Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-12-05
4 yised for obviating the difAcultiss
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMDNT.


dian tribes on the territory of the
United States, and your relation with
them are fully set forth in the reports
of the Secretary OF the Interior and
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
After q series of the most deplorable
the successful termination
of which, while rejecting honor up |,
on the brave soldiers who accom-
plished them, cannot lessen our re-
greet at their occurrence. We are
now at peace with oil the Indian
tribes on our borders. To preserve
that peace by a just and
HUMANE POLICY
will be the object of my earnest en-
deavors. Whatever may be said Of
their characte and savage propensi-
ties, of the difficulties of introducing
among them the habits Of civilized
life, and the obstacles they have offer
ed to the progress of settling in GER
tain parts of the country, the Indians
are certainly entitled to our sympa-
thy and conscientious respect on our
part for their claims Of justice. They
were the aboriginal occupants Of the
land we now possess; they have been
driven from place to place purchase
money paid to them in some cases for
what they called their own, has still
left them poor. In many instances
where they had settled down upon
land assigned to them by compact
and had begun to support themselves
by their own labor, they were rude
~ jOlted off and thrust into the will
derness again. Many, il not most, Of
the Indian troubles have had their
origin in broken promises and acts of
injustice upon our part, and the adj
vance of the Indians in civilization
has been slow because the treatment
they received did mot permit to be
faster and more general. We cannot
expect them to improve and to follow
our guidance unless we keep faith
with them In respecting the rights
they possess, and unless, instead Of
depriving them Of their opportuni.
ties, we lend them helping hand.
cordially approve the policy re-
gardtng the management of Indian
| affairs outlined in the reports of the
Secretary of the Interior and of the
Commission Of Indian Affairs. The
faithful performance of promises Is
the first condition Of q good un-
derstanding with the Indians. can
not too urgently recommend to Con-
gIess that prompt and liberal provi-
sion be made for the contamination
Of the fulflllment of all agreements
entered into with the Indian tribes.
To withhold the means necessary for
the performance of promise Ia al
ways false economy and is apt to
prove disastrous in Its consequences.
especially recommend to provide
for the Indians settled and ON their
reservations cattle and agricultural
implements to aid them in what eff.
forts they may make to support them
selves, and by the establishment and
maintenance Of schools to bring them
under the control Of civilized infiuen-
ces. / see no reason why the Indians
who can give satisfactory proof of
having by their own labor supported
their own families for q number OF
years, and who are willing to detach
themselves from their tribal relations,
should not be admitted to the benefit
of the homestead act and privileges
Of citizenship and / recommend the
passage of o law to that effect. It
will be an act Of justice 40 well % q
measure of encouragement. Earnest
efforts being made to purify the In
dian service by Congress, shall re-
dound to the benefit Of all the Indians
benefited. The efforts will have my
firm support. With an improved
service and every possible encourage
ment held out to the Indians to better
their condition and to elevate them
selves in the scale of civilization, we
hope to do at the same time q good
work for them and for ourselves.
TIMBER.
invite the attention of Congress to
the Importance of the statements and
suggestions by the Secretary Of the
Interior concerning the depredations
committed upon the timber lands of
the United States, and the necessity
for the preservation Of the forests. II
is believed that the measures taken in
pursuance of the existing law to ar
rest these depredations will be entire
la successful If Congress, by an sp-
preparation, renders their continued
enforcement possible.
The experience Of other nations
teaches us that the country cannot be
stripped of its forests with impunity,
and we shall expose ourselves to the
gravest consequences unless tho
wasteful and improvident manner in
which the forests in the United States
are destroyed be effectually stopped.
l earnestly recommend that the meas
ures suggested by the Secretary of
the Interior for the suppression of
depredations on the public timber
lands of the United States for the
selling of timber from the public
lands and for tho preservation Of for
ests be embodied in q law and that
considering the urgent necessity of
enabling the people of certain States
and territories to purchase timber
from the pnblic lands in Q legal man.
ner, which at present they cannot do.
Such q law should be passed without
unavoidable delay.
DESERT LANDS.
i would also call The attention of
Congress to the statement made by
the Secretary Of the Interior concern
ing the disposition that might be-
made of the desert lands not irrigated
and not west Of the Tooth meridian
Those lands are practically unsalea-
BILE under existing laws and the sug-
gestion is worthy Of consideration,
that q system Of leesehold tenures
would make them source OF profit TO
the United States while at the same.
time legalizing the business of cattle-
raising which is at present carried on
upon them.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
The renort of the Com ~; s.;o,.r ~
Agricnlti,re contains tha ~rst;S,,;ar
annonncement ~ tho aw.,.ssnr5;yy. ..g
success which has rewsrsaS tha 10y
ricnitnrsl ;ndn ssrv ~ r ~ .",,n. n~ ~ e.
the past wear with The S.ir o Dr;ca: .h -"
oht!;n g. 80 VIII .nan .ue .s.r pIices tnas