OCR Text |
Show 4 EXTRACT. the Indian service, whether we are to he guided by the principles of justice and humanity, or economy, must he manifest to all. Particular attention is also invited to the condition of Indian affairs in Cali-fornia. That State has hitherto been di~idedin to two districts-the northern and the southern-each under the charge of a superintending agent. There is no good reason for continuing this arrangement, and on the score of economy alone it ought to he abolished, and our Indian relations throughout the State placed under the control of one superintendent. The good of the service and the future welfare of the Indians also imper-atively demand the establishment of two reservations in the northern part of the State-one near the coast, and the other in the interior--of sufficient extent for the accommodation of all the Indians in what is now designated as the northern district, and at least one snitable reservation for those in the southern portion of the State. The necessity for these different reservations arises from the great dissimilarity that exists in the habits and customs of the several triBeafor whom they are intended. . The hostility of the powerful tribes of the Apaches and Navajoes, mainly located in New 31exico and Arizona, is such, that for the present their manage-ment mugt be left chiefly to the military branch of the government; but measures should he promptly taken for the establishment of suitable resewations for the other Indiana in those Territories, and for thoee now in hostility to the United States, whenever they shall have been properly subdued. 4 The unfortunate result of the effort made last spring to return the refugee Cherokees to their homes has largely added to the number of refugees, and greatly increased the expense of their subsistence. This, together with the ad-vance in the prices of clothing and provisions, has so augmented the expense of providing for them as to exhaust the funds set apart for that purpose, and ren-ders a further appropriation necessary. It is doubtful whether the supplies needed could, even now, he forwarded in time to prevent much suffering, and hence the importance of as early action by Congress in the premises as may he practicable. The able report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs will be found to he replete with interesting facts and judicious suggestions on the subjects to which it relates. |