| OCR Text |
Show RRPORT OF THE government, through its agents and forces, to enable them to persevere in their praiseworthy endeavors. The policy of allotting lands in severalty to the Indians, first adopted in 1856 is practiced in the Sioux and other reservations in the northern superintendoncy, and as is well attested, with marked success. Schools ha\-e also been established both npon the ordinary and the manual labor system, the result of which is not so gratifying as is to be desired, and clearly proves that a system is demanded for the instmction of Indians widely different from any as yet adopted. The remarks of Mr. Pierson, school superintendent for the united Sious reservations, in his report to Agent Galbraith, seem to me to he enuinently judicious, and worthy the careful consideration of the government, and all those who feel an interest in the actual progress and welfare of the red race. The main features in the plan proposed, which it seems to me are practi-cable, and would be attended with the good results anticipated, are, lst, a direct persoffal advantage to be derived by the pupils from their daily pursuits, which will fnrnish constant stimulus to perseverance, and as for generations, their pur-snits have been physical rather than intellectual, the fact shonld not be over-looked in any system of education adopted for them; and 2d, to induce them to abandon the costume of savage and adopt that of ci~<lizedli fe, and by this means remove one of the most formidable barriers in the way of their advancement. The reservations of this as well as other superintendencies arc grievously in-fested with liquor sellers. Whiskey everywhere seems to possess for the Indian an irresistible attraction, and having no just appreciation of values, he readily exchanges the most valuable of his possessions to gratify his nncontrolable desire for this stimulant. Unprincipled traders, dcbarred by law from going npon the rcsevations, gather upon their borders, and by meana of this traffic, which in this case in far worse than robbery, they filch from the Indian his little all, often reducing him to a state of utter want and destitution. To protect him from the cruel avarice of the whites, more effectual legislation should, if possible, be had; but inasmuch as the trade is carried on outside of the reservations and consequently within exclusive State jurisdiction, I know not what remedy to propose, unless some system of legislative comity between the State and federal governments can be devised whereby the traffic may he more effectually sup-pressed. The magnitude of the evil, and its terrible consequences among the Indians, forcibly commend this subject to the careful consideration of legislators and philanthropists. The suggestions of Superintendent Thompson in relation to a change of the time for the payment of annuities, an increase in the number of the places of payment, and tbe location of one or two companies of well equipped cavalry, at snitable stations within the superintendency, arc timely, and in my judgment should he adopted. At the last regular session of Congress acts were passed 'creating out of the then Territories of Utah, Nebraska, and New iYIexico, the two new Territories of Colol.ado and Nevada. It was provided in these acts that the respective governors of the new Territories shonld act as ex oficio superintendents of Indian affairs within their limits, hut no provision was made for the appoint-ment of agents over the Indians, as in all other existing Territories. As a con-sequence of this omission, this a g e was compelled to assign to the Territory of Colorado the agent for the Indians of the upper Arkansas, one of the agents in New Mexico, and to appoint a special agent for the Indians in thosc portions of Colorado west of the Rocky mountains. The same exigency compelled the as-sienment of the u e n t for Utah to the Ter~i towof Nevada; all which will remain uztil further legiilation can be had. As no appropriation was made for the Indian service of the two new Territo-ries, I was compelled to apportion the a propriation made for Utah between that and the Territolies in question in sn$ manner as their respective necessities seemed to demand. The matter of further appropriations I propose to make the subject of a special communication. |
