Daily globe., 1878-12-30
GEN. MILES AGAIN.

HIS Tievs the Indian Question: as
COnceyed to Senator. Saunders
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2O.-Gen. Nelson. A.
Miles has addressed a letter to Senator Ssun
ders, chairman of the joint committee on the
transfer of the Indian bureau, in answer to a
request of the latter for formers views
upon the Indian question. The lett.r il as
follows:
WASHINGTON Dec. II, 1878.
Hon. A. Saunders, United States Senate:
SIR. In answer to your request, l have the
honor to submit the following views regarding
between the two races III this country at the
present time are simply the'result OF two hun
dred years of warfare, of bad faith and mis-
management as a people and a government.
We have on our hands about 2500O0 Indians
that are IN the main a constant source of great
expense and annoyance. TO avoid such wars
as have frequently occurred in the past few
years. evils of which cannot be estimated, to
better the condition of the Indians, save the
government millions of money annually, to
give protection to life and property along
extensive frontier, I would, for the following
reasons, renew the recomn nendatiOns I have
frequently made in official communication on
the subject:
Flrst-No body of people can be successfully
governed without some physical government
To continue the present system is to promote
lawlessness and endanger settlements to mur-
der and devastation.
Second-The change from barbarism!to civili-
zatlon must be constant and gradual and in ac-
cordance with natures laws.
Third-Education civilization, and christian
lzatlon must be mainly through the rising gen
Grafton. and to make them in turn intelligent
governors and instructors they shonld he nnde-
proper influences
believe the honorable secretary of the inte-
rlor is doing everything in his power to reform
that branch of the public service, vet he has
not the means of controlling large tribes who
are hostile or in semi-hoStile condition and
whose warriors are fully armed and numbered
by thousands l would recommend that u
stronger government be tried, at least for
few years, allowing the civilized and semi
civilized Indians who are living within settle
ments or IN the eastern part of Indian territory
to remain as at present. l would recon-
mend:
l. That nomadic tribes who are now fully
mounted and armed, namely, the Sioux, As
sinaboines, Gros Ventres, Crows, Piegans,
Araphoes, Cheyennes, Kiowas Commanches,
Apaches, Navajoes, Uies, Bannocks, Spokanes,
Umatillas. Blackfeet, and other like roaming
tribes, be placed under the control of the war
department.
2. That the honorable secretary of war be
directed to detail officers of known expe-
rlence and integrity to have charge of these
tribes and that the appropriations made by
Congress be disbursed in such way as to do
the Indians the greatest good, preserve their
loyalty, and enable them to become self-sus-
tanning.
8. That the military force shall be used
to enforce treaties made with the Indians to
Keep them on their reservations or within the
terms of their treaties to prevent intrusion by
whlte men upon Indian reservations, to protect
the Indians in their rights of person and pro-
perty.
4. That the secretary of war be authorized
to make use of any unoccupied buildings at
military posts for the stores and property of
the Indians, and that any public animals not
otherwise employed may be used in the break
ing of ground, preparing of gardens and farms
for localzing the Indians.
.. That any unoccupied military posts may
be used for the establishment of industrial
schools where the children of the different
tribes may sent and taught the English Ian
guage, habits of industry, and the proper care
of domestic stock, the science of agricultural
and other ussful knowledge that would enable
them when OF suitable age to become educators
Of their race.
recommended several years ago that efforts
be made to first make the Indians a pastoral
people, as this would be in accor dance with
| their habits and tastes. also recommended
that educational work be carried ION at large
schools where youths could see the benefits and
blessing of civilization. If the Indians are
nerded together IN large camps, at present.
| when the children can attend school. Incidence,
| vice and dlsaffection the results. If the
Indians are scattered by their families on their
reservations, with their aocks and herds along
the villages schools are out of the question.
Hence urge the establishment Of industrial
| and normal schools near or within the settle
ment. The military branch of the government
| is not desirous Of undergoing the hardships of
| these laborlous, hazardous and thankless Indian
campaigns of the terrible risks of an Indian
| engagement, and would strongly advocate and
support any measure of reform. The army is
made up from people in all parts of the coun-
! try, and every Christian denomination is rep
resented in its members. and it cannot be said
that it is in sympathy with any movement that
would not improve the condition of affairs in
the territories. AS the army has for the past
one hundred years been intrusted with i'm
portant civil duties, particularly the great
work OF reconstruction, in which the lives and
property of over eleven millions of people
were involved, it cannot be said that the army
is wanting in sympathy, integrity or executive
ability to administer the affairs of few thou
sand Indians with ample and exact justice to
all concerned. / would further recon mend
that Congress define by law the legal status of
the Indian as regards the rights of life and
property as he becomes civilized and educated.
see no objection under the theory of our gov
ernment to him giving the rights of citizenship
as we'll as the African or Asiatic I have the
hOnOc to remain, with the highest respect,
NELSON A. MILES,
Col. Fifth Infantry, Brevet Maj Gen. U. s. A..