OCR Text |
Show shall reap the fruits of his labor. The p a t error in our relations with the California Indians consists, as I conceive, in our refusal to recognize their mu-fructwzy right in the soil, and treat with them for its extinguishment; thereby providing for them means of snbsietence until such time as they shall he edu-cated to conform to the widely altered circumstances by which they are sur-rounded. It is now perhaps too late to correct this error'by making treaties, and it only remains for us to do voluntarily that justice which we have refused to acknowledge in the form of treaty obligations. When the incalculable value of California, with its seven or eight hundred milesof sea-coast and its untold millions of wealth, is considered, how small, in comparison, is the value of such appropriations as would he sufficient to afford the Indians every aid and facility for the attainment of comfortable homes and the simple arts of civilization necessary to their subsistence ! And when it is also considered that these people were in the almost undisputed possession of this beautiful domain, s~uelyw e, who have deprived them of their possessions, ought not to withhold the little which, by every consideration of humanity and justice, they may so imperatively and rightfully demand. A proviso was added lo the appropriation made by Congress at its last session for the Indian service in this State, authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Interior "to inquire into the expediency of reducing the Indian reservations in California to two in number; the proper places for the same; the probable expense thereof; the propriety of disposing of any of the reservations, and the value thereof, and of the property thereon; of the manner and terms of such disposal; and in what manner, in his judgment, the expense of the Indian de-. partment.in that State can be reduced and its system simplified, without inju~y to the same, and report thereon to the next regular session of Congress." That. the iufoimation sought by this proviso might he obtained, I directed the super-intending agents for the northern and southenl districts, shortly after the ad-journment of the last Congress, to inquire into and report upon tho various sub-jects embraced therein. The report of Superintending Agcnt Hansou will be found among the accompanying papers; that of Superintending Agent Went-worth is not yet received. I entirely concur in, the views expressed in the report of Mr. Hanson as to the wants of the northern district. It will be seen that there is no one location,. within his knowledge, sufficient in extent to accommodate the Indians of this district. Two reservations are therefore imperatively demanded. Were it other-wise, I should deem the statements made by Mr. Hanson as to the disparity in ' the tastes, habits, and pursuits of the Indians of the coast and t h o~eof the inte-. rior, conclusive as to the propriety of two reservations. I also feel well assured that his recommendations as to the sale of the Klamath, the Mendocino, and Nomc Lacke reservations; the purchase of such settlers' claims, within the Smith River and Round Valley reservations, as may be found just; the removal^ of all whites therefrom, and the enlargement of their limits, should be adopted |