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Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 9 many of them during the past year have built good houses; with no other assist-ance from the agent than the furnishing of nails. They have also opened and fenced numerous small fields, which are cultivated mainly by their own labor. The majority ofCthe Indians are, however, very unsettled in their habits, and hut little disposed to engage in agiicultural or mechanical pursuits. This dis-position to idleness and to adhere to their old customs is mainly attributable to the uncertainty in their relations to the government. In 1855 a treaty was negotiated with these Indians, and some five or six hnndred others, who have since abandoned the agency, and are living with other tribes, by which all the territory between the coast mountains on the east, and the Pacific on the west, and extending from the Columbia river on the north to the southern boundary of Oregon, was ceded to the ZTnited States. The territory thus ceded includes many of the most thriving settlements and towns in the State. This treaty was laid before the Senate, but, for some reason to me unknown, haa hitherto failed to receive the assent of that body,; consequently its provisions have never been carried iuto effect, and such assistance as has beenrendered to the Indians , has been derived mainly from the annual appropriation for removal and subsist- . ence of Indians not under treaty stipulations. The Indians, relying upon the promises made by the former superintendent, Palmer, by whnm the treaty was negotiated,promptly removed to the stipulated reservation, without awaiting the ratification of the treaty. They now complain, and justly, that they have sold all their former possessiohs, which have been taken possession of by the whites, and that they have realized none of the benefits which they were assured would result from the treaty. This, as already intimated, is a source of much dissatis-faction among the Indians, many of whom have abandoned the reservatron. I t isalso embarrassing to the agents and oiher employes in charge of the agency, since there is no provision upon w&ch they can rely in adoptingapolioy for the .improPement of the Indians, which, to he effectual, must be continued through a series of years. Whether we considcr the value of the territory ceded, the re-quirements of good faith to the Indians, the improvements which, from their known character and disposition, may reasonably be anticipated from a suitable and permanent provision for their welfare, the numbers of the Indians to be benefited, or the advantage to be de~ived by ourselves in the concentration of so many Indians who will otherwisc scatter and become exceedingly annoying, 4 each and every consideration, in my judgment, requires that their treaty should be ratified, and its provisions carried into effect. I trust that this subject may he commended to the farorable consideration of the Senate, and that, in case it shall be found that the treaty now negotiated is objectionable in its provision^, the necessary measures may be adopted authorizing further negotiations having for their object the permanent settlement and adjustment of our relations with these Indians. The Alsea sub-agency is located about eight miles below the moutl~ of the Alsea bay, and is completely shut in on the one hand by the Pacific, and by mountains and sand-hills on the other. At this agency are five hundred and |
