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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOXER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 33 ~ ~ - -- ~~ The annual report- of rhr ruperintendent and nerernl n,n<!ntd arrirzd too late to be published in fnll, bur extracts irom them are given ixr the xr.c.~iul~a~~yin~ paper:. 'l'llc want uf tiltnlj, almve rt-ft.rr<d to, 11nj co:~~rnotlhyu tnpr-rcJ rhede-panmcnr in tbe tnrttl3ys.ment ot'l~~diaatftf iiw, anJ t h c reanlr hnj-btrn vt:ry uo- !brtnlt.3re in induritig rribej 11z1.etufored isporrd lo prncr to hosrilr: acr3 uf plun-der lor ;he Jake ut' sttlmirtener, which tlrij uitice 11:d not tlte I(1L-mlb LO i~liwide ! for them. It is very unpleasant to be obliged to reply unfavorably to'the ap-peals from the officers in special charge of the Indians, where they urge that aid to a large amount monthly must be furnished to certain tribes to prevent them from stealing their necessary subsistence from the settlers; hut soch has been the case with regard to New bfexico, for the simple reason that Cotlgress has failed to make the needed appropriations for the service. Under such cir-cumstaucea, the military authorities have felt compelled to issue rations to the Indiaus referred to. The superintendent submits estimates of tLe amount which he deems neces-aary for the use of the service in new IVIexico, and his report, with the other papers presented herewith, will furninh the means of deciding upon the proper policy to be observed. i)n the subject of peonage the qualified slavery still prevalent in Xew Mexico, authorized by its laws, and encouraged and practiced by its .people, officials of government, and natives of the United States as well as those who have been "to the manner bor~~,M" r. Graves's statements, with the evidence presented tliere-with, are such as to leave no doubt of the duty of Congress to take thc matter in hand, and deal with it effectually. This office has done all that lay in its power, by promulgating tlie order of the President forbidding the practice, and all the other departments of the government issued like directions to tlie officers respon-eible to them; but, in spite of all this, it is clear that the practice still contiuucs to a greater or less extent. In December and January there were complaints of murders having been committed by some of the Utaha; but, upon investigation, it was found that the tribe could not justly be held as hostile, the outrage having been committed by outlawsfrom their nnmber, whom they disowned. In July manyof tliese In-dians were near Tierra Amarilla in a condition of great destitution. T t ~ esu per- ,intendent visited them and relieved their immediate wants, and promised to fur-nish them montlily supplies- promise which this office was cornpe!led to repu-diate, for the simple reason that the funds appropriated by Gotigress will not suffice for the purpose. A late commnnication from the ~u~erintendeut'statethsa t among the new regiments to he raised in the west, under authority of Coitgrew, one is autho-rized for New Mexico, which mill be half cara1.alt.y and ltalf infantry, and which will probably be sufficient to quell any rising disaffection among the t~.ibes. We also learn that IIanuelita, the Navajo chief, who has hitherto refused to sul~enderb, ut continued a desultory warfare with the small band of warriors remaining with him, has surrendered to the military at Fort Wingate, being fairly starved into submission. The great want of the superintendency is funds sufficient to pay the existing indebtedness of the Territory, much of which has ocourrred in amanuer and un- ' der circ~imstancesw hich make it almost impossible to blame the officers of the government for contracting it; and then a reasonably liberal annual appropria-tion for the expenses of the service. If reservations are decidedupon, a present outlay to establish the Indians upon them must be mitde, which will necessarily increase the appropriation, but in any event the amount now appropriated for New Jlexico is ikr too small. |