The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-01-27
THE PONCAs.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION AP.
POIHTRB BIZ THE PREsIDENT,
To Investigate the Removal and Present
Condition OF Iho Unfortunate Peo-
ple-Thsy Consider the In.
dians Very UBJastly
Dealt with.

committee on the Census to-day instruct
ed Mr., Cox, of New York, to call up tn,
apportioument bill, agreed to at the las
meeting, on the first opportunity and urg
its immediste consideration,
The House Committee on Commerc,
voted to make an appropriation for tn,
Mississippi river improvements and 70
the reservoir System, leaving the amour
to be determined after the other items o
the river and hsrbor bill have been axed
REPORT OF THE PoNoA COMMISSION,
The Commission appointed by the Pres
ident to proceed to the Indian Territory
and confer with the Ponca Indians for thl
purpose Of ascertAining the facts in regurt
to their recent removal and present con
dition, 80 far as II is necessary to deter
mine the question what justice and hui
manity require should be done by the
United States Government In the prem
ises, to-day submitted their report to the
President, In which the following con,
clusions and recommendations are EN-,
bodied: -.u ....
Flrst-That the removal OF the Ponca In.
dlans from their reservation in Dakota
and Nebraska, where they were living by
virtue Of the treaties with the United
States OF '5S and '67, was not only most
unfortunate for the Indians, resulting in
great hardships and serious loRs OF life and
property, but was injudiCious and without
sufficient cause.
Second-That the lands from which the
Poncas were removed had been Ceded and
relinquished to them by the United States
for ample consideration specified in the
treaties Of that government, and solemnly
covenanted not only to warrant and de-
fend their title to those lands, but also TO
protect their persons and property there.
on. That the Indians had violated no
condition ot the treaty by which the title
To the lands or the claim TO protection had
been forfeited, and that this rlghtful claim
still exists in full force and effect, notwith.
standing all the acts done by the govern.
ment OF the United States.
Third-That up to within q few months
Of the present time, they have manifested
the strongest desire 10 return To their res.
eryatlon In Dakota, and portion OF the
tribe succeeded in getting back. The re.
mainder Of the tribe were greatly disCour.
aged in their efforts 10 return, and az they
finally despaired regaining their rights,
under the belief that the Government
would not regard their title to land in
Dakota as valldy and that they could oh.
tain q stronger title to land In the Indian
Territory, as well as other considerations,
they decided TO accept the best terms they
could obtain. Their chiefs and head men
agreed to remain In that territory. Hav-
Ing once committed themselved In writing
to that course, they, with commendable
integrity, regarded their action as sacred
as lar as they were concerned, and the
majority Of their people acqulesced and
endorsed their head men.
Fourth-The Indians who have return.
ed TO their reservation In Dakota have the
strongest possible attachment to their
lands and q resolute purpose To retain
them. They have received no assistance
from the Government, and, except the
limited aid furnished by benevolent peo.
pie, they have been entirely selfsustain.
Ing. With few agricultural implements
they have cultivated q considerable tract
f.;andiy 60. ,ri,,, II oth.. t. an s w
;neI.,J; sete % Ssn sH az Usnet .i inuian CLlVes,
,nSis ,aSito ss..,. tne 'iouA S1 "eii M WIN ~ tne
n,av ~ thst e tho. ma, m 'o not 0n.,n ,O,ni. aney
pa"' ti anJ 'ney "ay NV "saiI pe ulSturp'
and instruct them In the arts OF
industry, and for o missionary TO
teach them principles OF morality and re.
liglon. In the settlement Of the problem
SIna iesGI9I ~ sI' SIase @ vi . an"itS, tne Oom'
Lhlssiyn Lhs.II H. peneso t1at !no u9yernment
% snoniS ha e Uosu Sn,;oohsS W ptlncip.gs tnaI
mos1I w." nhiJ5nS SppS"ie pppno"in " h peaCeapie anu
am Y. oas aa Sot 81 ~ .ha so oitU sae oII"u ~.
anoe'' panos n5i.sa n Wv" ot a s t me.ste a. tne
[oao" @ thus' 1hu!sls' out tne lutuLe inIiuence
aILa. auu TnJis ;hn. no Ii ~ oeht n..a over
etuet ~ tuI"An !. tltues .o We aIe Dstter INFORM.
~ tnan tHa 20 ReneaSiy R supPp1seu concerning
the clrCuhetanGssS Y, OIL tne ronCasl demand
that tlets shouIu oe an ample ana speedy
redtess OF the wrongs, mus exhibiting q
conspicuous eHaple oi t1e governments
purPose 70 uo lnsuSe 70 ail. ~ s t1ere-
iole Iec9nnenueu tnat an allotment oi one
n%unulsu % auu Ely tnousanu aoles OF lanu
1e Hsue n W eaCu nia1, Tonan any chliu OF
tne fonCa ttlpe Vi lnuiaDs, said lands 70
ne eelectSea ist by them on thelr old reserya'
uons ~ nak9ta, or on ihe lands now oCcu'
Rleu py .ne I. r9hc@ lnuians IN inc lnuian
leriit0ty, wlthlh one year from tue pass
sge ol u W. aSt 81 vongttels.SL granting such
ttsC's tIs % VI ianu SuSS ansli the ekpitation ol
Lnls pe1iSu p.S & iIee coMLlunlCa'ion III .i.. VIII De
RetfnIeu iISa T Detw1ea Iaa, !ne swU % Dranohes % ol
tne tripe' sac ianas " Oe secured 20
tnem pS patensi Ut 'hss sp sne tue 70 tne
same snall ho' De sIIDleCt 70 Hen,
allena,tion OF incumorance, eltner
by voluntsry oonyeyance, or py ludgment
order 4t aectee y. sny .oS Sout' tsunlsC,t .l,
70 taxstion Oh ahIy chaLaUter aLN lot periou
OF thirIy years rom tne ua.e 81 tne Pa.
tent and until sucn tlme thetealset tLs IHt as the
presluent may Iemove @ sus Iestflctions; ,!
That any conveyanCe fnaue oy any OF
these Indians before lne eHPiLration oi the
time apove men,sVneq l,,Is hn Inali pe volu, anu
1t shall pe the uuty q tns attorney Gen'
efAl. at the request Of the secretary OF the