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Show 34 BEPORT OF TEE COJlhII89IONER OF IND~ ~UAVFF AIRS. of Kansas and Nebraska, and, above all, the welfare, and I may almost. say the existence, of the Indians within their limits demands that the latter should he removed from their present reserres. Under these circumstances, I feel that I cannot too strongly urge the importance of preserving the ' I Indian country " for the use of Indiana alone, and in all treaties or other arrangements which may hereafter he made with its former owners, insisting upon, and if need be enforcing, such terms as will secure ample homes within that country for all such tribes as from time to time it may he found practicable and expedient to remove thereto. CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENCY. The reports frnm the various agencies within this snperintendency, erpbra-cing sixteen tribal organizations, are for the most part satisfactory, ss to the general condition of the Ind~anss,o far as relates to their eaeeable condnet, loyalty to the government, and progress in education and civigsation. In some cases decided advancement is recorded, and there is good evidence that in others a like report would be made, hut for the nnfortunate failure of the crops throughout the greater portion of the superintendency, drought and the ravages of insects, and the hostilities of northern tribes during the past summer. which, breaking out in the region in which some of these tribes were accus-tomed to hunt, prevented them frnm obtainihg their usual supplies of skins and of food for winter. Besides this, the outrages committed by the hostile parties of Indians so exasperated the whites, as well the citizens as the soldiers sta-tioned at the various military posts, as to render them indisposed to distinguish between hostile and friendly Indians. The trihes of this superintendency, thus placed between two fires, subject to be attacked and driven from their hunting-grounds by the hostile Indians, and suspected if not attacked by the whites, have maintained their loyalty in a very remarkable manner, and deserve the favorable consideration of the department. It is claimed for them, by their agents, that all of the trihes of this superintendency, amidst all their discour-agements and privations, have refused to entertain any of the propositions made to them by tha hostile Indians, and have remained true to their treaties of Eiendship, some of the tribes sending a large proportion of their able-bodied men into the service of the United States, where they have proved themselves to be faithful and efficient soldiers. From sundry communications of Agent h e , of the Upppr Platte agency, it would appear that there are many white persons claiming to he old settlers of that region, but who have long ago adopted the Indian mode of life, and have n- ot now. and are not believed to have ever had. fixed homes in the countrv, ~~ . who nrr tLorou,ol~lyd isloynl, atld ext~n:isrth rir in0ueucr over the Indians w incite illem toacta ut' Ilostility. TLrse perdon* orenrated hy t l~e agr lt~ot l e, for the mopt na1.t. C'nnadians. \Vlnetber or not olrblic ooliev dctt~nndrt heir ex~ulsiotf~ro m h e country is a question which I diem toae ;orthy of consideraiion. At all events, these partlea should be put under careful snrveillauce, and should not be allowed to continue. with imounitv. the dan-ge rous' and treasonable work of which they are alleged to he guilty.' The tribes of the Upper Platte agency are represented as being in a desti-tute condition, aud some of them will need aid from government to keep them from starvation. In their privations it is apprehended that they may be led to acts of theft and plunder, orto join some of the hostile bauds in that portion of the eountry. The Ottoes and Missourias, under the charge of Agent Dailey, numbering about five l~nndred souls, al-e represented aa being orderly and temperate. Their crops were good, furnishing them an abundant supply of grain and vegetables, but they were unable, on account of the hostile parties in their usual huuting- |