American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-02-12
Messages by the President.



In the National House of Representative Is
on the I'd a message was received from the
President, transmitting report of the Com
mission appointed to ascertain the facts rela-
tive to the removal of the Ponca Indians to In
dian Territory. and to inquire into their present
condition, and also a declaration made by the
Chiefs of that tribe, setting forth the compcn-
sation they will accept for their lands and for
injuries done the tribe by the removal to In
dian Territory.
After quoting from.t the reports of the Secre-
tary of the Interior, Agent E. y. Howard and
the Senate Committee upon the subject the
President says:
"The report of the Commission appointed
by me and the testimony taken by them add
very little TO what already contained in
the Official reports of the Secretary of the In
terror and the report of the Senate Commit
tee touching the injustice done the Ponca In
dams by their removal to the Indian Terrific
ry. Happily, however. the evidence reported
by the Commission, and their recommcnda-
tions, point out conclusivey the true meas
ure of redress which the Government of tho
United States ought now to adopt. The Com
mission i'm its conclusions omits to state an
important fact as to the present condition of
the POncas in Indian Territory, but the evil
dence they have reported shows clearly and
conclusively that the Poncas now residing in
that Territory, SCI in number, are satisfied
with their new home; that they arc healthy,
comfortable and contented, a nd that they are
freely and firmly decided to adhere to the
choice announced in the letter of October p,
1850, and the declaration of December II, 1880,
to remain in 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,
l am confident the recommendation of the
nm mi fharxv wifi fho daclu rnt NJ
the Chiefs of December last, substantially fol-
lowed, will afford a solution of the Ponca ques-
ton which is consistent with the wishes and
interest OF both branches of the tribe, with the
settled Indian policy of the Government, and
as nearly as practicable with the demands of
justice. Our general Indian policy for the flu
ture should EN- brace the following ideas:
81. The Indians should be pre-. AIRED for citi-
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-protcction in civilized COM
munities.
..2. Land should be allotted to Indians in
scveralty, inalienable for certainperiod.
"3. Indians should have fair compensation
for their lands not required for individual al
lotments, the amount to be inves cd with suit
able safeguards for their benefit.
"a. With these prerequisites secured,& hc In
'diahs should be made citizens, and invested
bilities of citizenship.
ait is, therefore, recommended that leg
islntion be adopted in regard to the Ponca In
dams, authorizing tho Secretary of the Inte-
rior to secure to individual members of the
Ponca tribe in sevcralty, sufficient land for
their support, inalienabie for term of years,
or until the restriction on alienation may be
removed by the President. Ample time and
opportunity should be given members of the
tribe freely to choose their aliotments, either
on their new old reservations Full COM
pensation should be made iSr lands to be reIin-
pushed and for losses tothem by the Sioux
depredations, and by reason of their removal
to Indian Territory, the, amount not to be
less than the sum named IN the declaration of
'the Chiefs made December IL, 1850; in short,
nothing should be left undone TO show the In
dams that the Government regards their
rights as equally sacred with those of its c.ti-
zens. The time has come when the policy
should be to pince the Indians rs rapidly as
practicable upon the same footing with other
perUsnent inhabitants of this country. 1 do
NOT undertake 10 apportion the blame for the
injustice done the Poncas. Whether the Ex-
ccutive, or Congress, or the public il chiefly
in fault is not now a question of practical i'm
portancc. As Chief-Executive at the time
when the wrong was consummated. l am
deeply sensible that enough of the responsi-
bility for that wrong Justly attaches to me to
make it my personal duty and earnest desire
to do all can to give to these Indian people
that measure of redress which is required
alike by justice and humanity.
"RUTHERFoRD b. HAYES"
The message was ordered printed and 70
ferred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
NAVAL STATIONS ON THE IsTHMUs.
On the same day the Speaker ais laird before
the House a message from the President,
transmitting for consideration and APPROPRIATE
action hy Congress IL letter from the Secretary