Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-08
A AQANGEROUS ACTION
Would Be the General Disarming OF
The Indian Tribes,
ACCORDING TO GENERAL MORGAN.
II Would Lead to Disastrous Results to
Indians and Whites.
TIE ORDER FOR INDIAN ENLISTMENTS

WASHINGTON, March 7.-Recently Cen
eral Morgan, the Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs, was requested by the Secretary OF
the Interior to give an expression OF views
upon the communication of the Governor
of South Dakota, urging the disarming OF
the Indians in that State. In his reply
General Morgan states:
The reasons for disarming the Indians are
obvious and weighty, viz, to prevent them
from going on the warpath and to quiet the
fears of white settlers in their vicinity. Ii L
thosght there was really serious danger of any
considerable number of Indians going upon
the warpath, or that the surest way of prevent
ing any Indians from becoming hostile was to
disarm al, l should be very slow to interpose
any objection to the measure.
felt that while settlers we're in serious dan
ger of attack by the Indians and was con-
vinced that their safety demanded the action
above suggested, could not well resist 1t. But
so far as my knowledge extends l can hardly
believe that there is now any serious danger OF
an Indian uprising. believe the Indians to be
for the most part inclined to peace and aVerse
to war.
They Realize the Consequence.
They are sufficiently intelligent to under
stand at what fearful disadvantage they
They know our vast resources and are con-
scious of their own weakness. Moreover,
many reasons which have existed among them
for discomfort can be. and by Congressional ac-
tiOn just had will be removed. The settlers IN
the vi unity of the reservation have been fright
ened, and not without reason, and yet during
all the excitement. and in spite of bitter provo
cation the Indians have attacked no white peot
pie in their homes, nor, SO far as L know, nave
they seriously threatened their peace.
ThnSp NVd bppn hostile
should unqueStionably be disarmed and their
leaders severely punished. But during the late
trouble i'll Dakota. the great body of the Sioux
were friendly. and the innocent should not
suffer with the guilty. To make no distinction
in the treatmenVof Indians who took part in
the hostilities and those who remained loyal,
many of whom suffered for their loyaltywould
be an act of injustice, which an Indian is as
quick to recognize and resent as white man.
Would Not Be Safe.
1t would be great hardship to these Indians
to lose their arms, which they greatly prize.
They use them in slaughterng their cattle, in
hunting and in sport. 1t is with some hesita-
tiOn that say. and say it only after very care
full deliberation and with sincere sorrow, that
it must be said, that l greatly fear that the
Indians would not be safe, either in their per-
sons or their property, IL 1t were known that
they were entirely without means OF self-de-
fense. Recent sad events in Dakota, where 1t
is said that women and little children were shot
and others ambushed and slain without provo
cation by citizens, have shown us how pltifully
defenselesS these poor creatures might be IL
wholly unarmed and unable ito protect them
selves.
To disarm the Indians generally and leave
the whole body of the Sioux smarting under
sense of helplessness and wrong would tend to
produce among them widespread feeling OF
irritation, unrest and distrust disastrous not.
only to the peace and prosperity of the Indians
but liable in itself to bring about the very
danger which the disarming is intended to
prevent.
Prevention of Future Trouble.
For, should the arms that they now possess
be forcibly taken from them, there is nothing
either in the law or in the habits of the peop'>
surrounding them to prevent them arming
themselves anew at the earliest opportunity by
purchasing from the whites all the arms and
ammunition which they are able to pay for
The prevention of futur- trouble lies it
seems to me. first, IN treating them justly and
kindly; second, in maintaining among them a
well-disciplined suitably paid, vfgilant Indian
police force, and lastly, in keeping at exposed
points a small garrison OF troops, sufficient, in
case of great emergency of maintaining order
and protecting both Indians and whites.
In view of thes, considerations, therefore, L
feel constrained to advise against the general
of the Indians.
The general order issued b. Secretary
Proctor in regard to the enlistment of 1000
Indians in the armv is as follows:
The following named companies, now skel- |
etonized, namely Troop l. of each OF the cav
airy regiments except the Ninth and Tenth |
and Company l of each of the infantry regi- |
ments. except the Sixth. Eleventh, Fifteenth, !
Twenty-fourth and Twenty.fifth |
will be recruited by the enlistment of Indians |
to the number of 55 for each troop and CON- |
pany. Whenever practicable, the enllstments |
for each regiment will be made within the de- |
partment in which the regimental headquar- |
ter5 are located.
The Manner of Enlistment.
The officers, in making such enlistments, will |
be governed by existing laws an 1 regulations, |
but competent knowledge of the English lam |
guage need not be considered an essential quail |
and married men, not exceeding sA |
for each troop or company. may be enlisted |
with the approval of the Department Com |
mander. Enlistments of Indians under the |
provisions of this order will be distinguished |
from eulistments of indian scouts.
Regimental commanders may, with the ap-
proval of the proper departmental commander,
attach to the Indian companies |
such officers as are especially fitted for service
Herewith. Ultimately non-commissiOned Off |
GERS for these companies will be supplied by the |
of Indians, in the manner indi-
Gated by regulations. but until this is practical,
available non-commissoned officers of either of |
the skeleton companies of a regiment may be |
utilized, or if necessary nOn-commissioned Off
GERS from organized companies of the regiment |
may be temporarily detailed.
The number OF enlisted Indian scouts will be |
reduced without unnecessary delay to $50, ap-
portioned as follows among the several depart |
ments: Dakota, 25; Platte, %: Missouri, %; |
Texas, Is; Arizona, 10; Columbia. 10.