Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-12-05
Report of the Secretary of the Interior,
WASHINGTON, Nov. q


The Secretary of the Interior. in his annual re-
port to the President. discusses the Indian ques-
ton. He says whatever troubles and perplexi-
tues the presence OF Indians among us may
cause, every man who loves justice, and who
values the honor of the American name, will admit
il is our solemn duty to leave nothing untried tc
prepare better late than determination and a
better rule than that of brute force for the origin
al occupants of the soil upon which so many mill
ions Of our people have grown prosperous and hap
by. That all Indians on this Northern Continent
have been savages and that many of them are
sayages now IL true, but it is also true that many
tribes have risen to promising degree of civili-
zatlOn. and there is no reason to doubt that the
rest, if wisely guided, will be found capable of
following their example. Of the 10000 Indians
in the United States there have been since the
pacihcation of the Sioux at no time more than five
hundred in hostile conflict with whites Neither
does ii appear that such partial disturbances
have been provoked by the absence or prevented
by the presence of the military force. OF the
four disturbances that have occurred within the
last two years, three broke out in the immediate
presence of such military force, and only ons
without IT. At this moment band of less
than eight hundred Utes and another OF
about one hundred and fifty Indian ma
rauders in New Mexico, in all less than one thou.
sand of an Indian population of a quarter of 4
million are causing serious trouble. In fact, the
number of white desperadoes who were, within
t 81 ImnaFas mnFasT h Var 1p5Sat5 neal
the Southern part of the Territory. While / am
by no means disposed to belittle the deplorable
nature of Indian disturbances, or the great value
OF military force in suppressing them, 1T is but
Just to Indians to point out the important fact
that disturbances and hostility is the exception
and peaceable conduct the rule; that very large
majority of Indian reservations are in condi-
ton of uninterrupted quiet, without the presence
of a ccerclng force; and the equally significant
experience that the more civilized an Indian be;
came, the more certainly can his peaceable and
orderly conduct be depended upon.
The Secretary claims to have an Indian policy
and says the ends steadily pursued by the De
partment are the fnllowing
First. 10 set the Indians to work
cultursts or herders; thus to break up theil
habits of savage life and to make them self-sup
Second. To educate their youth of both sexes
so to introduce to the growing generation
civilized ideas. wants and aspirations.
Third. To allot parcels of land to Indians in
severalty, and to give them individual title t.
their farms in fee nalienable for certain period
thus to foster the pride of individual ownership
of property instead of their former dependence
upon the tribe, with its territory held in COM
mon.
Fourth. When a settlement in seyeralty with
individual title is accomplished, to dispose, with
their cons mt, of those lands on their reserva
tions which are not settled or used by them. the
proceeds to form a fund for their benefit which
will graaually relieve the Government of ex-
penses at present provided for by annual appro-
priations.
Fifth. When this is accomplished, to treat the
Indians like other inhabitants of the United
States under the laws of the land.
This policy, if adopted and supported by
Congress and carried out with wisdom and
hrnncss, will, in his opinion, gradually
bring about a solution of the Indian prob.
lem without injustice to the Indians, and
also without obstructing the DEVELOPMENT OF
the country. 1t will raise them to level of civ;
ilization at least equal to that of the civilized
tribes in the Indian territory, and probably
higher, considering the stimulus of individual
| ownership of land. 1t will not take away from
| them by force what in justice and equity be
| longs to them, but induce them to part with
| what they could not cultivate and use them
selves for fair compensation. 1t will open to
progress and improvement large Districts new
| held by Indians which will then be of no rea
| advantage to them and are now to nobody else
Referring TO the assertions frequently made
| that tribal relations must be broken up and the
| reservation system must be abandoned, etc.
| Secretary SchurZ observes that an attempt u
| accomplish three objects at once, all over thu
| country, without intermediate stages by mill
| tary force would undoubtedly result in many
cases in Indian of unprecedented magni
tude and bitterness, which would require
| much larger army than at present possess
| and prove in the end not only most inhuman
but in blood and treasure the most expensive o
| all methods.
| The Secretary says the cause of the Ute troubl
| cannot be found in any just complaint on th'
| part of the Utes. 1t is expected the occurrence
| of this trouble and transactions following there
] upon will result in such arrangements as will b.
| calculated to prevent for the future hostile con
| tact between the white inhabitants and Indian
| in that part of the country.