OCR Text |
Show COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 3 ance of the measure, I reavectfullv recommend that the amount neces-sary to carry it out bk appfopriatid. Pursuant to the act of March 3, 1853, providing for negotiations with the Indians west of Missouri and Iowa, for the purpose of pro-curing their assent to the settlement of citizens of the United States on their lands. and of extineuishinc their title thereto. in whole or in ~ -- part, treaties &ere made d&ng th; preceding administration with the Ottoes and Missourias, Omahas, Delawares, Shawnees, Ioways, Sacs and Foxes of the Missouri, Kickapoos, Miamies, and the united tribes of the Kaskaskias, Peorias, Weas and Piankeshaws. Tbe title of these Indians was thus extinguised to all the lands owned and claimed by them, except such portions as were reserved for their future homes ; the lands so acquired for occupancy by our citizens in Kansas and Nebraska amounting to about 13,658,000 acres, and the lands retained for the use of the Indians to about 1,342,000 acres. The lands ceded by the Delawares, except the strip known a s the outlet, for which. they were allowed a stipulated amount, and those acquired from the Iowaya and the united tribes ofKaskaskias, Peorias, Weas and Piankeshaws, were to be, and have been,soldfor their benefit. The amount realized for those of the Delawares is $1,054,943 71 ; for those of the Ioways, $184,437 85 ; and for those of the four united tribes, $335,350. From these amcants is to be deducted the cost of surveying and selling the lands, and the remainder in each case is required to be invested in safe and profitable stocks, except so much as the President may deem proper to be applied to relieve the tempo-rary necessities of the Indians during the time of their becoming set-tled and established on their reservations. The interest derived from the investments is to be annually paid over to them, or judiciously applied for their benefit. The treaty of January 31, 1855, with the Wyandott Indians resid-ing at the junction of the Missouri and Kansas rivers, provided for their investment with citizenship, and a division of their tribal lands among them. This division, it is understood, has been made, and resulted in giving to each soul about forty acres. This measure, the agent reports, has been attendedwith good results, aspirit of improve-ment having manifested itself beyond anything of the kind previously known among the Wyandotts. My personal observation enables me to concur in the report of the agent. During the past summer an important and necessary treaty was also made with the Pawnees, through the operation of which, should it be approved by the Senate, the department hopes to be able to place these restless andlawless Indians in a settled location, to control them there, and to adopt effective measures for securing their material im-provement. There is the l i e necessity for a similar treaty with the Poncas, who inhabit and claim a region of country on the Missouri and L'eau qni Court or Running Water rivers. No conventional arrangements have been entered into since the c t of March 3, 1853, with the following tribes residing in Kansas, vlz : the Pottawatomies, the Kansas or Kaws, the Sacs and Foxes of the Mississippi, and the Osages. The policy of that act and the welfare, |