OCR Text |
Show I . ." ,- - rA0 . fib# Eztract from the report o f the Serreta~yo f the Interior relative to the reporb of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The management of the Indians during the past year has been attended with difficulty. In addition to the war against that portion of the Sioux that committed the massacres in Minnesota in 1862, and' who are yet nn-punished and unsubdued, military operations have been canied on against the combined bands of the Sioux of the plains and of the Upper Missouri, as well as against a considerable portion of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, particularly those who have been accustomed to inhabit the country of the Upper Platte river, and who were parties to the treaty of Fort Laramie. It is not pecessary to inquire whether, by adopting conciliatory measures these military operations might not, to a great extent, have been avoided. Those who desire to investigate the eubject may, with advantage, consult the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The question of interest is, what course shall hereafter be pursued with these Indians, in order to reduce them to subjection, and to afford all needful protection to our citizens. The overland mail to Colorado, and to the States andl'er~itories west thereof, as well as a large proportion of the carriers of goods, and of the emigrants to thore regions, passes-over the Laramie plains, which are infested during a large portion of the year by these Indians. The route of the Pacific railroad passes through the same country, and the government is, by act of Congress, under obligation to ex-tinguish the Indian title. The government has' but one treaty--that of Fort Laramie-with the Sioux (of Dakota) and with the Cheyenues and Arapahoes between the forks of the Platte river, which theselatter Indians have ever acknowledged. This treaty was ratified by the Senbte with amendments and its benefits to the Indians, by virtue of the limitations imposed by the Senate, are about to terminate. A sufficient reservation for the Cheyennes and Arapa-hoes has been established on the Upper Arkansas, in the vicinity of Fort Lyon, l and efforts have been made which promise success to make it a suitable and permanent home for them. The treaty referred to forbids the occupation of the Platte country by the whites, and onlypermits their transit through it. To enable the Union Pacific Railroad Company to,establish its line of road through this country, it is necessary that the United States shall have the nn-molested possession of the route, and of much of the adjacent country. To secure that objecl, however, I do not think it important that any further treaties should be made with these Indians. Their violation of the existing treaty, in making war upon our people, renders this unnecessary, if the views which are hereinafter expressed shall be approved by Congress. As the most expeditions mode to accomplish the object, it is recommended that the agency at the Upper Platte be abolished, a d that the number of military posts along the line of the |