Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1881-02-10
Messages by tho President.

III THE PONOA INDIANS.
INthe National House of Representatives
on the I'd message was received from the
President relative to the removal Of the
Ponca Indians to Indian Territory. After
quoting from the reports of the Secretary
of the Interior, Agent E. A. Howard and
the Senate Committee upon the subject the
Presidentsayst s,I AIS
the report of the Commission appointed
by me and the testimony taken by them add
very little to what was already contained in
the official reports Of the Secretary of the In
terror and the report Of the Senate Commit
tee touching the injustioe done the Ponca In
4 dams by theirranoYal to the Indian Terrific
ry. Happily, however, the evidence reported
4 by the Commission, and their recommends
tions, point out cOnelnsivelY the true meas
ure OF redress which the Government of the
| United States ought now to adopt. The Com
mission In it's conclusions omits to state an
| important factas tothepresent condition Of
the Poncas in. Indian Territory, but the evil
dence they have reported shows clearly and
conclusiVely that the P0noas new residing In
that Territory, 52l in number, are satisfied
with their new home; that they are healthy,
comfortable and contented, a nd that they are
freely nd,-hIinly decided to adhere to the
choice announcedin the letter Of October25,
1880, and the declaration De December III 1880
to remain 10 the Indian Territory, and
not TO return to Dakota Territory The
evidence reported also shows that fragment
of the POnca tribe, perhaps $50, which is still
in Dakota and Nebraska, prefer To remain on
their old reservation. In view Of these facts,
am contdent the recommendation of the
Commission, together with the declaration of
the (hnfn Of Fo1
lowed, will afford asoltltionof the Ponca ques-
tlon which is consistent with the wishes and
interest Of both branches Of the tribe, withthA
settled Indian policy Of the Government, and
as nearly as practicable with the demands OF
justice. Our general Indian policy TOR the fu-
ture should embrace the following ideas:
81. The Indians should be prepared for oiti-
zenship by giving to their young of both sexes
that industrial and general education which is
requisite to enable them to be self-suppOrting
and capable Of self-protection in civilized COM
munities.
~. Land should be allotted to Indians in
seVeralty, inalienable for a certain period.
"8 Indians should haye fair compensation
for their lands not required for Individual al
lotments, the amount to be invested with suit
able safeguards for their benefit, uE rns.l
"A. With these prerequisites secured, the In
dians should be made citizens and invested
with the rights and charged with the RESPONSE
bilties of citizenship. gsti. sgr. 4
1T is, therefore, recommended that leg
islation be adopted in regard to the Ponca IN
dians, authorizing the Secretary of the Inte-
rioftO secure to individual members OF. the
Ponca tribe, In severalty, sufficient land Tor /
their support, inalienable for Il term Of yours,
mr. until tho ragfrint{nv, oil bn
removed by the President Ample time aud
opportunity should be given members Of the
tribe freely to choose their allotments, either
On their new or old reservations. Full COM
should be made forlauds to be relin-
luished and for losses to them by the Sioux
and by reason of their removal
% Indian Territory, the amount not to be
ess than the sum named IN the declaration of
he Chiefs MADE December II, 1850; in short,
nothing should be left undOne to show the In
llans that the Government regards their
lights as equally sacred with those Of its cltl-
ens. The time has come when the policy
hould be to place the Indians as rapidly as
practicable upon the same footing with other
inhabitants Of this country. do
lot undertake to apportion the blame for the
injustice done the Poncas. Whether the Ex-
cutive or Congress, or the public Is chiefly
n fault is not now question of practical im-
ortance. As Chief-Exeoutive at the time
lhen the wrong was consummated, | am
eeply sensible that enough Of the RESPONSE
ihty for that wrong justly attaches to me to
1ake it my personal duty and earnest desire
0 do all l caA to give to these Indian people
hat measure of redress which is required
like by Justice and humanity.
u