OCR Text |
Show 44 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. being almost exclnsively confined to the larger reservations. The prominent characteristics of the Indians, as described by the agenew want of forethought, lack of business capacity, and habits of indolence"--stand steadfastly in the way of their rapid improvement, even under the most favorable circumstances; hut the character of the infiuenees brought to bear upon them by the white population surrounding them, and residing among them, is too often such as to form a greater obstacle to progress. These deficiencies of Indian character, and these unfortunate outside inEuenees, can best he met and overcome by carrying out the established policy of this office, wherever it can heaccomplish-ed- that of concentratingthe Indians upon large reservations, so that they may be kept under more strict control, and the trade and interoourse regulations be more stringently enforced. Gradually, as the opportunity occnvs, the smaller reservations of th& agency should be abandoned, by the consent of the Indians to propositions made to them at favorable times by this office, and their concentration effected. Such an opportunity has oecurrd in'the cnse of the Saginaw, Swsn Creek, and Black River bands of Chippewas, who, early in 1864, by petition to this office, asked that a treaty might he made with them. I t was not until the 18th of October. however. that Aeent Leach and Dr. H. J. Alvord, who were desi.e.- nltted as commidsiozlerd fa; the purponp, wero aLle to inert the rhit:f3 xt~d Iwnd-m1. n of tl1o3o b:~nds,n od t n nrgoriate the tnedry which 1 1 ~IsI C p~l. ~rrrlin your ha&. Should tlri~tr eat" be con6t.med hv Itre Scnarc. and ro iuro u~~erntion. v very favorable results ma; he expected to ?allow. It has been found impracticable, as yet, to consummate the proposed arrange ment with the hands of Ottawas, Chippewas, and Pottawatomies, in the north-western portion of the State, by which they are to concentrate upon the Isabella reservation, but it is hoped that this arrangement can soon be made. In the treaty with the Chippewa bands, already submitted to yon, provision is made for the residence of the other bands with' them upon the Isabella reservation, whenever the arrangement shall he made with the latter. NEW YORK INDIANS. I n conse1 ue nce of prolonged illnpss of the agent for the Seneca and 0th e Indians in t e State of New York, we are without the usual annual report from . that officer respecting those Indians. I submit, however, a report of John Manly, esq., special agent, in which he speaks favorably of their condition and progress. Their orphan asylum school,located on thecattaraugus reservation-a most interesting and valuable institution-he characterizes as the '' best that he has ever visited." Directions having been giren for the survey and sale of the lands in Kansas belonging to the New York Indians, without first providing for the extinction of their title thereto, the Indians were of course dissatisfied, and made urgent appeals for compensation or indemnification for this spoliation. Their claim being undeniable and just, Mr. Charles E. Mix, chief clerk of this office, was appointed, on tbe 5th of May last, special commissioner, to visit those Indians for the purpose of entering into a eouvention to extinguish their title to said lands, and providing for a just and fair remuneration. A few days previous to his arrival amongst them, the Senecas had held their annual election for officers of their government, and selected, by a small majority, the candidates of a party opposed to those in power. These new officers, together with the representa-tives of some of the other hands, in the opening council with the Indians, treated the commissioner with so much dinrespect and indignity that, in justice to the government whose representative be was, he considered it to be hL duty to withdraw from the council, and return without effecting the object of his visit. His report ia submitted hwewith. |