Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-10-20
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
recommendations of the Commission
ers Charged with the InVestiga-
ton of the Red Cloud
Agency.

WASHINGTON, October I8.-At the
conclusion of a long report by the commits
sioners appointed to investigate the Indian
affairs, they say that tn beg to offer some OBJ
serVatiOns on the result of their reflections.
They believe the time has come when tn pol
icy fOreshadowed in the recent act of congress
against further treaties with The Indians
should be enforced; the Indians shOult be
treated as individual In abitauts of the repub-
lie; and that the absurd fiction of tribal SOW
ereigny be abolished. The commissioners
exp ess satisfaction at the successful opera ion
OF schools and missions among the Indians in
reOrganiZing the first moral necessities to CIV
illzatiOn, Intelligence aud individual respon-
slblhiy. me community OF property now eX
listing i'll the tribes is a serious check on the
e1iO l. TO better their condition. The commits
slOneTs recommend tne establishment of
courts for the administration of Justice among
the Indians, in places where their numbers
warrant il. They Criticise he existing Treaty
stipulation which excludes white people from
the reservations, thus preventing such contact
OF Indians wi h The influences of civilization
as would tend TO impress them favOTably with
it. As additional stimulus toward this end II is
recommended that male clothing take The
place of blankets in the government supplies
10 them. A bOlder policy in the treatment Of
tue In iians is especially recommended, be-
cause the Indians believe that the present
conduct OF the government toward them is
dictated by cOwaTdice. With Ali our muEih-
cence in their behalf, extending to an annual
expenditure OF eight million liars, no senti.
ment OF gratitude ever actuates the bears.
The commissioners look, howe yer, with dis.
favor the proposition that the manage
ment of Indian affairs be transfer I'd TO the
wal department though the presence of mill
tary officers at the inspection and delivery of
supplies would be desirable. The suggestion
is thrown out that the young men of the
friendly tribes might be utilized a. soldiers in
the regions occupied by the Indians. In con-
cluslOnr the commissioners recspitulate their
recommendations, namely: That Saville be
removed; that j. W. L. Sa venS, J IL. Martin
and ID. J. MCann be excluded from future
contracts with the government; that Z. X,
Shreikl4d be excluded from future employ
Z Ml'annS ne
referred 10 the department Of justice that the
distance from the Red-ClOud and Spotted Tail
agencies TO Cheyenne and Sidney be meas
ur-d Without further delay: that bids Tor
flour, clothing and wagon TRANSFORMATION be
received at some suitable point in the west;
JhaJ the othce OF superintendent OF Indian
agencies be abolished, and the duties con-
nected herewith be transferred to the in
spectOSi that the feasibility of dispensing
with railroad freight contractors from New
York TO the wet, be cOnSi cred; that army
ON. erS be detailed to inspect Indian supplies;
that the system of keeping accounts be i'm
proved; that the Indian agencies be graded
WIN reference TO the salaries of agents; that
Hed-Sloud and Spotted Tail agencies be moved
near the Missouri river; that commission of
army officers be appointed to consider the
propriety of organizing an Indian soldiery for
police and similar duties that a territorial
government be established over the Indian
territory that suitable persons be appointed
10 prosecute Tor ali wrongs against Indians,
and to defend their rights as far as they may
become the subject of adj udicatio before the |
courts. and that future legislation be shaped
WIN view Of bringing The Indians under |
the same laws which govern all other inhabi- |
tantS OF the republic. The report is signed by |
THOS. c. FLETCHER,
BENI. w. HARRIS,
ca. FAULKNE
GEO. W. ATHERrON.
Senator Howe, the remaining mem0er of |
the com mission, attended only part of the in |
vesligatiOn, and was not present TO participate |
In ths preparation of the report, and his name |
does not appear among the signers.