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Show 8 REPORT OF THE chiefs whenever complaint shall be made, and to change or modify such action whenever he may discover that they have dealt nnjustly with any member of their tribe. It is respectfully suggested that some definite action should be had upon the treaties heretofore made with the Quapaws, the Senecas, and the Senecas and Shawnees, residing adjacent to the southwestern corner of Missouri, which were submitted for the consideration of the Senate at the session of 1854-'55. If not such as should be ratified, others of a proper character should be negotiated, this being neces-sary for the welfare of the Indians and to carry out the objects of the act of 1853. A treaty should likewise be entered into with the Cherokees to acquire from them the 800,000 acres of land in the same locality, known as the "neutral ground," on which settlements are already being made, contrary to our obligations to the Cherokees, and which tract they are willing to dispose of in order to obtain the means of liquidating their considerable national debt, and to augment their insufficient school and orphan funds. A large tract of land in Kansas was, years ago, set apart for the New Yokk Indians, who were then expected to remove there, but subse-quent arrangements have settled the great body of them on reserva-tions in the State. Such of them as have removed should be assigned the three hundred and twenty acres promised to them, and the re-mainder of the lands be brought into market for the benefit of our citizens who are so rapidly filling up the Territory. Preliminary measures have been adopted for colonizing as scon as possible, on the tract of country leased from the Choctaws and Chiok-asaws for the purpose, the Witchita and other Indians intended to be located there. The colonization of the Indians of Texas on the reservations set apart by the State for that purpose is progressing favorably and as rapidly as the difficulties and obstacles incident to such a measure will permit. The supervising agent represents with much confidence that the several colonies will soon be in a condition to support themselves. In the meantime there will be a gradual and material decrease of expense. The amount requisite for next year is $91,707 50. The same officer estimates that that for the succeeding year will not be so great by about $30,000. This is the only practicable system for redeeming the wild, lawless, and roaming tribes within our borders. It is expensive at first, be-cause the Indians have to be subsisted and otherwise provided for and made comfortable until they gradually settle down aid commence to work for their own support, which experience has demonstrated they can be induced to do. In the end it is the most economical course ; but however great the expense, it is one which both humanity and good policy require should be incurred. The resources of these Indians from the chase are rapidly failing them, caused in no slight degree by the extension of our settlements and their country being traversed in every direction by our people. Many of them are compelled to live by plunder, and hence the frequent outrages against other In-dians and the whites. In their diepersed condition, the numerons |