Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-05-24

their lana under the land laws. Many of
their neighbors, the Spokanes and other
bands, desire to do the same
Attempts were made In August last by
Indian Inspector Watkins to make arrange.
ments with the non-reservation Indians in
Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho to
go upon reservations. A large portion of
the Indians met in council and many more,
having no faith in the professions and
promises of the governments representa-
lions, refused or failed to meet the inspec-
tor Of those assembled large numbers
desired to avail themselves of the benefit
OF the homestead laws and assume the du-
ties OF citizens. The inspector endeavored
TO impress upon them the benefits that
would result to them and theirs BY going
upon a reservation and becoming govern
ment paupers, but with little effect. He
talked long with them about the dangers
of their being left to the mercies of the
white settlers, but experience had taught
them that danger to them and their rights
was not to be feared from the pioneers, but
from the greedy agents of the government,
so profuse in promises OF goodwill aud
temporal and spiritual benefits never full
filed.
Among those desiring to avail them selves
OF the benefits Of the land laws and be-
come citizens we're some C9ur de- Alenes
living outside their principal settlement,
| the upper and middle Spokaues, the Col
Vile band Of Pend d'Oreiles, and many
others who will never be forced to abandon
their farms and 60 upon reservations with.
out resistance. ! am rejoced to see in
| the press aud hear from his own lips that
| Msjor-General Howard, commanding the
Department of the Columbia, favors home.
stealing and opposes forcing these Indians
10 leave their farms aud property. The
most powerful chief il all that country
Moses, took no part in the council and
many others only to make known their
wants and wishes, and say to this House,
| as have already made known to the Sec.
rotary Of the Interior and Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs, that if the policy mapped
out of compelling the Indians named to go
either upon the Yakima or Colville reser-
vations Is enforced it will inaugurate an
indian war that will dwarf the >Nez Perce
war Of last Summer into IL secondary mat
ter.
And allow me to express tho hops that
/ Congress 10 its wisdom msv encourage the
Cnur de'Alenes and the adjoining tribes
in their efforts for advancement by comply
ing with their modest request and show ing
them that their laudable efforts are appre-
| ciated.
| desire to call the attention of the com.
mittee to Senate Executive Document No.
20, of the Forty fifth Congress, second SEES.
sion letter from the Secretary Of the In
terror, of date Jan. %, 1878, in which Iu.
spector Watkins makes recomme ndations
for consolidating agencies in Oregon and
Washington Territory. in which he takes
occasion to say:
| But in all cases. on all tho reservations va.
Gated, when Indians are farming and ,olf-sup
porting would recommend that they NAV b,
allowed and encouraged to remain in their pres
ent location, securing their title to their land
under the act above referred to, Homestead
act.
Col Watkins has been forced to admi
the strength Of the homestead argument il
reservation cases, but is not willing to ad
NIT its force and justice where Indians By
there own efforts and the examples of pion
GERS have become self-susta ming without al
agent. showing too plainly that he desirel
to perpetuate the present vicious system
profoundly regret that the recomme da
tons Of Inspector Watkins as to the pro
priety Of allowing Indians to homestead
and break up tribal relations and reserva
tions, even to the limited extent advocated
by him. does not meet the approval of tn
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, as show
by the following extract from the letter o
Commissioner Hayt, a part of said execu
tive document
entertain no doubt of the advisability O
consolidating these Indians. Il am clearly 0
the opinion, however. that il will be- upwis
policy to encourage those Indians who are no,
farming to remain in their present location
, They should all DO consolidated upon the res
ervation selected, and tho title which may b
3 given to them in severalty should be made in
alenable. The experience which has hereto
, fore attended the granting of individual title
to Indians in localities where they are surround
ed by the whites. versea in all the machin,
tons by which tho Indians are systematicalt
oiroumvented and ruined in property and di
couraged in civilization, compes me = disal
9 prove Of SO much Of Inspector Watkins re
/. oommendation as is included in brackets q
Q pages--and-of said copy of his report quote
e above.
can only ascribe the failure Of this hip
= official of the government to appreciate tn
T propriety Of the recommen dations for IL
: dian homesteading, holdiog property
. severalty, and assuming the duties of ci
d izcns, to his want OF knowledge of the r
. lations existing between the pioneer an
. the Indians, and of the true character
d the Indian race, which can only be obtail
& ed from experience and long continued a
l. sociatiou not from the fancy pictures
t Indian virtues, habits. wants, and the d.
10 moralized condition oftheir white mel DO
y on the frontiers, drawn by the sickly SCI
ID timentals or the church authorities, wi
.. will raise their hands to heaven in ho
IS horror at any innovation that will tend
,e circumscribestheir power or reduce the
| plumber But pass the bill under conside
T. alton, accept tho homestead citizensh
st and self sustaining Indian policy, and yc
Of will finally dispose Of the Indian que
Dr. tion in the real interest of peace, ecouom
III and correct principals Of government. s
a. far have dealt with this subject on ge
$, eral principals.
ID I nov desire to bring to the support
my argument the facts as to the work.,
10 of the present system in the Territory
e. Idaho, which have the honor to represe
IN on this floor, and in the eastern portion
D. Washington which has fallen specially U
sr der my observation for some years.
o. Southeastern Idaho we have the Fort H,