The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-10

measures taken to advance Their CIVILIZATION
and prosperity, and the progress alrcad!
achieved by them, will be found OF more thu,
ordinary interest. The general conduct O
our Indian population has been so satisiactor!
that the occurrence Of two disturbances, which
resulted in bloodshed and destruction OF prop
erty, is ul the more 10 be lamented. Ih'
history OF the outbreak on the White rive
Ute reservation, in western Colorado, has be
come so familiar by elaborate reports in th'
public press that its remarkable incidents meet
not to be stated here in detail. 1t is expected
that the settlement OF this difficulty will leit
to sucn arrangements as will prevent inrthel
hostile contact between the Indians and The
border settlements in western Colorado. The
other disturbance occurred nj the M"scalcrc
agency, in New Mexico, where Victoria, tic
head OF q small band oil mnrauders, after COLE,
hitting many Atrocities, being vigorously
chased by a military force, made his way
across the Mexican border, and is now or
foreign coil.
While these occurrences, in which q COM
paratively small number Of indians were en-
gagged, are most deplorable, a vast majority o
our Indian population have fully justified tn
expectations OF those who believed that b,
humane and peaceful influences, the Indian
can be led 10 abandon tho habits Of savage lif
and to develop a capacity tor useful and civil
lied occupations. What they nave alread!
accomplished in the pursuit of agriculture
and mechanical work, the remarkable success
which has attended the experiment OF employ
ing as ireightcIs a class OF Indians hitherto
counted amorg the widest and most intract
able, and the general and urgent desire cx
pressed by them for the education Of thei
childre., may be taken rs sufficient proof tina
they will be lound capable of accolnplishin!
much more il they continue to he wisely AM
lairly gnided. The Indian policy sketched il
the report ofthe secretary OF the interior. tn,
object OF which is to make liberal provision
for the education Of Indian youth, to settl
the Indians upon farm lots in severalty, t.
give them title in lee TO their farms, inalien
able for 81 certain number OF years, and whe,
their wants are thug provided tor, to dispos
BY sale of the lands on their reservations no
occupied and used by them, a fund to b
formed out OF the proceeds Tor the benefit q
the Indians, which will gradually relieve tn
government Of the expenses now provide'
tor by annual appropriations, must commen'
itself as Just and beneficial to the Indians, an
as also calculated to remove those obstruc
lions which the existence of large reserva
tions presents to the settlement and devel
opmeDt OF the country. | therefore ~earnestl,
recommend the enactment ofa law enablin:
the government 10 give Indians q title in tc
inalienable for TWENTY-FIVE years, to the faril
lands assigned to them by allotment. 1 ais
repeat the recommendation made in my first
annual message that a law be passed admit
ting Indians who can give satisfactory proc
Of having by their w labor supported thei
families for a number Of years, and who ar
willing to detach themselves from their triba
relations, to the benefit OF the homestead act
and to grant them patents containing the sam
provisions oil inalienability tort certain periol
The experiment OF sending a number OF (ndial
children OF both sexes 10 the Hampton No:
NAL and Agricultural Institute in Virginia II
receive an elementary English education AM
practical instruction in farming and other Use
that it VITO thought .expediept 10 turn owe