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Show 4 EXTRACT. of the power of the united States to protect them, it is not surpris-ing that their loyalty was unable to resist such influences. Many white men of far grpater intelligence have joined the insurrectionists against their own convictions of right, under much less pressure. We have reason to believe that as soon as the United States shall re-establish their authority in the Indian country, and shall send there a sufficient force for the protection of the tribes, they will re-nounce all connexion with the rebel government and resume their former relations with the United States. The payment of their annuities has been suspended. The Corn missioner of Indian Affairs expresses the opinion, in which I conciir, that Congress should make the usual appropriations to comply with the treaty stipulations of the United States, that the means may exist to pay them, if circumstances and the condition of the tribes shall hereafter render it proper and expedient to do so. The tribes upon the Pacific slope of the kocky mountains have manifested a turbulent spirit, but have committed no acts of violence. With vigilance on the part of the agents it is hoped they may be restrained from depredations upon the white settlers, and he gradually brought under the control of the laws of the United States. Much trouble has been experienced in New Mexico from depreda-tions committed by some of the tribes in that Territory. The with-drawal of the troops of the United States has enconraged them to acts of violence, while the active iliterfereuce of disloyal persons from Texas has induced them to disregard the laws and authority of the government. The presence of a military force in that Territory is indispensable to preserve the peace and cause the Indians to respect the laws. The tribes in Kansas and Nebraska, and in the States of the north-west, are gradually progressing in the arts of civilization. The plan of allotting portiolis of their reservations to the individual members of the tribes has been found by experience to result beneficially. Many of them have improved their lands and become quite proficient as farmers. A continuance of this policy, by familiarizing them with the habits of agricultural life, will gradually lead them to depend upon the cultivation of the soil for subsistence. The report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, which is here-with submitted, furnishes full information in regard to the several tribes, and suggests in detail such matters as require the action of Congress. The practice of licensing traders to traffic with the Indians, has been productive of mischievous results. The money received by them in payment of their annuities, generally passes immediately into the hands of the traders. The Indians purcbase goods of the traders upon a credit, to be paid for upon the receipt of their next annuity. When the payment is due, the debts of the Indians are usually sufficient to absorb the whole amount. But, if anything is left after the payment of their debts, it is used for new purchases from the traders. The result of this system of trade is that the Indians pay for the goods they purchase, much more than they are |