Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-11
SECRETARY LAMAR's REPORT.
The Work of the Interior Department
The Indian Question.


Secretary Lamar's report says that
while the exhibit of the condition OF the
various Indian tribes and bands within
the limits of our country does not show n
result commensurate with the efforts and
expenditures in their behalf, it makes
manifest general state of peace and or
der and considerable progress in the mass
of this dependent and helpless people.
The principal possessions of these edo
nestle dependent nations" with which
this department has to deal, is the
land owned by them. But Il number
of the tribes have funds invested and
other moneys belonging to them, and
have also anuuitles secured to them by
treaty stipulations. Estimating the total
area of their reservations as given at 81
per acre. the value of the estate owned,
held and occupied by the Indians is, in
round numbers, Sl34, 100000. And to
this should he added other invested and
uninvested funds amounting to seventeen
millions, and other lands on the market,
but not yet sold or paid for, making
II total of Sl52,0OO, 900 in round mum
bers This does not include the an
nuities, which, on account of the uncer-
taiuty and lndeiinitenesS of some of them,
/
each year; nor does it embrace the value
Of other properties in ponies, sheep, cattle
or industrial implements. This eXDen-
SiVe equipment is for the control, pro-
lection and management of Il population
of only 2GO, 900, including men, women and
childrpn-lesS than the population of the
city of Baltimore. Whatever may he said
aO mt the injustice and cruelty which the
Indians have been treated in the past,
characterized by some as century of
dishOnOr," the government Is now, as all
must admit, putting itself to great trouble
and expense for a very small and inutile
population. The Indian race is no
longer II source of danger to the peace OF
security of this great republic. Most of
the reservations are encircled by power
full communities, and those upon the
frontier are completely in the hands of our
military forces. SO far as the interests of
our own people are concerned, apart from
the needs of the Indian population, the In
dian problem could be easily solved by
simply withdrawing all governmental SUI
perVisiOn over these people and comforting
upon them the rights of American citizen
ship. After Incorporating into our body
polite four millions of blacks III II state of
slavery and investing them with citizen
ship and suffrage we need not strain at
| the gnat of 100000 Indians such IL course.
however would be more cruel and de-
struclive to the Indian in the helpless
l.
ments will soon reduce him than war of
determination.
| recommend that a portion OF every
reservation be divided up into separate
tracts of suitable size for farms, to be al
lotted to each individual, as his sole and
separate estate. Provision should be
made against the power until after Il
time limited) of selling or mortgaging the
same, or even leasing ii to any but Indians
| living within the same reservation. W it'll
out legislation of this kind all efforts to
make the Indian support himself by his
own labor will prove fruitless and unvail-
ing. To overcome his natural aversion to
labor there must the incentive given alone
by Il sure guarantee that the fruits Of his
| labor shall be enjoyed in security. Pro
vision should be made that the Indian
accepting Il patent for his land shall not
thereby forfeit any of his rights as mem
Der of his tribe, nor the protection and
benefit which the laws of the United
States extend to the Indians generally.
| favor the policy recommended by my
predecessor i'll this office, Secretary Kirk
wood, of reducing to proper size the exist
| lnG reservations, when entirely out OF pro
portion to the number of Indians thereon,
with the consent of the Indians, and upon
just and falr terms and second, of placing
10y patent the titles to these diminished
| reservations rs fully under the protection
/ of the courts rs are titles of all others OF
our people to their lands. The surplus
portion cut off should be subject To sale
and the proceeds invested for the benefit
OF the Indians. The execution of
/ it should be cautious and tentative
In the meantime, until the Indian is
ready by education and development to
take his place as an individual among the
/ people of the country, the reservation sys-
TEN is his only protection and whatever
may be sad of the tribal relation which Is
| thought to he 50 desirable to dissolve, it is
| in their uncivilized state the normal con
dtiOn OF Indian society. 1t Is not only
deeply imprinted in his mind rs the policy
of the race, but it is his constitutional
status in tins country The constitution
of the United States recognizes the Indian
: in his tribal relations, and in its delega-
ton of powers to Congress ii declares that
| it shall regulate commerce among foreign
nations and the "lndan tribes.