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Show . i COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 25 concurs, that the treaty of Augist 11, 1855, should not be ratified, and he was likewise of opinion that the formality of a new treaty is unnecessary, although he earnestly commended to the justice of Congress the case of those 1,766 Coast Indians, who had, in good faith and reliance upon the government, relinquished their native haunts and removed to tlie reservation. He suggested that annu-ities should be extended to them sufficient to purchase such articles and procure such comforts as are e$oyed by the small minority nnder treaty. My views upon this subject have been elsewhere expressed. There are several tribes of Indians in Or~gono f folmidable power, with some of whom we have negotiated no treaties, and with the others our treaties are not sufficiently comprehonsive. The Shoshones, or Snakes, and the Flatheads, are wealthy and powerful, and can cause their hostility to the remoter settlements and the overland emigm-tion to be severely felt. Hence the pressing necessity of some speedy arrange-ment with them, whieh.gith the Snakes it is suggested should be (as a temporary measnre) a treaty granting annuities in consideration of a right of way across their country. !?& the Flatheads, who give expression of something like jealousy that they have not received the attention of our eovemment. it would be well to e a t h~nr 0 - 1 council, in which a more definite knlwledge of iheir wishes and expectations could he arrived at, and stipulations looking to the safety of emisants and miners , . / toration ur' cu~ifidcnrvn nd ro~~tctlt.c :onds hurt:, ~lli.+'~c.iftorr, TI,(, rirst rim? hern di~trilmred1 0 t11(, ll'TVa1rli4~R, uqunrniah, and Skullu~ntr~ih es, \vhicL rrilwn, i t is - - - agreed upon. The Indian affairs in the distant Tenitory of Washington have not as yet as-sumed that degreeof regularity and system which is desirable. The recent organi-zation of the country, the ruggedness of its suiface, and its paucity of white inhabi-tants, are impediments to the rapid development of our Indian policy, which will requireno little timeand patience for their removal. I t is probably for this reason that the treaties of .January 1,1865, with the Makah tribe, located in the extreme northwest corna of the Tenitory, and that of Janllary 25, 1856, with the Qui-nai- elts and Quil-leh-utes, have not been carried into execution. Much dis-satisfaction exists on the part of these trihcs on account of the prolonged delay, and they are beginning to lose confidence in the good faith of the government; but I am assmed by the late superintendent that so soon as we shall have exe-cuted the stipulations on our part of said treaties, for which arrangements are now eomnleted, there will be no difficulty in the wav of a soeedv and full res-represented, are mainly located upan their reservation, and, so soon as agency buildings can be erected, will be fairly under our protection and control, and it is to be hoped in a condition favorable to their welfare and improvement. A comparison of their own condition with that of the tribes who are living upon reservations under treaties with the government, has induced a change in the views of the Chihalis, Oowlitz, and Chinook Indians, who in 1855 refused to enter into treaty relations. They now desire to come nnder the care and pro-tection of government, and to be located upon a reservation. Should their de-sires be gratified, a tract of land on the Chihalis river, at the month of Black rivet; which has been sumeyed, is deemed a suitable reservation for the Upper Chihalis and Cowlitz bands; and it is believed that the Loner Chihalis and the Chinooks may, without difficulty, be associated with the Qni-nai-elts and Qnil-leh- utes upon their reservation. Several of the tribes in this Tenitory ace making fair progress inagricultural pursuits, amongst whom'may he mentioned the Yakamns. This tribe has a ~choelu, nder the direction of Mr. Wilbur, which is highly spoken of. Upon the Tnlelip reservation there is also a school, under the care of the Rev. E. C. Chirouse, which it is reported is doing much good. The whole number of Indians in Wash'mgton Territory with whom treaties have been negotiated and confirmed is estimated at about fourteen thousand. |