The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-09-20


over the Department OF the Interior,
and it, o6lcers are the Indians most
Intelligent and best friends. Nevatthe-
Les, Mr.. welsh would regard the trans
fer of the Indian service to the War
Department as n last resort, for, though
the officers would be far above the
average Of Indian Agents, yet ciyilizlng
and Outstanding influences could not
b. demanded of them, and it would be
unjust for them and probably demoral-
izing to impose upon them the compli-
Gated business of an Indian agent, so
foreign to their profession. A perma-
nent organization 1ike the Lighthouse
Board, for exaDple), not subject to
political change or the claims of party
patronage, is what is clearly needed,
and Mr.. Welsh suggests this plan.
Such an Indian Bureau might COM
prise the Secretaries of the Interior n
of War to produce harmonious action,
andalsotwo other members, togivethei
whole time to the Office duties; n to
be an officer of the army, not below the
rank of colonel, and the other 4
civilian, both to be nominated by the
President and confirmed by the Senate,
and appointed for ten years, unless
| sooner removed for cause. Their
| salaries should be made equal to that
| Of the Assistant Secretary Of the
| Interior. All agents or superintendent
| Of Indians to he civilians or officers
selected by this bureau for nomination
| by the President and confirmation by
| the Senate in the usual form. This
bureau to choose the clerks and
assistants, not exceeding in number or
aggregate cost those now employed in
the Indian service. All appropriations
to be placed at the disposal of this
bureau for the fulfllment of the spirit
Of existing treaties with the Indians,
| which treaties should, with the consent
| of Congress, be abrogated or modified,
as soon as it may be done with benefit
to the Indians and without any injus-
tice to them. The bureau to be
authorized to call upon the War De-
partment for assistance, with authority
to the two departments, when acting
together, to deprive all Indians of fire
arms and of horses not needed for the
transportation of supplies or for pro-
ductive industry. The purchases of
| supplies and the transportation to be
effected through the Commissary and
| Quartermaster's Departments of the
army, which should be authorized, on
the recommendation Of the Indian Blu
reau, to purchase or contract, without
advertising for bids, that the Indians
and their friendly neighbors may be able
to furnish supplies and transportation
as an important civilizing agency.
Before many years all the Indians may,
by such a bureau, be made wards of the
government If power and mercy can
thus be permanently combined in their
management.
Mr.. Welsh speaks of certain heather
practices among the Indians, the aveng-
ing of blood, the war dances and the
like, which must be put down with a
strong hand, and concludes: 1.-THE
tribal relation must be severed and
individuals induced to take up lands in
severalty. as most Indians being natural
a~grarians, the idle and vicious invaria-
bly, despoil the industrious and v%irtuous
Of all their substance. With kindness,
firmness and perseverance, all such
difficulties can be removed, but in the
present condition of Indian affairs this
has been found to be impossible"