OCR Text |
Show traders or contractors, or the being concerned in any manner in the profits of transactions with other parties on behalf of government. A moro stringent law to prevent cattle-stealing in the Indian territov. . Increase of pay and gradation of salaries of agents, superintendents, &c. Reorganization of the working force of this bureau, and increase of salary of the Commissioner. Protection of Indian lauds from taxation by 8tate laws. An appropriation for the collection and preservation of information relative to, and memorials of ihe various tribes of Indians. Revision of the list of agents, and provision for new ones, where chahges of honndsries or new treaty provisions require it. Action upon the several treaties herein referred to. Provisions for houses for agents at posts where no dwellings are now fnr-nished for them. - Appropriation for payment to Pottawatomies, who have taken steps to be-come citizens, of theirpro rata sbare of the funds of the tribe. Lepislation, if necessary, in the interests of the orphan children in the vari-ous t&es who receive annuities. Provision for the purchase of land for reaervations in California, and for the extinguishment of claims to improvements thereon. The organization of a territorial government for the Indian territory, and settlement of friendly Indians therein. Encouragement of a railroad from some point on the Missonri river to Gal-veston, Texas. - The speciol reasons assigned for the above action will he fonnd nnder their proper heads in the course of this report, and the papers refyrred to are trans-mitted herewith. I deem it unnecessary, in these general remarks, to make any particnlar reference to the subject of the several treaty commissions which have been -or are still engaged in the duties assigned to them. Such reference as I have deemed appropriate will he found nnder the heads of the several superintend-encies within which their sessions were appointed to be held, particularly the southern superintendency. I cannot, however, refrain from congratulating the department on the great success which is attending the efforts made to restore peace and amity between our people and these " children of the forest." I t can 'certainly add nothiog to our glory to vanquish so weak an enemy,even if there were no doubt that we were in the right ; ar~dt o wage a merciless war against them, when it is doubtful who was guilty of the first wrong, is the most,wanton cruelty. What has already been accomplished is a restoration of peace with the various hostile bands of Sioux in Dakota, and with all the Indians hetwem the Platte and the Arkaneas, on the great travelled routes across the plains. . The difficulties in the former ease seemed to be almost insuperable. A mili-tary campaign in the Indian couutry had just closed without ~ u c hre sults as would tend to impress the Indians with oar power; they were widely scattered, and being familiar with the horrible tldnsaction at Sand creek, were naturally suspicious of our designs. But, by the latest advices, the efforts of the com-mission sent to treat with them seemea likely to meet with succees; and such progress had been made as would undoubtedly result in peace and tranquillity in d l that region. In the latter case the difficnlties were not so great, but the snccess has been signal. A treaty was made with such of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes as have remained south of the Platte, and they had sent their young men to con-vey the glad tidings tn their northern brethren and induce them to comein. I The Apaches, too, had joined in the treaty with the Cheyennes and Arapa-hoes, and gladly accepted its terms, and the Comanches and Kiowas had made |