OCR Text |
Show 2 EEPOBT OF THE The Oneidas, in Wisconsin, are generally in the same prospering condition as indicated heretofore. Some of their young men have, however, been induced to abandon agricultural pursuits and their reservation, and have thus been thrown in the way of bad influences. It is to be hoped that they will listen to the admonitions they have recently received on this subject, and cease pursuits and practices so likely to injure and destroy them. Congress inserted a clause in the last general appropriation bill to euable the President to treat with and arrange the difficulties among the Stockbridges and Munsee Indians in the State of Wisconsin, and also to arrange their business with the United States, in such way as to do justice to the Indians, the settlers on the reserve and the govern-ment; and thus relieve the questions involved from the complication and embarrassment surrounding them. The late Commissioner of the General Land Office, by your direction, was instructed to join the Superintendent of Indian Affairs at Lake Wiqnebago, in order that his knowledge of our land system might be made available in the ne-gotiations to take place, and the settlement, if possible, of the various and delicate questions involved. A supplemental treaty was made with the Indians on the first day of June, which was transmitted here on the fifth day of that mouth, by the superintendent, with a notifi-cation that in his opinion it ought not to be submitted to the Senate. In the report of Mr. Wilson, afterwards received, the same opinion was expressed, and by your direction the subject has been referred back to .the superintendent and the Indians. The Brothertons reside on Lake Winnebago, adjacent to the Stockbridges, and have to some extent been affected by the strife and bitter feelings existing among their neighbors. Beyond this they seem to be living comfortably, and are in the enjoyment of all the rivileges accorded to the citizens of the State of Wisconsin. ?Sta Bteys t ahned t rtehaet yC choinpcpleuwdead I nSdeipatnems obfe rL 3a0k,e 1 8S5u4p,e brieotrw eaennd tthhee uMniistseids-" ' sippi, an arrangement was effected with those Indians, as to their distinctive rights to lands claimed by each, on Lake Superior and the Mississippi river, and the country intervening. A cession was also obtained of a large and, from its supposed mineral resources, valuable district of country from the Indians of Lake Superior, and the rela-tive interests of each in the stipulations of former treaties were fully set forth and satisfactorily adjusted. An important feature in this treaty.is the setting apar 3o f certain designated tracts of land for the occupancy of various ban s of these people, with a view to the cultivation of the soil and, prospectively, to a transfer of the same to them in severalty. These Indians can, with proper efforts, it is believed, be made an industrious and civilized people. They reside in what is called the northern peninsula of Michigan, and the north-western portion of the State of Wisconsin, and between Saint Louis river and the British line in Minnesota, and I regard it as creditable to the people of the States alluded to, that they have not interposed an$ objection, but, on the contrary, have seemed willing that the Indians might be permitted to remain within the limits of the respect-ive States. The necessary steps are in progress to define the |