The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-04

and humane policy will. be the object of
my earnest endeayors. Whatever msy
| be said of their characters and savage
propensities, OF the difficulties OF INTRO
ducing among them the habits OF civil
lied life and Of the obstacles they have
offered to the progress OF settlement and
enterprise in certain parts Of the country,
the Indians are certainly entitled to our
sympathy and to CONSCIENTIOUS
respect on our psrt for their claims upon
our sense OF justice They were the
aboriginal occupants of the land We now
possess. They nave been driven from
place to place. The purchase money paid
to them IN some cases for Whist they called
their own, has still left them poor IN
many cases. When they had settled
down upon land assigned to them by
compact and began to support them
selves by their own labor, they were
ruiely jostled of snd thrust into the
wilderness again. Many, II not most Of
our Indian wars, have had their origin
in broken promises and acts of injustice
upon our part, snd the advance OF the
Indians in civilization hiss been slow, be-
cause the treatment they received did not
permit it to be faster and more general.
We cannot expect them to improve and
follow our guidance, unless we keep faith
with them in respecting the rights they
possess, and unless, instead of depriving
them Of their opportunities, we lend them
a helping hand. cordially approve the
policy regarding the management of
Indian affairs outlined in the reports OF
the Secretary of the Interior snd OF the
Commissioner of Indian affairs. The
faithful performance o. our promises Is
the frat condition of good understand
ing with the Indians. l cannot too
urgently recommend to Congress that
prompt and liberal provisions be made
for the conscientious IL. fllment of all en-
gagements entered into by the govern
men! with the Indian tribes. To with !
hold the means necessary for the per-
Torrance of promise is always false !
economy, and is apt to prove disastrous in
its consequences. Especial care Is recon-
mended to provide Tor the Indians settled !
on their reservations, cattle and ayricul- !
tural implements TO aid them in what |
ever efforts they may make TO support |
themselves, and by the establishment and |
maintenance Of schools to bring them
under the control Of civilized influences. |
see no reason why the Indians, who csn
give satisfactory proof of having, by their
own labor, supported their families for
number of years, and who are willing to
detsch themselves from their tribal rela-
tions, should not be admitted to tho ben
edt of the Homestead act and the privi- |
leges f citizenship, and | recommend |
the passage OF law to that effect. L;
will be an act OF justice as well as Il meas
ure of encouragement Earnest efforts are
beng made to purify the Indian SER
VICE so every dollar appropriated |
by Congress shall rebound TO the benefit
of the Indians MS intended. Those
efforts Will have my firm support. With !
an improved service and every possible
held out TO the Indians to
better their condition and elevate them
selves in the scale of civilization, we
NAV hope to accomplish at the same
time a good work for them aud for our
selves