OCR Text |
Show tribes of attorneys or agents to attend to their business at the seat of government," and to urge, in the most solemn manner, that " it is the duty of the government as their guardians to cause all matters of a business character with them to be so conducted as to preclude the necessity of the intervention of this class of persons." This recom-mendation was repeated in my second and third annual reports, and is again urged as the result of collvictions strengthened by experience. I also desire again to urge all that I have presented in former reports, as well as in this one, with reference to the obnoxious and fatal policy of removing Indian tribes, and the absolute necessity of fixed habita-tions and permanent homes as indispensable to their preservation, domestication and civilization. To preserve the small reservations .already made, and hereafter to be made, by tribes who have or may resolve to settle down and till the land, and to preserve to 'all Indians their annuities, I again urgently recommend such penal and other legislation as may be required to effect these objects. But any mea-sure of protection ahort of this will fail to guard the Indians against the artful schemes of those badmen, who, under more or less specious retences, desire to obtain either their lauds or their money, or both. bPon such protection depends the question of their future existence, for when stripped of their property, alms would only rapidly sink, not permanently elevate and preserve them. Humanity, Christianity, national honor, unite in demanding the enactment of such laws as will not only protect the Indians, but as shall effectually put it out of the power of any public officer to allow these poor creatures to be despoiled of their lands and annuities by a swarm of hungry and audacious speculators, attorneys, and othe~s, their instruments and coadjutors. And no officer should, for the want of sucblegislation, be compelled, during his wholeofficialexistence, eithertoallow the Indians to be plundered, or else have to devote his hole energies to the main-tenance of it conflict to sustain their rights against combinations of men, whose chief' and first efforts are always directed towards obtaining influence with the press, and kith those supposed to be high in the confidence of the executive and legislative departments of the govern-ment. It is asking too much of a snbordinate officer. It exposes him to unnecessary danger and unnecessary temptation ; and it is grossly unjust to the Indians thus to expose him tosuch a danger and to such a temptation. The security of their rights should be made as little dependent upon the virtue of a public officer as possible. To preserve their property and to give then1 the blessings of educa-tion and Christianity, is indispensable to their continuing "long in the land" which Clod gave to their fathers and to them. I sincerely hope that our government yill have the aid of all its good citizens in faith-fully executing its high trust, and discharging its obligations to the remnants of the Indian tribes now left to its oversight and guardian-ship, so that they shall be intelligently and generously protected and cared for, in all that makes lifeuseful and happy. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. W. MANYPENNY, Hon. R. MOCLELLAND, Secretay of the Interior. Commissioner. |