The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


concluded
need not be stated here In detail. 1t is ex-
| pected that the settlement of this difficulty
| further hostile contact bstween the Indians
and the border settlements in Western Colo
| RADIO.
The other disturbance occurred at the
Nescalero agency, in New Mexico, where Vic
toria, the head OF small band of marauders,
after committing maLy atrocities, being Wig
| orously chased by military force, MADE his
way across the Mexican border, and is now on
While these occurrences. In which q COM
paratively small number OF Indians were en-
gagged, are most deporable, a vast majority of
our Indian population have fully JUSTIFIED the
expectations OF those who believe that by
| humane and peaceful influences the Indian
can be led TO abandon the baoits of savage life
and TO develop capacity for useful ana civil
| accomplished IN the pursuit OF agriculturai
! and mechanical work. the remarkable success
which has attended the experiment OF em-
ploying as freighters a class OF Indians hither-
TO counted among the widest and most In
tractable, and the general and urgent desire
expressed by them for the education OF their
| children, may be taken sufficient
proof that they will be found ca
IL they continue TO be wisely and fairly guided
The Indian policy" sketched In the report of
the secretary OF the interior, the object of
| which is to make liberal provision for the edu-
cation OF Indian youth, 10 settle the In
dians upon farm lots In severalty, to give them
title in fee TO their farms, inalienab!e for
| certain number of years, and. when their
wants are thus provided for, to dispose by sale
and used by them, a fund to be formed out of
the proceeds for the benefit OF the Indians,
| which will gradually relieve the Government
OF the expenses now provided for by annual
| appropriations, must commend Itself as just
aud beneficial to the Indians, and as also cal
culated TO remove those distractions which
| the existence of large reservations presents 10
the settlement and development OF the coun-
| Try. l therefore earnestly recommend the
| enactm-nt of alaw enabling the Government
TO give indians title in fee, inalienable Tor p
! years, to the farm lands assigned to them by
| allotment also repeat the recomme ndaIion
| made in my first annual message, that law
be passed admitting Indians who give
| labor, supported their families for a number of
| years. and who are willing to detach them
selves from their tribal relations TO the benefit
OF the homestead act, and to grant them pat
ents containing the same provision of ina
lienab lity for n certain period.
The experiment OF sending number of In
dian children, of both sexes, TO the Hampton
Normal and Agricultural Institute, In Vir
ginia, to receive an elementary English edu-
cation and practical instruction in farming
suits so promising, that it was thought expe
dent to turn over the cavalry barracks at
partment for the establishment of an Indian
school on larger scale. This school has now
1855 pupils. selected from various tribes, and is
In full operation. Arrangements are also
made for the education of a number OF Indian
boys and girls belonging 10 Tribes on the Pa
cific slope, in a similar manner, at Forest
Grove, In Oregon. These Institutions will
commend themselve to the liberality of Con-
gress and to the philanthropic munificence of
the American people.
Last spring Information was received of the
organization of an extensive movement in the
Western states, the object of which was the
occupation by unauthorized persons OF Ger
tain lands in the Indian Territory cede1 by
the Cherokees to the GoyerDme nt for the pur
pose of settlement by other Indian tribes. =
On the 18th OF April issued a proclamation
such an attempt, and, by the cooperation of a
military force, the invasion was promptly
rights Of the Indian inhapitants OF thai Terri
tory to the full extent of the executive power.
But 1t would be unwise TO ignore the fact that
a territory so large and SO fertile, with popu-
lation SO sparse and with SO great a wealth of
unused resources. will be found more exposed
to the repetition of such attempts as happened
this year, when the surrounding 8 ates are
more densely settled, and ne Westward move
ment of our population looks still mose eager
ly for fresh lands TO occupy. Under such cir
cumstances the difficulty of maintaining the
Indian Territory IN its present stste viii
greatly increase, and the Indian tribes inhab-
iting 1t would do well to prepare for such a
cSn,i9gency; l. tnerelore; July approve Of Of
the interior on recent occasion, TO divide
amoLg themselves in severaity as large a
to acquire individual title in fee, instead OF
their present tribal ownership in common,
and to consider In what manner the balance
of their lands may be disposed OF blythe Gov
eminent for their benefit. BY adopting such
policy they would more certsiniy secure iyT
at the same time promote their progress In
civiliz alton and prosperity, than ny endeavor-
ing 10 perpetuate the present state OF things IN
The question whether a change In the con-
troll of the Indian service should be made
was in the Forty-fifth Congress referred 70. q
joint committee of both Houses for inquiry
pressed pres the hope that the decision Of that
question, then in prospect, would arrest
being apt TO produce a disturbing effect upon
the service 5 well as the Indians themselves.
Since then, the COMMITTEES having reportsd,
by vote in the House OF Representatives
For the reasons here stated, and IN view OF
ffta tact hat fnrf har aarfa
| point will be calculated to obstruct other
much needed legislation, 10 weaken the DIS
cipline of the service ana to unsettie salutary
measures now in progress for the government
and Improvement of the Indians, respect
fully recommend that the decision arrived AT
by Congress at Its last session De permitted 10
stand.
Inferior TO arrest the depredations on the
timber lands OF the United states nave been
continued, and have met with eonsioersos
| success. A la-ge number OF Cases OF tres as
have been prosecuted in the courts OF the
United states: Others have been settled, the
trespassers Offering To make payment 70 fhs
, Government for the value OF the timber taken
BY them. The proceeds of these prosecutions
, and settlements turned into the treasury, far
, exceed in amount the sums appropriated BY
Congress for this purpose. A more lmpo ian,
result, however, consists In the fact that the
destruction OF our public forests by depreda
3 ton. although such cases still occur, mas psen
shat tse present. policy IS vigorously pur
sued and sufficient provision 10 tnht emu !
made by Congress. sncn trespasses, y. ies s.s
pressed, except in the territories where tim
q Der for the daily requirements OF the popu,a
ton can not, under the present stale o. tn'
: law, be OF herwise obtained. therefore earn
{ | estly invite the attention of Congress 70 IN
| Recommendation made by the secretary OF tn'
= interior, that law be enacted ensoIing IN
! Government to sell timber from the publ.
y lands without conveying the fee where sucf
lands are principally valuable tor the nmoe
thereon, such sales TO be SO regulated as y
+ inform to domestic wants and business re
| QuiIements while at the same time guardinl
a against sweeping destruction OF the forests
The enactment OF such law appears 10 be
come q more pressing necessity every day.
u MY recommendations In former message
r are renewed in favor of enlarging the faci lite
q OF the department Of agriculture. Agricultur
= is the L. aiding interest and the perm nent IN
u dustry OF our people. II is to the abundance
Q OF az ricultural production, as compared VIII
1t our home consumption, and the ianeiy IN
IA creased and highly profitable market abroa
4 which we have enjoyed in recent years, tina
. we are mainly Indebted for our presen
y L Dfnuie. We r rst loo