OCR Text |
Show R E P O R T , DEPARTMENOTF THE INTERIOR, OJce Indian A$izirs, Noaember 27, 1SG1. SIR : I have the honor to submit the following report, referring you for in-formation in detail, respecting our relations with t,he various Indian tribes, to the accompanying documents. 3 Very shortly after assuming the duties of this office, I learned that emissaries from the States that had rebelled against the government mere endeavoring to alienate the various tribes within the aouthe~n superintendency, and west of the States of &fissouri and Arkansas, from the friendly relations which they had nntil then suaained to the government of the United States. I aeeordingly addressed communications to the principal chiefs and executive heads of the leading Indian tribes in that superintendency, informing them that whatever unscmpulous and evil men might represent to the contrary, the goveinment would under no circumstances permit the smallest interference with their tribal or domestic institutions by any person in its service, and that no pains would be spared in the endeavor to fnmish them with competent and discreet agents, dis osed to a strict observance of all the treaties subsisting between their people anithe United States, and to invariably promote a good understanding between the red and white races. Beingfullyaware that the wild tribes in that country were peculiarly liable to be misled by the appeals of wicked and designing men to their passions, prejudices, and cupidity, and that, as a conse uence, our agents in their midst might encounter unusual embarrassments, t% e superior intelligence and good sense of the more civilized tribes were appealed to in be-half of the agents who would be sent amongst them; and the hope was ex-pressed that in the unhappy contest between the government of the United States and the people of the rebellious States, the former would receive the sympathy and support of the Indians, whose rights and institutions would ever be respected. They were also infomed that in furtherance of these objects application had been made to the War Department for troops and munitions of war to aid them in the enforcement of the policy indicated, and if need be in the defence of their persons and property. 2 I t is doubtful if the assurances thus given (and from which I entertained strong hopes that at least the neutrality of those Indians would be secured) in every instance reached their intended destination; and I exceedingly regret that in eonsequence of unprecedented and imperative demands made in other and more important directions upon the resources of the War Department, it was unable to furnish the troops and war munitions Since the despatch of the communications above %S$?t?:ie correspond-ence of the ofice with the superintendency for which they were intended has 1 almost entirely ceased ; and, as a consequence, I am not in accurate possession of information as to the position assumed by the Indians within its limits to-wards the e-o vernment. -9, la rcr propurrion of tllesr I~ld'i~nas n in cumfonsble circurnsrancrs ; are rery far adranrrtl in the Hrta bf ririlisarib~a~n, d ltlany of tllrm are slavrho1der.i. 111 conjideration of r l~el ast-nirnrionrd cirru~ostnnct,t he general errontou3 im- |