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Show COXMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 17 more rapid and certain domestication and improvement. Treaties not having been consummated with several of the tribes, it also became, necessary to ascertain whether they could not be induced to enter into conventional arrangements pursuant to the act of 1853, which had - become the more neceesary, because, from the increase of population, it was no longer possible, in their scattered condition, to protect them in their rights. From want of sufficient time, I was able to visit, in Nebraska, only the confederate tribes of Ottoes and ilfissourians. These Indians not ~ ~ having yet had the lands in their reservation allotted to them in seve-ralty, have made no progress in agriculture ; but the chiefs are now in favor of it, and it should be done as soon as practicable, I visited no st of the tribes in Kansas, and was gratified to find a better state of things existing amongst them than I had anticipated. They are all favorably located, and many of them are making commendable efforts to improve their condition, by adopting agricultural and other indns-trial pursuits. A rigid and determined adherence to the system of policy adopted in regard to them, to which I have already referred,, will, I think, result ih greatly improving their condition in the course of a very few years; provided they can be more effectnally protected from intrnsions upon their lands, and other acts of wrong and injustice by lawless white persons. For this purpose, more stringent laws are necessary, as also the transfer of the jurisdiction over offenders under the trade and intercourse laws, from theunited States court in Missouri, where it now vests, to those in Kansas and Nebraska, which measure was urged in the annual report of last year. And in view of the probability of the admission of a new state, embracing the great body of these Indians within its limits, I would suggest the necessity, in that event, of the general government retaining exclusive jurisdiction over their reservations, in order to preserve that full and entire control over them and their affairs, which is indispensably necessary for the protection of their rights, and the promotion of their prosperity and welfare. In conformity with the stipulations of treaties, they were specially excepted from the operation of the law organizing the Terri-tory, and they cannot, unless with their previous assent, be brought under State jurisdiction and laws, without a violation of the honor and pledged faith of the United States. While in Kansas, I succeeded in negotiating treaties with the Kansas or "Kaw" tribe of Indians, and the Sacs and Foxes of the Mississippi, by which they cede a large portion of their reservations, in trust, to be disposed of for their benefit. The quantity ceded by the Kansas, is 200,000, and that by the Sacs and Foxes, 300,000 acres. These treaties were made in conformity with the provisions of the act of 1853, under which no conventional arrangements had been consummated with these Indians; and from the extent of their reservations, and the large quantities of land which they could not occupy, and were of no use to them, it was impossible to prevent settlements being made thereon. As many as two hundred and fifty persons had settled within the 1imit.s of the Kansas reservation. TIiis was a source of constant com-plaint and difficulty, which it is hoped can hereafter be entirely obviated, 80 far :IS these Indians are concerned, if tho treaties are ratified. |