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Show BEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF lNDIAN AFFAIRS. 43 i dims consented to take allotments of specified quantitiesof land for each person, old and young, and that the surplus land should be sold for their benefit ; though experience has proved that in many cases the avails of this surplus have been swallowed UD bv debts acknowledzed by the Indians. Out of these allotments I have arisen questions as to alienat&n of-and heirship to real property, rights of orphan children, distribution of annuities, kc., which frequently embarrass this I office: arid amonethese tmuhlesome ooestions is a feature rn so& of the treaties, providing that, nuder certain condikons, such as naturalization in a United States court in Kansas, upon certificate of a judge that the applicant is fit to take charge of his own affairs, the Indian may obtain a patent for his allotted land, and become invested with the rights of citizenship. Experience has shown that in too many cases this process of naturalization has been attempted upon Indians who are notoriously unfit for citizenship; and to avoid the entire waste of the means of living of the family dependent upon him, this office has been obliged to take theresponsibility of declining to carry the proposed arrange-ment into effect. This subject will be made more clear in subsequent remarks referring to particular tribes. Such general rules have been adopted aud pro-mulgated from time to time as have been deemed necessary to guard the interests of the Indians, these rules having in every instauce received the sanction of your department. A question of some interest, as relating particularly to the Indians of this superirttendency, deserves some notice here. Oomplaints were made some months since of difficulties arising, and likely to grow serious, from the habit of Indiana, lately returned from service in the army, carrying arms, which they drew and used upon the slightest provocation or excitement. An order was at first issued to disarm the Indians generally, but this was modified so as to re-quire them, when in public assemblies, at payments, or on the occasion of their visiting the towns, to deposit their arms with their agent, receiving receipts therefor. The order, it is believed, has had an excellent effect. I proceed to notice the several agencies in detail, with such suggestions aa occur to me: De1awa~es.-The Delaware agent, Jfr. Pratt, represents the agricultural operations of the tiibe as nnusnally sueeesaful, and in this there appeara to be a marked improvement over the prerions year; the result being a much better condition of the Indians for the approaching winter. Upon the large and fertile tract which they own, much greater results should have been produced, but their crops, as returned, show 56,700 bushels corn, 2,565 bushels wheat, 10,000 bushels potatoes, besides many other articles of farm produce. The Indiana number about 1.000, and maintain fully their reputation for devoted loyalty, hevin-e. furnished man,y eood soldiers to the armv. - lclr school is in n flonriahing condition, lls4ng won very high praise fro~n the nuperinte~deoto n the occasion of a special viair, and haa an cxrellrut rffrct upon ihe whole tribe. - The Wyandotts, who are attached to this agency, do not seem to be in as favorable condition as the Delawaree, and are desirous of a new treaty, by which they hope to better their condition. A special report on their case will be submitted for your consideration. Potto~oatamies.-The census of last June showed the population of this tribe to he 1,874, being a decrease of 404 within a year. Most of this decreaseis ac-counted for hy Agent Palmer, by the absence of about forty members of the tribe, who went south some months since to hunt and support themselves beyond the restraints of civilized life; and of a much larger number who are said to be wandering about in Iowa and Wisconsin. A considerable number of Potta-watomies, supposed to he a portion of those belonging in Kansas, have been heard of recently as being in the northern part of Wisconsin. The agent for the wandering Wisconsin Indians, Mr. Lamoreaux, who was sent to make in- |