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Show 174 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. GENERAL MEETING OF FRIENDS OF THE INDIAN. At a convention of the representatives of various religions denominations, who are engaged in the work of Christian civilization among the Indians of the United States, held in Washington, I). C., January 12, 1872, On motion of W. Welsh, Dr. Harris was called to the chair. On motion of J. V. Farwell, Dr. W. Nicholson was chosen secretary. The chair called on Hon. F. R. Bnmot for an account, of his observations during his recent tour of inspection among the tribes west of the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Stuart made explanations of the relation of tbe board of Indian commissioners both to the Government and to the different religious denominations. Mr. Powell expressed a belief that there is a powerful and increasing public senti-ment in support of the President's Indian policy ; and at the same time he knew that there is an increasingly powerful combination of interests, having for its purpose the overthrow of this policy. He spoke by authority, not captiously, but in earnest desire to arouse the friends of the Indians to action, iii order both to ' influence public senti-ment and to direct legislation. Mr. Bentley moved a committee on resolutions, to consist of five members, to be ap-pointed by the chair, which motion was adopted. Mr. Tatham presented resolutions, which were referred. He prefaced their pres-entation with remarks upon the influence of organized effort in removing evils, as lately exhibited in New York, for instance. One great difficulty in this Indian work ib the ignorance of the people at large upon the real condition of affairs. We must give them light. Set before them the effects of maladministration, and arouse them to the importance of Christian reform, and to produce this result the different religions de-nominations must unite their efforts. Ex- Superintendent S. M. Janney offered a resolution, which was referred. The chair announced Messrs. Tatham, Janney, Lowry, John A. King, and Whipple, as committee on resolutions. Hon. William A. Phillips then addressed the meeting. REMARKS OF HON. WILLIAM A. PHILLIPS, OF KANSAS. Mr. CHAIRMAN: I felt under obligation to the board for the kind invitation to be present, and intended to listen rather than to speak. I listened with great pleasure to the reports of the representatives of the religions bodies who have the Indian work in charge, gratified that all the reports indicated marked improvement, the deep interest of the parties in the work, and gave clear indications of a great and good reform in Indian management. I was also pleased to see that on many vital points of the vexed Indian problem the commissioners appear to have been rapidly acquiring what I would call a good Indian education. Among these was the deep interest taken in the education of Indian females. I remember of asking John Ross, the distinguished governor of the Cherokee nation for forty years, what he considered the salient causes of the superior civilization of the Cherokees. Among other things he said : " Formerly they used to educate the males only. A few Indian men would be edu-cated and go back and marry the uneducated women of their tribe. In many cases they would seem to sink to the old level. They might exhibit their culture when called on in some special cases; often there seemed to be a total relapse; in most of cases it left few fruits. Then we tried to educate the women, and when we did we made the first permanent and substantial progress." I can corroborate the testimony of that distinguished gentleman, to whom more than to any other man the Cherokees are indebted for their advancement. During the war, whenever I entered the house of a woman educated at the Cherokee female seminary, I found refinement and culture. I also found flowers on the mantel- piece, books and other evidences of taste and thought in the house, and could see in the dress and in the faces of the children the fruits of the mother's civilization. I will offer you but a few thoughts on points which have been partially overlooked. Something has been said about the continual difficulties which seem to exist between Indians and settlers, and the constant distracting questions about Indian reserves. Now, there never ought to be a particle of difficulty of this kind. A few simple and just rules would forever end these troubles. I remember conversing with Senator Henderson, then chairman of the Senate Indian committee, about a measure for the " relief " of certain intruders on an Indian reserve in Kansas. He said, " I suppose, Phillips, there is so much clamor about this that we will have to do something for the relief of these settlers; but hereafter I will never cast a vote to relieve or sustain in-truders on Indian lands." I remarked, " How much stronger, Senator, will yon be in the position you propose assuming, when you have created another precedent of that kind?" The truth is that this encouragement to lawlessness is to blame for the whole mat-ter. It is a premium to those who trample United States laws under foot. And why are squatters continually seeking to encroach on ludiau lands ? To- day there are |