OCR Text |
Show them protection when they should be sepirated into families and in the occupa-tion of their former homes in the various parts of their country; since merely to congregate them in the vicinity of a military post would not materially better their cond~tron, and would add very cousiderably to the expense incident to their eubsistence. After careful eonside~ation, and obtaining information from every available source as to the probable results of military operations, and upon consultation with youroelf and several member8 of the Senate and House Committees on In-dian Affairs, it was thought advisable that the refugees should he returned in the early spring, and accordingly an estimate of the probable expense of re-moving them and providing for theirsupport was made by snperintendent Coffin, and through you submitted to Congress in February last, and the neceseary ap-propiiation solicited. I t was not, however, until the 3d day of Nay that the appropriation was made; so that, although preparations for the removal were commenced early in April, in anticipation of the favorable action of Congress, it was found im-possible to complete the neceasary'arrangements prior to the lGth of May, at which time a portion of the Indian refugees, numbering something over five thousand, started nc route for their country. They were delayed some days awaitinn a militarv escort, and did not arrive at Fort Gibson until the 15th of June. "1t was no; too late to raise a crop, even if it had been found practica-ble for them to leave the protection of the fort and repair to their respective homes; ~ h i c h h, owever, wss not the case, as their country was then, and has since continued to be, infested by guerillas and bushwhackers, and from time to time overrun by rebel raiders, so that it has at all times been exceedingly nn-safe to reside beyond the immediate vicinity of the forts held by our troops. The expense of eubsirting these Indians, now that they are located so much further fiom the source of their supplies, is of course greatly enhanced. I t is estimated that, in addition to the number returned from Kansas, there are some ten thousand women, children, and decrepit old men who have remained in the country. These last have to some extent succeeded in raising crops of grain and vegetables; and could they he allowed to retain for their own use the pro-ducts of their labor, they would probably require bnt little a~sistance in the way of food. All, however, are dependent upon government for clothing, so that there are some fifteen or sixteen thousand, a large portion of whom must he wholly, and the remainder h part, subsisted and clothed at an expense which will wry considerably exceed the amount of funds diverted to their use as be-fore mentioned. The estimate, heretofore mentioned, of the amonnt of funds necessary for the removal and subsistence of these Indians, in addition to the regnlm appropria-tions, was four hundred and ninety-one thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars. The amount actually appropriated was but two hundred and twenty-three thousand dollars. I t is doubtful if, under the most favorable circum-stances, the amount appropriated would have been sufficient ; but, as has already been stated, the Indians failed to reach their homes in time to r ~ i s ea crop, as it was expected they would do when the estimated expense of their removal and subsistence was submitted to Congress, and on which expectation the amount of the estimate was based. Congress having failed to appropriate the amount requested, and the Indians having failed to raise a crop as was anticipated, it is readily perceived that the means provided for their subsistence was largely in-ade~ uate,a nd that an absolute necessitv arose for a resort to some temo. orar"v expedirnt fur rupplying the deficiency. rnrler tl~caec ircnrnatanre?, with yvur approl,;~tiona tld tlce aanerion of the Prcsider~t,I hnve nuthorinrd the purclinia oi s u ~ ~ l i teos the extent of rwo hundred thoueand dollars in esreas of the amou;li pro\.ided for hy Congress, rhnt sum being rile least arnount wirlr wliich it wile po%ible ro furuiih to the refugees the prime uecejsariea of life un:il such |