OCR Text |
Show REPORT. DEPARTMENOFT T BE INTERIOR, Ofice Indian Afairs, Nouern6er 30, 1860. SIR: The accompanying documents from superintendents, agents, and teachers, indicate the present condition and prospects of the In-dian tribes within our limits. In general, our Indians have enjoyed, during the year, uninterrupted health. With here and there an exception, peace has prevailed with-in our borders. Pknteousness has generally rewarded the iudustry of the Indian agriculturist, except where the excessive drought has blighted his crops, and rendered his labors fruitless. There has been remitted for payment to various tribes, in compli-ance with treaty obligations, during the present calendar year, in money, goods, and provisions, $2,924,069 65. There is now in the Treasury of the United States the snm of $2,381,194 52, applicable to the Indian service for the bala~ceo f the fiscal year, terminating June 30, 1861. The estimates for the fiscal year 1861-62, based on eaty promises, special provisions of law, and the legitimate incident8 ex-penses arising therefrom, amount to $2,114,635 38. The sum of $3,396,241 has been invested in stocks of the United States and in several of the individual States, the annual interest accruing tkere-upon ($159,609 50) being applied in the fulfillment. of treaty stipula-tions. The amount which has reverted to the Treasury as a surplus fund, during the calendar year, the objects for which the appropria-tions were oricinallv made havine-,. in the "i ndemeut of the office. been - a~cornplished,~$islB l,237 99. Since the 4th of March. 1857. eleven treaties have been ueeotiated with various Indian tribes: whici~tr eaties, with the exception ofthe one with the Tonawanda band of Senecas of New York, designed to settle certain claims growing out of former stipulations,-may be properly separated into two distinct classes: first, treaties of acquisition, fop the purpose of concentrating the Indians within suitable reservations; and second, treaties of cession in trust to the general government, with a view to the sale of lands for the benefit of the tribes, in order to secure to the individual members of each tribe permanent homes on separate tlacts, where their tribal character can be gradually abol-ished, and where they will be subject to the ameliorating influences of civilization. The quantity of land acquired by these treaties. which now constitutes a part of the public domain, is thirty million two hundred and thirty-two thouband five hundred and eighty acres, for which the government has agreed to pay the aggregate consideration of $3,726,880. There have also been ceded by said treaties six hun- |