OCR Text |
Show natural highway of a large and highly prosperous territory and being entirely devoid of game or other natural sources of Food supply. It is hopeless to expect progress or any improvement whatever in the conditions of these Indians upon their present reservation. The mechanical problem presented in irrigation precludes any possibility of advancement towards settled or agricultural methods, and it is respectfully submitted that there has been no such progress, but rather retrogression. And it is further represented by your memorialist that the retention of the Southern Ute Indians upon their present reservation in La Plata County, in the State of Colorado, is in direct opposition to the declared wish of a majority of the individuals of this tribe. 27 The other memorial was presented by the President pro tempore of the Senate as a communication from the Secretary of the State of Colorado. Known as Senate Joint Memorial Number 4, it differed only slightly from the first. It read: Your memorialists, the General Assembly of the State of Colorado, respectfully represent that the Southern Ute Indians retained within the boundaries of this State, and upon a strip of land more than 100 miles long, and the entire length of the counties of La Plata and Archuleta, roam in their natural and savage state, subject to no laws of government, except the light control which a local Indian agent is able to exercise. Experience has shown that such a tribe of Indians under no more restraint than that imposed by an ordinary white man, acting in behalf of his own private interests, are likely to become turbulent and commit depredations upon the persons and property of their white neighbors at any time. And your memorialists further represent that the interposition of savages among an enlightened and law- abiding people is a system repugnant to the recognized ideas and practices of civilized government, and likely in the near future to bring on a conflict between the races which can be suppressed only at a great cost of life and property. That, in fact, the southwestern part of Colorado and the northwestern portion of New Mexico are being so rapidly settled, and the white people are becoming so restless under their many unmitigated wrongs, that they threaten to rely upon themselves for that protection which the Government has failed to afford them. So that in the very nature of things some new and perhaps slight provocation will precipitate the inevitable conflict. And your memorialists respectfully submit, in view of the fact that Colorado is fast becoming a densely populated State, and especially as there are a number of Territories sparcely [ sic] settled, under the sole control of the General Government, that the Southern Ute tribe of Indians ought to be removed from within the State boundaries; that the speedy removal of said tribe from the long and narrow strip they now occupy and which crosses all the natural outlets of La Plata and Archuleta Counties, would be a measure of safety to them and of peace and safety to the white people who reside upon the borders of their reservation; it would at the same time open up a large acreage of agricultural land to settlement, 27. U. S., Congress, Senate, Mr. Teller Presents House Joint Memorial No. 1, Congressional Record, Vol. XVIII, Part 2, 49th Cong., 2d Sess., February 14, 1887, p. 1704. - 37- |