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Show 20 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. ritories by the whites, and no provision being made for indernnifping and placing tbem heyond the reach of the injuries thus inflicted. Al-ready have difficulties of a serious character, resulting in bloodshed and loss of the lives of valuable citizens, taken place. Indeed, hostilities with the Indians in all these sections of county may be said to be constantly impending, the occnrrenre of which in either would, in all probability, involve an arnouat of expense far exceeding the cost of arrangements that would secure peace and tranquillity with the various tribes, and at the same time tend to promote their domestication and permanent welfare. In view, however, of the uncertainty necessarily attending all spec-ulations upon the question of the proper course of policy to be pursued towards the Indians in our remote territories, and the impossibility of forming conclusions of a reliable character from the diverse, varying, and often contrad~ctorys uggestions and recommendations of the diff'er-ent agents and others, it is respectfully suggested, as a wise and pru-dent precaution, that commissioners-able, impartial, upright, and practical men-be appointed, as soon as possible, to proceed to Texas, California, and the Territories of New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and Washington, for the purpose of investigating the whole subject of our Indian relations there, and of negotiating and recommending such con-ventional and other arrangements as may be required to place them upon a safe, stable, and satisfactory footing. The numerous claims for Indian depredations from nearly all sections of the country mhcre there is intercourse and proximity between the whites ancl Indians, are a source of great perplexity and embarrass-ment. The act of June 30, 1834, "to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes and to preserve peace on the frontiers," guaran-tees indemnity for such clepreclations upon the property of our citizens committed by tribes in amity with the United States ; and provides \ that they shall be paid for out of the annuities of the Indians, if they receive any, otherwise out of the treasury. The requisite authority to adjudicate and pay the latter class of claims, in like manner with other recognised obligations, has never been given ; while, in respect to the former, the power to pay tbem out of the annuities is virtually abro-gated by provisions contained in acts making appropriations for the Iu-dian department, passed at the last two sessions of Congress; reqnir-ing, as they do, all annuities and other Ir~dian moneys to be paid directly to the Indian or Indians to whom they are due per capita, ancl without deduction for any purpose whatever, " unless the imperi-ous mterest of the Indian or Indians, or some treaty stipulation, shall require the payment to be made otherwise, under the special direction of the President." Compensation for depredations not being required by treaty stipulation, nor by any imperious interest of the Indians, payment of this latter class of claims must, therefore, also fall upon the treasury; and appropriations should be made by Congress to enable the depart-ment to fiulfil these just and recognised obligations towards our frontier citizens, who are so liable to suffer from such depredations. The results of long and ample experience conclusively prove that the money-annuity system has done as much, if not more, to clipple and thwart the efforts of the government to domesticate and civilize our |