 81 Brevet Major General John
Pope, commanding he Department Of Mis-
souri,, after REVERSING, at some length, the
campaign against hostile Indians In the de-
partment during the past year, says;
All hand. q Indian. In the vcs,, Cbeyeruc-
and AraIshc~, Kievs- and C..nanchc-, are nos .,
their Respective agencies hryught there ny military
fcrce sitter campaign II eiph, months 81 slmo-i un-
I,ecc'en,el hardship and esr.ass 40" 9,s ate, =,
hrvorht there, tsp entirely sul-iuri, and IN such
condition and under such circumstance that there
not ,Ss ss, ssSs !" ~ ' .r ont, ss
9Th co,amon humanity sud dealt with. With eycr
ordinary honesty. unle~~ they are rrcrerly led
!" JesS , TO ,ss, ,s me ss - es"S w. . GOV.
eminent rs veil a. humanity demands, amt as usual
appropriation a Cousr~s provide Tor, u duty
menl IL b.nr-ily performed in The future. IS sm
sorry 10 lieve " has not been In the past, further
iroahles with thcse Indians may he cons'dcrci /"
an end.
Referring 10 the feeding Of the Indians,
he says;
II k presumed. though wlthoat positive kpovl-
edge, that appropriations inside by ccngre--, u hon
Sufficient for this purpo-e and can not In viev u
the pcace Of this frontier and the honor and fcsd
faith 81 the government tso strongly urge that this
more vigorous and efhcient than tho-s hitherto
pursued he adopted aud enfcrced without delay.
The military forces have dooe. and done well,
and ought not 10 BE- he'll In any manner accountable
for any further hostilities With the-e Indians,
due 10 had treatment ana want OF food al the
agencies TO which they have been forced 10 return,
and where they now are. II Is with painful reiuc-
lance that military forces take the heh against fn-
disns Who only leave their stions because they
-. 49,. ak<s.x
selves and their families or see them perish With
hunger. II r. revolving TO any humane man to So
such things done, and FAR more TO he rrquired 10 h.
the active party 10 commit violence upon the foriorn
Indians Who. under the pressure Of such Necessity,
only do what any man would do under Hike cfrcuu-
ssnccs desire 70 say, With al emphasis, Whist
that there Is class Of men In this country who
80 disinclined TO war with the Indians the army
stationed among them. The army has nothing 70
gain BY var with the Indians. On the contrary, Il
has everything TO lo-e In such var II suffer. oil
the hsriships and prvatioDs, and, exposed II Is
70 the charge Of sssa-instion II Indians are kiei,
10 the charge Of inefciency II they not TO mis-
repr, -cntstion by the sgents who fstteu on the
plumber Of the Indians, and 20 he misunderstood by
worthy people at distance, who are deseived by
tht-e very agents and their followers the soldier has
little 10 expect from public feeling Nevertheless
he IL PLACED under the present arrangements and
o'defs that he has no power whatever the lniisn
drive the Indians TO var On the cos,rsry, At the
demand Of the very agent whose unfair dealing With
the Indian has brought on the dikNculty, he Is
obliged 10 pursue aud force hack 10 the same depior-
able state and place the Indians whom he knows TO
have been vronged. and Who have done. ssbstsn-
tally, what he would have done himself under hke
prOvocstion. Such relation to Indian ahsis aud
Indian agents Is unjust and unfair 10 the army, and
serious Injury both to the interests Of the xovern-
ment and the vell-being Of the Indians. An posts
In the department require some and several Of them
quite extensive repairs
lie expresses the opinion that the main
0f ia in "A
says it Is not necessary for the defensive or
aggressive duty required Of troops, greatly
increases expense, and il q positive injury
to the discipline and efficiency Of troops
themselves.
THE REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL sCHo-
FIELD,
commanding the Military Division Of the
Pacific, after referring to the improvements,
change, and transfers OF troops, etc., made
at several posts, recommends that Camp
Halleck, Nevada, be gradually enlarged and
improved, as the funds at the disposal OF
the department may justify, until IL is capa-
Bile OF accommodating three companies I'M
der field officer. The General says:
1t is with much reluctance that have been forced
to the belief that the transfer Of the Indian Bureau
TO the War Department Is n Necessity OF public
service. The events Of the past few years have
demonstrated the utter inability Of civil DEPART
ment d the government TO maintain the necessary
control over uuciv1ed Indians. The efforts 10 con-
troll them through civil agents, while at peace on
their reservations, and then turn them ever the
army when they leave their reservations,
or commit acts Of hostility, has proved, as
might have been expected, a most ef-
heient mode OF producing war. The Of
hcers OF the army are compelled 10 stand
idly by, poweriess for good while their promises to
Indians made at the termination OF the previous
hostilites being violated, and dictates Of Wis
dom, justice, and even common honesty, disresarded
In the daily treatment Of the helpless savage, who
has no possible means Of address but escape from a
reservation where his life Is made inolerable. Then
the army Is called upon to pursue the Indiana or,e
them back on their reservations, and punish them
fer disobedience. Thus war Is inaugtrated which
could not have happened II the Indians had been
under military control. IL Is an entire mistake 10
suppose that the proposed transfer Of the Indian
Bureau necessarily means a departure from the
peace policy" that policy which b the dictate
alike Of wisdom, justice, and humanity, which has
been adopted by the present Executive is not likely
10 be abandoned by any Of his SUCCESSORS, unless
under the influence Of new surroundings. Military
management means simply more economical, Just,
uniform, and consistent execution Of the Executive
will II means permanency in the mode Of dealing
with Indians through the agency Of life-tenure of-
GERS, who have spent most Of their active lives
among the Indians, who know their character aud
wants, and who have every possible motive for deal
ing with them wisely and justly. II means ~ do
away with constant fluctuations Of policy" con-
tinual disturbances Of pfe-exisiting arrangements
and frequen, disregard Of treaties promises which
have just led the Indians 10 almost total disbeit
IN the faith Of the government