The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-12-18

criminal law should be remedied and if the
plan above suggested is not practicable, some
other should be devised
THE INDIANS.
The report of the secretary of the interior,
! containing an account of the operations OF
| this important department, and much inter-
esting information will be submitted for your
| consideration.
| The most intricate and difficult subject in
charge of this department is the treatment
and management of the Indians. ! am salts
| fed that some progress may be noted in their
| condition rs a result of q prudent administra-
| ton of the present laws and regulations for
| their control.
But it is submitted that there is lack of n
| fixed purpose or policy on this subject which
should be supplied. II is useless to dilote
upon the wrongs of the Indians, and rs use
less TO indulge in the heartless belief that be-
cause their wrongs are revenged in their own
atrocious manner, therefore they should be
| extcrminated.
They are within the care of our govern
| ment, and their rights are, or should be, pro
tected from invasion by the most solemn obli-
cations. They are properly enough called
the wards of the government: and it should
be borne in mind that this guardianship in
wolves, on our part, efforts for the improve
ment of their condition and the enforcement
of their rights. There seems to be general
concurrence in the proposition that the
ultimate object of their treatment should
bo 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
mass of our population, assuming the respon-
sibilities and receiving the protection Incl
dent to this condition. The difficulty appears
to be in the selection of the means to be at
present employed toward the attainment of
this result.
The history of all the progress which has
been made in the civilization of the Indian, L
think will disclose the fact that the begin
ming has been religious teaching, followed by
or accompanying secular education. While
the self-sacrificing and pious men and women
who have aided in this good work by their
independent endeavor have for their reward
the beneficeut results of their labor and the
consciousness of Christian duty well per-
formed. their valuable services should be fully
acknowledged by ali 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, no attempt
should be made to apply u fixed and unyield-
ing plan of action to their varied and varying
needs and circumstances.
The Indian bureau, burdened as 1t is with
their general oversight aud with the details
of the establishment can hardly possess itself
of the minute phases of the particular cases
needing treatment; and thus the propr1ety OF
creating an instrumentality auxiliary TO
those already established for the care OF the
Indians suggests itself.
recommend the passage of n law author
izing the appointment of six commissioners,
three of whom shall be detailed from the
army, to be charged with the duty of a care
full inspection from time to time of all the
; Indians upon our reservations or subject TO
the care and control of the government. with
view of discovering their exact condition
and needs, and determining what steps shall be
taken on behalf Of the government to improve
their situation in the direction OF their sell
support and complete civilizations; that they
ascertain from such inspection what, if any,
of the reservations may be reduced in area,
and in such cases what part, not neeued 1oi
Indian occupation, may be purchased by the
) government from the Indians and disposed OF
for their benefit; what, il any, Indians may,
with their consent, be removed to other re-
servations, with "a view of their concentra-
tion and the sale on their behalf OF thei1
|, abandoned reservations; what Indian
lands now held in common should
' be allotted in severalty; IN wha'
manner and to what extent the Indians upon
the reservations can be placed under the pro
lection of our laws and subjected TO thell
penalties; and which, if any, Indians should
be invested with the right of citizenship. The
powers and functions of the commissioners Ill
regard to these subjects should be clearly de
fined though they should, in conjunction
with the secretary of the interior, be gwen
J J all the authority TO deal definitely with the
, questions presented, deemed safe and con
sistent.
They should be also charged with the duty
of ascertaining the Indians who might prop
erly be furnished with implements of agricul
ture, and of what kind; in what cases the
support of the government should be with
drawn; where the present plan OF distributing
Indian supplies should be changed; where
schools may be established, and where discon
tinued; the conduct, methods, and fitness OF
agents in charge of reservations; the extent
to which such reservations are occupied OF
intruded upon by unauthorized persons; anc
! generally all matters related to the welfare
and Improvement of the Indians
They should advise with the secretary OF
: the interior concerning these matters OF dc
tail in management and he should be glver
power to deal with them fully, if he is moi
now invested with such power This plar
contemplates the selection of persons for com
missions who are interested in the Indian
; question, and who have practical ideas upoI
: the subject of their treatment
The expense of the Indian Bureau durinf
4 the last fiscal year was more than $G,5OO,0U
/. believe much of this expenditure might b.
! saved under the plan proposed; that Is eco
4 nomical effects would be increased with it
continuance; that the safety of our frontie
settlers would be subserved under its opera
! ton, and that the nation would be save'
! through it's results from the imputation of in
= humanity, injustice, and mismanagement.
4 THE PUBLIC LANDS.
d The public domain had its origin in cession
a of land by the States to the general govern
+ ment The first cession was made by th
e State of New York, and the largest, which il
n area exceeded all the others, by the State o
l. Virginia. The territory, the proprietorshi
e of which became thus vested in the genera
), government extended from the western lin
e of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi river. Thes
4 patriotic donations Of the States wer
II encumbered with no condition, eS
$ cept that they should be held an
Al used ''for the common benefit of the Unite
i Statesn BY purchase with the common fun
g of all the people, additions We're made to thi
t. domain until it extended TO the northern lin
s. of Mexico the Pacific Ocean and the Pola
n Sea. The original trust, "for the commo
II benefit of the United States,n attached to al
es In the execution of that trust the policy c
b. many homes, rather than large estates, wa
S adopted by the government That thes
might be easily obtained and he I'll
Is abode of security and contentment the law
lie for their acquisition were few, easil
n understood, and general in their character
But the pressure of local interests, combine
to with speculative spirit, have in many il
ot stances procured the passage Of laws whic
n marred the harmony of the general plan, an
he encountered the system with multitude
rs general and special enactments, which rendt