The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-10

homes Poor and friehdless, they are Obliged to
remain in Jail during months, perhaps that clause
before decision OF the court is had, and finally
brought to trial surrounded by strangers with hut
little real opportunity for defense.
THE INDIANS
1t is submitted that there is lack of fixed pur-
pose policy the subject of the I-4dians which
should be supplied. 1t is useless to dilate upon
the wrongs of the Indians, and useless to in
dulge in the heartless belief that because their
wrongs are revenged in their own atrocious man
ner therefore they should be exterminated They
are within the care of our government, and their
rights should be protected from invasion by the
most solemn obligations. They are properly
enough called the wards of the government and it
should be borne in mind that this guardianship
involves ON our part efforts for the Improvement
of their condition and the enforcement of their
| rights.
There seems to be general concurrence in the
proposition that the ultimate object of their treat
ment should be their civilization and citizenship,
fitted by these to keep pace in the march of pro-
gress with the advanced civilization about them.
They will readily assimilate with the of
population, assuming the responsibilities and
ceiying the protection incident to this condition.
The difficulty appears to be in the selection of
the means to be at present employed to attain this
result.
Our Indian population, exclusive of those in At
laska, is respected as numbering 26O OOO nearly all
being located on lands set apart for their and
occupation aggregating 49,, 900 of acres.
The lands are included in the boundaries of III
reservations of different dimensions, scattered in
twenty-one states and territories presenting great
soils. Among the Indians upon these several res
ervations there exists the most marked differences
in traits and disposition, and in their progress to-
ward civilization
The history of all the progress which has been
made in the civilization of the Indians think will
disclose the fact that the beg inning has been re-
ligious teachings followed by, accompanying,
secular education, while the self sacrificing and
pous men and women who have aided in this good
work, by their Independent endeavOrs, have for
their reward the benefcent results of their labor
and the consciousness of Christian duty well
performed. Their valuable services should be
fully acknowledged by all who under the law, are
charged with the control and management of our
Indian wards.
What has been said indicates that in the present
condition of the Indians attempt should be
made to apply fixed and unyielding plan of &C
ton to to their varied and varying needs and cir
cumstances The Indian bureau, as it is charged
with their general oversight and with the details of
; the establishment, can hardly! possess itself of
minute particular needing treatment, and
thus the prOpriety of creating instrumentality
auxiliary to those already established Tor the care
of the Indians, suggests itself.
In dealing with this question the desire mani
3 tested by the Indians should not be ignored.
Here again we find great diversity With some
the tribal relations is cherished with the utmost
tenacity while its hold opon others is consdera-
bly, relaxed The love of home is strong with. all
AS yet there are those whose attachment to a par
ticular locality is unyielding. The ownership of
their land in severalty is much desired by some,
while with others and sometimes again the most
civilized such distribution would be Utterly OPP
> posed;
While are lazy vicious and stupid, Others
INDUSTRIOUS, peaCetul ana 1ntell1gent While a
: portion of them self-supporting and independ-
ent and have so far advanced in civilization that
i they make their own laws, administered through
officers of their choice, and educate their chill
> dren in schools of their own establishment and
maintanance others still RETAIN in squatter life,
the independence, almost the savagery OF their ma
ture.
l. The variation of their wants growing out of and
l. connected with the character of their several lOca
tons, should be regarded. Some upon reserva-
: tons most fit for grazing, but without herds, and
1 some are on arabic land and have no agricultural
n implements. Some of the reservations are double
+ the size necessary to maintain the number OF In
t. dians them. In a few cases, perhaps, they
e should be enlarged Add to all this the difference
:, in the administration of the agencies. While the
4 same duties devOved upon all, the disposition
of the agents and the manner of their contact with
e the Indians have much to do with their condition
q and welfare.
e recommend the passage of law authorizing
a the appointment of six commissioners, three OF
a whom shall be detailed from the army, to be
charged with the duty of careful inspection, from
(, time to time, of all the Indians upon reserva-
tions, subject to the control of the government
l. with the view of discovering their exact condition
e and needs and determining what steps shall be
taken on behalf of the government to improve
L their situation in the direction of their self-sup
port and complete Civilizations that they ascertain
G from such inspection what if any, of the reserva
p tons may be reduced in area, and in such cases
l, what part not needed for Indian occupation may
n be purchased by the government from the Indians
3 and disposed of for their benefit
( The expense of the Indian bureau during last
u fiscal year, has been six and half million dollars.
u believe much of this expenditure may be saved
t would be increased with its continuance that the
II safety of frontier settlers would be subserved
saved through its results from the imputation OF
n inhumanity, injustice and mismanagement. In or
der to carry out the policy of allotment of Indian
e lauds in severalty, when deemed expeditions il
will be necessary to have surveys completed of the
e. reservations, and hope that provision will be
W made for the prosecution of this.
)t The disorderly conduct of the Cheyennes Of
T. the Indian territory, earl caused alarm and uneas
mess Investigation proved that their threatening
ID attitude due. in great measure, to the Occu
patton of the land of their reservation by immense
n herds of cattls, which their claimed were
y rightly there, under certain leases made by the In
l. dams.
'e Such occupation appearing upon examination tt
N be unlawful, notwithstanding these leases the in
N truders were ordered to remove with their cattle
from the lands of the Indians by executive proca
re nation. The enforcement of this proclamation
IN had the effect of restoring peace and order among
T. the Indians, and they now quiet and well be
It. haved. By executive order issued February n
1884, by my predecessor, portion of the tract O
country in the territory known as the old Whine
bago and Crow Greek reservation directed tt
~ be restored to the public domain and opened to set
Element unded the land laws of the United States
Le and large number of persons entered upon thes
50 lands.
" PUBLIC DOMAIN.
e. The public domain has its origin in the cessiol
: OF land by the states to the general government
in The first cession was made by the state of Ney
DO York, and the largest which in area exceeded al
the others, by the state of Virginia The territory
u the proprietorship of which became thus vested il
general Gne western
o. line of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi river
These patriotic donations of the states incum
II bered with condition except that they should b
= held and used ''for the common benefit of tn
- United States
N 1t is not for the common benefit of the Unite
"a States that large of the public lands SHOULD
# be acquired directly through the hands of sin
IL IL gle individuals. The nations strength is in tn
" people. The nations prosperity is in their pros
u perity. The nations glory is in the equality of the
justice. The nations perpetuity is in the patriot
,r ism of her people. Hence as far as practicable
~ the plan adopted in the disposal of public land
y ~ should have, in view the original policy whicl
ST encouraged many purchasers of these lands TO
n homes and discouraged the massng of large areas
= Exclusive of Alaska about three-ffths of the ma
IS tonal domain has been sold or subjected to con
/ tract grant.
70 OF the remaining two-ffths, considerable por
ton is either mountain desert rapidly increas
n ing population creates a growing, demand fo
IL homes, and the accumulation of wealth inspires
eager competition to obtain the public land TO
:; speculative purpose. In the future this collision
- of interest will be marked than in the past
and the execution of the nations trust in behalf
10 our settlers will be more difficult.
l. therefore, commend to your attention the rec
concentrations contained in the report of the secre
D. starry of the interior with reference to the repe
Of and modification of our land laws.