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Show - I 26 REPORT OF TEE COXMIS$IONER OF FNDIAW AFFUS.' securine to them the comforts of life from the results of their own ' ~~ ~ ~- ~ industry. The reports from the several agencies confirm the wisdom of this olicy ; and although much distrust has been manifested in the system . f y bthers, I am confident of its ultimate suocess. The Dacotahs, or Sioux, of Minnesota, furnish a laudable example. With them, the practice of colonization was inaugurated as late as 1858, and most, of the pioneers in improvement are now in.a prosperous condition, although they have had to contend with many adverse influences, in opposition to all preconceived opinions. During the past year, more than 100 of this tribe have been ccnstautly eagwed in a,+cultiire, have cultivated over 2,000 acres of land, inclosed their fields with good fences, and materially aided in the construction of comfortable dwellin They have abandoned Indian customs, and as frugal, ,industri@, and successful farmers, will compare favorabl~w ith the same number of white citizens in any part of Minnesota If such improvement has been effected in the course of two brief years, with a tribe so wild and barbarous as the Dacotah, how emi-nently encouraging to perseverance, although there have been, 7Rith some others, partial failures and much disappointment. . Before closing this report I deem it an imperatiye duty to snggest for your consideration the propriety of calling the attention of Con-gress to the necessity of making an appropriation, for which a special estimate can hereafier be made, with a view to prevent suffering and starvation among many of our Indian tribes, consequent upon the fail-ure of their crops by reason of t,he great drought in certain portiws of the country during the past summer. The destitute condition od many of the Indians under tho fosterin care of the government, ren-ders it absolutely necessary.that a fun % adequate to the accompliah-ment of this object should be placed at the disposal of this bur-, I under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. I regard iebn-1 wceseary to present any argurneniin support of this suggGstion, &i t s ~ o e a l tso the common 8vnwathiee of our nature. and will no doubt k&ve the generous ca6$rition of Congress at a; early period in the approaching aession. It may be proper, however, to refer to some legislative precedents upon the subject, and I would here specify two instances where appropriations have been made under sipilar circum- -~ - stances. First. By the third kection of the Indian appropriation'bill, a p I~ proved May 31, 1832, the sum of five thousand dollars was appropri-ated for the purpose of being expended under the &ireotion of the Secretary of War, in.the purchase and delivery of aorn, and other provision$ for the use of the Seminole Indians, who were likely to auffer on account of the fai lur~of th&r crops fr0m.a severe drought; S h n d . By the l&st provision of the Indian apprapriation bill, ap-proved July 7, 1838, the sum of $150,000 was appropriated to be ex-pended under the direction of the Secretary of War for the purpose of affordinetemporary subsistence to such Indians west of the Hisaki-sippi, as, by reason of their emigration, or the territorial arrange-meats incident to the po1iey of setting apart sportion of the public . . |
