Year: 1879

THE INDIAN TROUBLE.


The absence of definite information re-
lating TO the Ute trouble-the fate of Agent
MEEKER and his family, and that of the
band of soldiers who survived the THORN
BURGH massacre-tends to fill the country
with serious apprehensions. 1t is to be
| hoped however, that when intelligence
reaches here from the Ute country that it
will announce the safety of Mr.. MEEKER and
family, rs it is already reported that Cap
tain PAYNE's command which has been
regarded as in great peril, is safe. Every
indication, however, inspires the belief that
the Government is OIL the threshold of q
very serious difficulty with most if not all,
the tribes of the Rocky Mountain Indians.
| Those not connected with the Government
who are familiar with that section of the
country and the Indians, their tempera-
ment and their methods, are almost unani
| nous in the opinion that the pending trou-
bles have their origin in the Indian policy
of the Government more than in any dis
position on the part of the Indians to seek
or provoke q rupture.


This would imply a lack of justice on the
part of tue Government in its treatment of
the Indian question and its management of
the Indians. The Executive and Legisla-
tive branches of the Government have iuris.
diction over our Indian policy, and hence
under divided responsibility it may be
difficult to fasten it firmly and satisfactorily
at any definite point. The Interior Depart
ment is in public estimation held to a
more direct responsibility for whatever diff
ficulties and calamities may occur, for the
reason that it has executive control of our
Indian policy. Itsuperntends the agencies,
the contractors of supplies, the traders, the
carrying ont of treaties in detail and the
general and special management of the
various tribes who are held us wards of
the Nation and yet Congress holds q
power over all these matters that may be
so exercised as to handicap the Executive
department and prevent utterly the carry
ing out of the ends and aims of wise and
just policy. Treaties cannot be carried out
without the appropriation of moneys, and
the sole power in this behalf is vested in
Congress. So just in proportion as the law
making power withholds needed appropria-
tions for supplies transportation, annuities,
&c, it is just in that proportion responsible
for the consequences that legitmately arise
from that neglect, and just so far the Inter-
ior Department is entitled to exemption
from severe criticism or censure. This
should be borne in mind by all who would
discuss this question justly and fairly to-
ward all parties concerned.


The Indian Bureau is responsible for the
character, fidelity and wisdom of its agents
and the honesty of its traders, and the
execution in detail Of the terms of existing
treaties, except where it may have been
crippled by the delinquency of Cong ress
1t is responsible for the quality and guam
tty of the goods furnished, and when there
is cheating in either the responsibility must
lie at it's door. So far it cannot escape. 1t
is unjust, however, to impute to the Indian
Bureau any responsibility which does not
legitimately belong to it, and in what
ever discussion we may hold on the ques-
ton we aim to keep that distinction clearly
in view.


The pending difficulty is not without it's
promoting causes, and those should be care
fully sought and the responsibility therefor
should be definitely fixed somewhere. The
concurrent testimony of the best informed
parties, who are familiar with the character
of the Indians now on the war-path, is that
they are among the finest specimens of the
red race. Mr.. CHIrTENDEN, of New York,
who has been repeatedly with HAYDEN's
surveying parties through that country,
says:-


They are brave, intelligent aud physically
strong. They proved themselves in the main
we'll disposed, aud gave much less trouble to
the surveying parties than the other Indians
with whom the parties came in contact. Stock
which was lost in their country was frequently
recovered and returned by the Utes.


They labor under the belief that the
whites are seeking to despoil them Of their
lands, aud the appearance of the troops in
their midst without any apparent occasion
therefor has confirmed that belief and led
Go this outbreak. WHO'S responsible for this
Droyoeau0nY llas the Indian Bureau tax
proper steps 70 avert itP The RESPONSE
BHty ior this must rest somewhere. If the
War Departmeut has invaded the reserya-
zion q the Cses nsedIessly, II Is not an ar
mment in favor of the wisdom Of trans