The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-12-05


General recommends an amendment to the law
regulating an increase OF compensation for in
creased service and increased speed on star
routes, so AS to enable him to advertise for
such increased service and speed He also
suggests the advantages to accrue to the COM
MERGE Of the country from the enactment Of
general law authorizing contracts with
American built steamers carrying the Amer
lean flag for transporting the mail
between the United States and parts Of the
West Indies and South America at fixed
maximum price per mile, the amount to be
expended being regulated by annual appropria-
tons In like manner with the amount for the
domestic star service. The arrangement made
by the Postmaster: General aud the Secretary
of the Treasury for the collection of duties on
books received in the mail from foreign coun-
tries has proved so satisfactory In its practical
operation that the recommendation is now
made that Congress extend the provisions OF
the act of March 3, 1879, under which this
arrangement was made, 30 as to apply to All
other dutiable articles received in the mails
from foreign countries.
The Indians.
The reports of the Secretary OF the Interior
and of the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs,
setting forth the present state OF our relations
with the Indian tribes on our territory, the
measures taken to advance the civilization and
prosperity, and the progress already achieved
10y them, will be found of more than ordinary
interest The general conduct of our Indian
population has been 80 satisfactory that the oc-
currence of two disturbances which resulted
in bloodshed and destruction of property Is
all the more TO be lamented. The history OF
the outbreak on the White River Ute Reserva-
ton in Western Colorado has become 80
familiar by elaborate reports in the public
press that it's remarkable incidents need not be
stated here in detail. 1t IL expected that the
settlement of this difficulty Will lead to such
arrangements as will prevent further hostile
contests between the Indians and the border
settlements in Western Colorado. The other
disturbances occurred at the Mescalero Agency
in New Mexico, where Victoria, the head OF
small band OF marauders, after committing
military force, made his way across the
f %seisan so HGrae WHILE these Vs
in which comparatively small number OF
Indians were engaged, are most deplorable,
vast majority of our Indian population have
fully justified the expectations OF those who
believe that by humane and peaceful inilu-
ences the Indian can be led to abandon the
habits of savage life, and to develop capacity
for useful and civilized occupations. Wbat
they have already accomplished is shown in the
pursuit of agricultural and mechanical work.
The remarkable success which has attended
the experiment of employing as freighters a
class of Indians hitherto counted among the
widest and most intractable, and the
general and urgent desire expressed by
be taken "a sufficient proof that they wi | be
found cIpabls OF accomplishing much more
if they continue to be wisely and fairly guided
The Indian policy sketched i'll the report OF the
Secretary OF the Interior, the object OF which L.
TO make liberal provision for the education OF
Indian youth, to settle the Indians upon farm
lots in severalty, to give them title in fee to
their farms inalienable for certain number OF
years. and when their wants are thus provided
FOR to dispose by sale Of the lands on their
reservations not occupied and used by them,
a fund to be formed ont of the proceeds for
the benefit Of the Indians, which will grad
ually relieve the Government OF the expenses
now provided for by annual appropriations,
ust commend itself az just and beIei ial
TO the Iudans and as also calculated to
crmove tho .e OF structions which the ext tence
OF larg reservations presents To the set lemeht
ana development of the country /, theref re,
earnestly recommend the enactment of n law
enabling the Government to give Indians a tile
la fee lnallenable for twenty-five years to the
farm lands assigned to them by allotment.
also reOeat the recomme ,dation IN my first
annual me sage thata law bS passed admitting
Indians VINO can give satisfactory proof Of nav
ng, by their own la Dor, supported their FAM
hes fora number of years, and who are will
irg to detach them selves from their tribal re-
liIions to the enefit of the Homestead act.
and to grant them patents containing the same
provision of inalielability for Ger ain period.
The experiment Of sending number Of In
dian children OF both sexes to tue hampton
Normal and Agricultural Institute in Virginia,
to receive elementary English education ana
practical instruction In farming and other use
full industries, has led to results so promisI g
that il was thought expedient to turn over I e
cavalry barracks at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania
To the Interior department for the establish
ment of an Indian school on a larger scale
This school has now l5S pupils, sele tied from
various tribes, and is in full operation Ar
rangemen are also made for the education of
d. nu nber OF Indian boys and girls belong ing
- tribes on the Pacific slope in a similar mat
ner, at Forest Grove, in Oregon. These insti-
tutions will commend themselves to the liberal
ity OF ngress and to the philanthropic munii-
4, nee # the American people.
Last spring Information was received Of the
organic ttion Of an extensive movement in the
Western states, the object of which was the oc
cuparion by unauthorized persons of certain
lands in the Indian Territory coded by the
Cherokees TO the Government for the purpose
Of settlement by other Indian tribes. On the
both of April issued a proclamation warning
all persons against participation in such an at
tempt, and by the cooperation CT military
force the invasion was promptly checked. 1t is
my purpose to protect the rights Of the Indian
inhabitants Of that Territory to the full extent
of the Executive but it would be I'M
wise to ignore the fact that Territory
80 large and so fertile, with population 80
sparse, and 30 great wealth of unu ,ed re-
sources, will be found more exposed to the rep
eu'ion OF such attempts as happened this year
when the surrounding States we're most densely
settled and the westward movement of our
population looks still more eagerly fo- fresh
lands 10 occupy Under such eli cnmsances
the difficulty Of maintaining the Indian Terri
tory in its present stSe will greatly increase, and
the Indian tribes inhabi'ing it would do we'll to
prepare for such contingency i therefore
! fnly approve of the advice given to them by
| the Secretary of the Interior on a recent
occasion to divide among themselves, in sew
crafty, as large quantity of their lands "a
! they can cultivate, to acquire individual title
in fee, instead of their present tribal owner
ship in common, and consider in what manner
the balance Of their lands may be disposed OF
/ by tho Government for their benefit BY
adopting such rolicy they would more GER
tainly secure for Themselves the value Of their
possessions, and at the same time promote
! their progress In civilization and prosperity
than by eDdeavoring to perpetuate the present
state Of things in the Territory.
the question whether u change in the control
of the Indian service should DO made was, in
tho Forty-fifth Congress, referred to j, ia
committee OF both houses for inquiry aud
report 10 my last annual me .sage Expressed
the hope that the decis on OF he question, then
/" prospect, would arrest further agitation of
this subject, such agitation being apt to pro-
! duce disturbing effect upon the service az well
as the Indians themselves. Since then the )m-
mittee having reported, She question has been
decided in the negative by vote in the
IL Duse OF representatives. For the reason
har II q tod ..ff "a IT,