Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-09
d, in western Colorado. has be-
r hy elaborate reports in the
I = rctnar kIshIf inl.itienfs nee

uot 10 oe slAlesi mere IN detsit ltts expected
that the settlement OF this difficulty will lead
10 such arrangements Ss will prevent further
hostile contact between the Indians and the
border settlements in western Colorado. The
other disturbance occurred al the Mescaler
agency, in New Mexico, where Victoria, te,
head OF a small band OF marauders, after com.
hitting many atrocities, being vigorously
chased by a military force, made his way
across the Mexican border, and Is now on
foreign soil.
While these occurrences, in which com
psatively small number Of Indians were en-
gsgei, are most deplorable, vas, majority OF
our Indian population have fully justified the
expectations OF those who believed that 10y
humane and peaceful influences, the Indian
can be led 10 abandon the habits OF savage life
aud TO develop a capacity for useful and civil
ized occupations. What they have already
accomplished in the pursuit OF agricultural
and mechanical work, the remarkable success
which has attended the experiment oi employ
ing IS freighteIs class OF Indians hitherto
counted among the widest and most iniract-
able, and the general and urgent desire eN-
pressed by them for the education Of their
children, may be taken as sufficient proof that
they Will be found capable OF accomplishing
much more il they continue 10 he wisely and
iairly guided The Indian policy sketched in
the report of The secretary OF the interior, the
object 81 which i TO make liberal provision
Tor the education ct Indian youth, 20 settle
the Indians upon farm lots in severalty, 10
give them title in tee TO their farms, inaieu-
able tor n certain number II years, and when
their wants are thus provided tor, to dispose
~ sale Of the lands on their reservations not
occupied and used BY them, fund To be
formed out OF the proceeds for the benefit oi
4 the Indians, which will gradually relieve the
government Of the expenses now provided
tor by annual appropriations, must commend
I self a. Just and beneficial 10 the Indians, AMI
as also calculated to remove those obstruc-
lions which the existence OF large reServR'
lions presents 10 the settlement and devcl-
'pment OF the country. | therefore earnestly
recommend the enactment OF a law enabling
D The government TO give Indians n title 10 lee
inuieuahle Tor TWENTY-FIVE years, 10 the harm
ands assigned 10 them by allotment. l also
+ repeat the recommendation made in my nrSt
annual message that law be passed admit
ing Indians who can give satisfactory proof
% having by their own labor supported their
rmilios for a number OF years, and who are
I willing 10 detach themselves from their tribal
Citations. 10 the benefit OF the homestead ac',
and To grant them patents containing the same
provisions OF inalienability Tor n certain period
The experiment OF sending number OF Indian
children OF both sexes TO the Hampton No
nal ana Agricultural Institute IN Virginia To
receive an elementary English education aud
practical instruction in farming and other use
iul industries. has led 10 results 50 promising
hat II was thought expelient to turn over
the cavalry barracks At Carlisle, in Pennsyl-
vagia. 20 the interior department, Tor the 80
Enlistment OF an Indian school on larger
-cnle This school has now l5S pupils, Sc
lected from various tribes, and IL IN iun op-
,f,,iiOn. Arrangements are Also made Tor the
education OF a number OF Indian boys and
girls. belonging TO tribes on the Pacific slope.
ia "A similar manner. at Forest Grove, IN
Oregon These institutions will commend
themselves 10 the liberality OF Congress and
% the phianthropic munincence OF the Amer
ican people.
Last spring information was received at the
organization at 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 coded by
the Cherol ees to the government for the pun
pose OF settlement By other Indian tribes On
tho twenty ninth OF April issued proclaim
ton warning al persons againsi participation
IN such un attempt, and, By the cooperation
% a military force, the invasion was promptly
checked. II Is my purpose 10 protect the
rights Of the Indian inhabitants oi that Tern
tory 10 the iull extent OF the executive power;
bat % would ~ unWise TO ignore the fact that
d Territory so large and so fertile, with o
population so s9arse and 50 great n wealth oi
unused resources. will De found more exposed
Co the repetition OF such attempts as happenc,
ihi. weak when the surrounding States ntt
more deu~ely settled snd the westward move
meni OF our population looks still NOR
esgeIly tor fresh lands 10 occupy. Undcy
such circumstances the difficulty OF mainti it-
inE IN. Indian Ter; tory In it, present state
Will greatly increase, and the Indian tribes
.uhabiting 70 would do well 20 prepare tor such
"a contingency. / therefore fully approve oi
The advice given 20 them by the secreisi y
%, the interior 10 divide among them
selves in seyerJlty as large quantity ol
their lands As they can cultivate, TO acqnUe
inyiviual titles IN tee, instead Of their present
rr bal ON nership in common. and 20 consider
I'm what matter the balance OF their lands may
hc disposed OF by the government tor the''
benefit BY adopting such policy they
ouId more certainly secure Tor Themselves
the value OF their possessions, andsi the same
tme promote their progress in civilization
and prosperity, than BY endeavorinS 20 per
retuate the present state OF things IN the Ter
iiiory The question whether change m
the contro, OF the Indian service should re
rnsde was. "a the Furty-n;lh Congress, -
termed 90 a Joint committee at both houses 10
inquiry and report. In my hast annual me-
,l.c expressed the hope hat The decision 81
tIiat question then IN prospect " would arrest
further agitation 81 this subject, such agitation
being apt TO produce disturbing eiiect upon
the service. a. well as the Indians themselves
since then. the committee having reported
.he question has been decided IN the negative
fr a vote IN the House o. Representatives for
On. reasons here stated, and in view OF tho
..,c- that further uncertainty on tins POINT
will be- calculated 10 oh-tyuct other much'
needed lesi Station 10 weaken the discipline OF
the sci, lc,.. anil 10 unsettle salutary measure
now iu progress Tor the government aud iu''
provemepi OF the Indians, l respectfully
rccommend that the decision arrived al by
Congress al H. last session be permitted IA
stand.
TIE FJBLIC LANDS.
Efforts made by the department OF the in
tcrinr 20 arrest the depTedations on the t;mbci
lands of the United States have been CON
tianed. and have me; with considerable sue
cess. large number OF cases OF trcspas'
have been prosecuted in the courts OF the
United States. Others have been settled. the
trcspasscrs offering 10 make payment to the
government Tor the value Of the timber taken
bv Them The proceeds OF these prosecutions
and settlements, turned into the treasury, n,
exceed in amount the sums appropriated by
Congress TOR this purpose. A more important
result however, consists in the TACT that tho de-
struction OF our public forests by depreda,ions
although such cases still occur has been x eatly
reduced in extent, and it Is probable that II
the present policy j. vigorously pursued and
sufficient provision 10 that end IS ma e 10y
Congress, such trespasses, AZ least those on u
large scale can be entirely suppressed, except
IN the territories where timber tor daily re-
quirements OF the populations cannot, under
the present state OF the law, be otherwise OBJ
tanned. therefore earnestly invite the atten-
ton OF Congress TO the recommendation
made by the secretary OF the interior, that a
law be enacted enabling the government TO
sell timber from the public lands, without