| OCR Text |
Show COM&IISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 9. military posts that have to be kept up, and the costly expeditions that have frequently to be undertaken to hold them in check, together with the sums which the government is bound to pay for losses sustained from their depredations, probably involve and amount to an expense far greater than would be necessary to collect and colonize them. The Indisns of New Mexico are beginning to have some understand-ing and appreciation of our power and resources, and the necessity of their preserving peace with one another and with the whites. They are generally willing to be settled on reservations, which is essential to their preservation and welfare as well as for the interests and se-curity of our frontier citizens. A favorable commencement has been made, and liberal a~propriationsb y Con-g ress are necesaarv to carrv out the policy in re@d co them. - The Pueblo Indians hold the tracts which they occuuv and cultivate by grants from the Spanish or Mexican govern&ents; and immediate steps should be taken to have them surveyed and set apart 6om the surrounding lands. This has become the more necessary, in the case of the Pimos and Maricopas Indians, since the establishment of mail routes through their country, which will induce and increase white settlements that may conflict with their rights and incite them to hos-tility. For a brief description of the character and situation of these peculiar and interest,ing people, and the views of this office as to the importance of protecting them from such encroachments, I respect-fully refer to the accompanying copy of my report of 28th May last. Under an act approve4 March 3, 1857, an agent was appointed for the Indians in the territory purchased from Mexico by the last treaty with that government, but from circumstances beyond his control he has not yet been able to furnish the department with much informa-tion in relation to them. To supply this deficiency, I submit an in-teresting commuuication upon the subject from Lieutenant S. Mowry, of the army, who has for some time been stationed in the country, and appears to be well informed in regard to the character and dispo-sition of the Indians inhabiting it. The Indians of the plains within the Upper Arkansas and Upper Platte agencies, and embracing the Apaches, Arapahoes, Comanches, Cheyennes, and Kioways, have, with the exception of the two latter, been quiet and peacefully disposed during the year. The Cheyennes have been in open hostility, and committed many outrages; and, though they were chastised during the summer by a body of troops under the command of Colonel Sumner, of the army, it is feared that they are not yet sufficiently subdued to expect that they will abstain from further lawless acts when opportunities offer of indulging their feelings of hostility. In consequence of their bad conduct, their proportion of the annuity presents, sent out for them and the other Indians of the Upper Arkansas agency, was not delivered to them. Nor should the Kioways, who have also manifested a decidedly hostile disposition, have received their share; but the agent was compelled to let them have it to prevent their taking it by force. To keep the tribes in-habiting and roaming through the country in the Upper Arkansas under proper subjection, and to protect our communication with New |
