National Republican., 1877-12-04
DEPARTMENT or INTERIOR.
The Report Of the Secretary.
XAsHInIron Novemher iaIS


DEPARTMENT OF TINE IsrKRIoR,l
WASHINGTON, November 1, 1677.> I
SIR: have the honor to submit the following
Ing the past year together with such suggestions 90
seem to me worthy Of consideration:
INDIAN AFFAIRs.
The report Of the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs
which herewith present, contains an elaborate
statement of the transactions Of the branch Of the
public service under his supervision as well as
Tbs ssa % s policy 70 Ss
resulted In the surrender of numerous and import
ant hostile bands while some Of them, under the
territory The OgaIlaia and Brule Sioux have re.
Gently been removed from the Spotted Tail aud Red
their way to The vicinity Of Inc Missouri River, in
accordance with the provisions made by Congress
to that end, and with what was believed to be an
agreement with the Sioux themselves, well under
st0Od on both sides.
The Sioux. however, wero reluctant to carry out
To attempt the movement while the Nez Perco
war wa going on. and the apparent successes of
chief Joseph might have ENCOURAGED a spirit ofre-
sistance among the more warke tribes. Thus tho
removal was delayed, and 1t was deemed prudent
to permit delegation Of Sioux chiefs to VISIT Wash.
and wishes before The Presidenst imp in persoD Tbe
result Of the council held here IN far satis-
factory us the Sioux chiefs. afler having rejoned
their tribes, used their influence apparently with
The wish expressed by the chief to be located on
soon as the season permits IT, and liberal provision
should be made to aid them in engaging In agri-
cultural pursuits and tie promotion Of a higher
order OF civilization among them. The removal
was undertaken after consultation with Geu Crook,
who IN high degree possesses the confidence and
difficulties Of 70 long march In an unfavorable
season Will be successfully overcome.
the Sitting hull Commission and % reports about The
other tribes.l
THE INDIAN POLICY.
While thus some progress has been made in'tho
adjustment Of difficulties and the danger Of disturb
ance on large scale seems remote II would be
wise to lose sight Of the lesson taught by expert
ence that In these things appearances are some
our Indian afairs is by no means satisfactory IL
suscess TO disguise the fact that perfect solution
Of ss p that Is to say complete
litical system that they no longer appear In
congruous aud troublesome element Is, In our days
solved by mere stroke Of legislation. We have to
deal with population whose character and habits
lies 81 % civiizins influence % TSix This eircs%stancc %
alone, however. does not In itself constitute the
main difficulty we have 70 contend with.
character Of our Indians does not materially differ
from that OF the Indians In The british possessions
friendly relations are maintained there S be,ween
the !ndiansand the whites That Ia true. But tho
condition Of things In the British possessions is in
from that which exists In tho United States. In
tho British possessions the bulk Of the Indian pop
by selterhenisof whites. On that area The indians
may roam about In full freedom. without danger
Of collision, and the abundance Of ash and game
furnishes them comparatively ample Iustenance.
The line dividing. the Indians and The whites can
be easily controlled by we'll organized body OF
United States we have 20 longer 2 dividing line.
The Indian frontier, has virtually disappeared
tiers, AZ well as the adventurous element Of our
people. In quest q rapid gain have pushed their
in the far West the enterprise Of the whites ad-
vsnces, whites and Indians como Into Immediate
act ant Bring on collisions Especially as tSe
abounds ip that part o. the country, holds tho
ton and can. In many localities at least scarcely
be said to be under the control Of law. while In
button by following without restraint his savage
:, Their VS. .tip other complications assraystIns
this continent saw In the Indian tribes surrounding
them very formidable power and naturally en-
system has come by k,heritance down to our days
when the Indians, under radical change of cir
enmanses ,, appear al ne same !me as indePend-
1t Is needless recount the history of Indian rea.
ties. As swhite settlements rapidly spread over the
made only u be broken. When the advance OF
civilization found them as barriers In its way they
could not stand US iinaiities, although they were
usually called SO. That In the frequent and rapid
changes to which those treaties were subjected tho
Indians sometimes suffered great injustice fair
minded man will deny.
In the course Of time new difficulties supervened.
As the Indians were crowded out OF their hunting
grounds their sustcnRnce became precarious, and
upon the Government devolved the duty To supply
them with food and clothing. That duty was and
Is now performed OH contract system and through
Indian agencies located at great distance from
the seat Of the General Government, and far re-
moved from Its immediate supervision, Thus
tempting opportunities epresented for iud and
pechlatiUn, demofalizng the service, ana resulting,
In many instances, IN grieyous disappointment aud
suffering among tho Indians. Not seldom the
promises made 10 them hed Of the expected per
iormunce on account uf insufficient appropriations
In this way lheindian has become dstrusliul OF
the good faith OF the whites
Taking all these things together: The interspcr-
sion OF white settlers reckless adventures aud
more or less wild Indians In one an0lhers way;
the anomalous and IN some of It's features, abSuid
treaty sy stem with It's evcr-chahglng "inalites"
Its frequent doceptiOns, unavoidable mslnder-
standings aud ineessant dlsappolntmcnts; tho
templnions 10 fraud and peculRtlon In furnishing
and distributing supplies; the careless and blunder
ing management OF agents, removed nom lmmedi-
ate supervision. The sometimes accidental some
times culpable non fulhllmcnt of promises and
engagements; the distress and suffering on-
suing therefrom and the comparatively lawless
and uncomfortable condition Of society IN that
mi nfg d htI nff I,,Ii