| OCR Text |
Show VI REPOEI' OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. turbulent individuals among the tribes could be placed, they could be taken from their homes to the place of punishment without disturbing the general pewe, and the promptinfliction of a pnnishment of this kiud would tend to curb the evil-disposed and prevent them from stirring up outbreaks. In fact there is nothing the Indian would dread more than to be deprived of his liberty. Such a settlement should be guarded by a sufficient force to exercise perfect discipline, and such prisoners should be taught trades as well as agriculture. A school of correction of this kind would be of inestimable value to the Indian service, and it would exercise a reformatory influ-ence that could not be obtained by simple confinement. Useful occn-pation provided for the captives, with some encouragement to industry, wonld in most cases enable them to be returned to their homes in an advanced condition of civilization. SALE OF ARMS TO INDIANS. During the last two years the sale of arms and ammunition by Iu- . dim traders has been strictly forbidden and no case is known where the prohibition has been violated. Suoh vigilance has been exercised by the Indian Officein this matter that trader's licenses have been re-voked whenever there was the slightest suspicion of the existence of this contraband trade. 'Nevertheless, outside of Indian reservations, men are everywhere found driving a thrifty business in selling breech-loading arms and fixed ammunition to non.civilized Indians, and the sales thus made are limited in amount only by the ability of the Indians to purchase. Previous to the late Ute ontbreak the Indians were amply supplied with Winchester and Spencer rifles and fixed ammunition obtained from traders outside-of their reservation. Game was abundant on or nem their reserve, a,nd for some time the Utes had been making sales of peltries to a large amount, and were thus enabl'ed to provide themselves with such arms and ammunition as they desired. The& largely increased purchases of arms just before the outbreak might have served as a notice to these unscrupu~lous traders that au outbreak was impending in which the lives of innocent people would be sacrificed. There is no offense againstt.he commonwealth showing greater moral turpitude than the d m e of those persbns who recklessly place in the hands of savages , aLl the improved yatterns of arms, which they know will be used to de-stroy the lives of innocent white citizens. There is no statute against this crime, and t.he only semblance of pro-hibition is contained in the following joint resolution and proclamation, vi5: ~~~~~E KAX8108, Noumber 23, 1818. A joint resolntion adon.t ed bV Congress Aumst 6,1818, dealarea that- ~ rnrmns it i h ~ v c n * t o - dc hat the hnat i l~lo clkna $31 thp sor tbver t are l a r~o l ye quipped with arms which rquim .gc::nl r~r*lalltc.a .?nriBgcr, and that awb spot in1 arnrut~nit:oui* i o l a e r p w l a~lpplicdt o ' soeh hoar:b IuQaor, dirtvtlpnr todir~t. ly, rhr.~r~btrdam~ndotborainth~InclinneounfTrrh:o rcB,re. |
