The New York herald., 1877-09-10
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.

II = In DIAN PROBLE M.
Mr.. WILLIAM WELSH ON THE FAULTS OF THE
EXISTING PoLIoY-AN INDEPENDENT BUREAU
ADvoCATED-FAILURE OF THE INTERIOR DE-
PARTMENT AND OBJECTIONS TO THE WAR DE-
PARTMENT.
PHILADELrHiA, Sept. Q, 1871
Mr. william Welsh, chairman OF the Committee on
Indian Affairs appointed by tho General Convention Of
the Protestant Episcopal Church. has addressed
letter to the members OF the committee in which he
urges the establishment OF an Independent permanent
Indian Bureau necessary the proper solution Of
the ndpn problem. He gives history OF the present
Indian policy which, he says was adopted as mere
cxpedcnt when tho country sparsey settled, and
when the nation was too weak to demand its rights
promote tho best interests OF tho Indian by making
him the ward Of tho government Al that time II
pecessary that the Indian should DO made
our ally, instead Of becoming the ally Of govern
that ne.d tho control OF the adjoining territory
Tribal sovereignty was allowed, aud the hereditary
chiefs gthcned In their influence by presents and
BY making treaties through their agency. Valuable
consideration was given pledged for the reIinqu sh.
ment ny the Indians OF the greater portion Of the land
claimed bv them for hunting grounds. Part OF the
consideration was always pledge by the United States
defend them in tho peaceful possession of ccrtain
well defined reservation. He then shows the good re-
suits Of the peace policy OF President Grant, and then
proceeds to the discussion of the practical question:
now extend tho benefits OF civilization to all Indian
tribes IN this country
TIE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
has been tried ami found wanting in tie requisites for
such work. 1t is cunbrous political machine, ex.
posed to irresistible claims for party patronage, sub
ject to frequent changes, and thus far It has been
fouu m hle tn
helpless Indians against the grosscst frauds Neither
the Indians nor the people OF this country can now
have confdencs In It, however wcI intentioncd tho
head Of that department may be. HIS duties ara SO
numerous and SO varied that he cannot become
thoroughly conversant with them during his short
term OF service as to enable him to control his subor
dnatcs Frauds In Indian appropriations wholher for
subsistence or Tor transportation, have become
chrome, and tho people suspicious that even
honest raanot get the credit that due to them
and that necessary 10 mako them efficient II seems
to baye been decrocd by tho people that tho Indian
Once must not be left under tho control OF the In
terror Department, although its present head Is evi
IDENTIFY striving 10 remedy all that he ascertain to
be wrong.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT
The War Department with the permanency and in
tegcnce OF its officers, its freedom from political
control and It's admirable commssary and quar-
tcrmascrs' departments, has many advantages
over tho Department OF tho Interior Nearly
all the officers whom have seen (ho below the rank
of a cooneD are the most intelligent anu tho best
friends of the Indians that have me. with They
bitterly lamentcd many of the Indian wars, brouch
on by other departments OF .he government StI, 1t
must be evident 10 every hopeful unprejud intel
gcn observer of the Indians oil country, that tho
transfer of all Indians to the War Department should
clvizlng measures have failed The Indians would be
dsheartencd thereby, and their Christian friends dis
couragcd. No doubt the regularly trained officer
would, in education and general intelligence, be
above the average OF agents 10 be had present
salary oi 81 500 year, yet civzing aud Chris,ianz.
ing influences could not be demanded of thcm. Such
cnange would, in tho opinion OF many military OIL
GERS Of the highest standing tend to demorazo the
army and 10 dssatlsy many OF its officers by forcing
them TO attend TO The complicated business OF an
Indian agent nsteud oil pursuing their profession AS
the army represents tue power Of tho government,
aud tho mercy Of its people, making its officers
ciyilizng agents would be unfr to them and rever-
sal OF the very purpose Tor which they appointed
AN INDEPENDENT INDIAN BUREAU.
Surely the people, their legislators and the press
will, alter due consideration, be r,ady to demand tho
ior nation OF such an organization not subject TO
political changes or to CLAIMS for party patronage The
success OF permanent Lighthouse Board In resisting
undue political influences ana tho irauIs that grow
out of them proves conclusivcy that some similar plan
out suggestions OF tho details OF plan that appears to
Inc feasible "A basis Tor your consideration Such an
Indian Bureau might comprise mo secretaries OF the
Interior and OF War 10 produce harmonious action,
and also two other mcmbers, to give their whole time
to tho office duties; one TO be an officer OF tho
army, not beOw tho rank OF colonel, and the other
civilian, both to be nominated by tho President and
confirmed by tho Senate and appointed for years
unless sooner removed for cause Their salaries
should made equal to that OF The Assistant secrc-
tary of the Interior. All agents or superintendcn,s
OF indans To he civilians or officers selected by this
Inn fnru min ky i.fnnf
ton by the Senate in the usual FORM Tnis burcau TO
choose the clerks and assistants not exceeding in
NUMBER or aggregate cost those employed IN the
Indian service. All appropriations to be piaced at tho
disposal OF this bureau or the lunncnt OF the spirit
Should with The consent OF Congress- be abro-
gacd or modified ms soon as Il may be done
with benefit 70 the Indians and without any in.
justice 10 them This bureau TO be authorized
call upon the war Department tor assistance with
authority TO the two departments, when acting to.
gehcr. TO deprive all Indians oi firearms, and OF
horses needed for the transportation of supplies
or Tor productive industry. The purchases OF sup
plies and the transportation to DC effected through
the Commssary and Quartcrnastcr's Department OF
the army, whicn should DO autnorizcd on the recon-
mcndaton OF the Indian Bureau, to purchase or con
tract without advertising for BIDS that tho Indians
and their friendly neghbors may be able TO furnish
supplies aud Interpretations as an important civil
izDg agency. Before many years all the Indians may,
by sucn bureau, be made wards OF The government,
II power and mercy can thus be permanently com
bincd ID their management.
A BAR TO CIVILIZATIONS
There are hcahen usagos among many OF tho Indian
tripcs that cneclna bar TO rapid progress in
CIVILIZATION and which should be put down With u
strong hand by those whom the Indians will recognize
their true friends. The aveDgeT of blood now bo.
llevcs IL to be a religious duty 10 re,aa upon tho
first white man he meets however innocont, wncn he
hears that near relative Of his has been killed. rho
war dances and tho sun dance tend to innamc the
natural cruelty OF the Indian, and should not be al.
lowed within the boundaries OF the United StatcF.
Again, at the loss OF child overy article OF any value
10 taken from the parent and unless this usage is
discontinued by authority Indians cannot be
induced To accumulate property us II may be stripped
from them at any moment. rhe tribal relation must
be severed ind individuals induced take up lands
severaty, as most Indians being ngrnrars the
idle and vicious invariably despol the industrious and
virtuous OF all their subsistence. With kindness,
hrmness and perseverance,, all such difficulties he
removed, out IN the present condition OF Indian al
fairs this has been Iouud TO be impossible.