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Show REPORT OF THE COhfMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 21 some smtable locality in the Indian country. The matterwas submitted to Congress last summer, and an appropriation asked for the purpose. I renew the recornmendahon then made, And trust that means will be aEorded for effecting the object at an early clay. In this connection I recommend that legislation be had for the pro-teotion of the people of Texas from invasion by Indians from the north of Bed river, and from the east part of New Mexico, which I suggest oan be secured bv the establishment of a suifficient number of militam ~ ~ ~ -. ~~ pods ad,jacent to ;r H I I J I I ~th e ~to~.tltr:trn~dt Wt'611'1'11 horderii of thc ~tht;. 1 t'wl it rnT duty to rrlten. the l e r o ~ u ~ u e t ~ ~nli:a~tlrr iin< )th~e~ l a ~itl n~~unl report ot titis otlice, that au appropri;~rL~bnr nt:~(lr1 1sC ongress tt, n ~ i ~ n - bur~pt he Kin~urbagoenf or erpensvs i~~eurn.(i lt ] their r c ~ u o r ~*olm AIin~tesota.m -hiclt they ~eait~~lu otf ' tllrir ow^ trilial fuo~ls. This iq mnni-festly a just claim agarnst the government,. Oompelled to leave their former home through the covetousness of citizens of Minnesota, who desired for themselves possession of their splendid couuutry, they mere brought into a condition of much suffering and need ere they reached the conutry where they are now permanently Asta,blished, and it is no more than right that this claim shoulcl be prompt?y satisfied. As a tribe they have abandoned the chase as a, means of support, and, from their long association with the whites, have acquired a sufficient piactical knowledge of' farming and stock-raising to fit them fully to maintain themselves, if they are aided and encoilraged by the government. The attenbon of Congress should again be called to the uuecessity of appropriate legislation for the prompt fulfilment of the stipulation of the third article of the treaty made with t11e;Choctaws and Chickasaws, 28th April, 1866, respecting the rights of persous of African descent residing among these nations. As the councils of the nations have decided not to give to such persons rights and privileges of citizenship, it is obliga-tory upon the government to remove those desiring it from the nat.ion, within a specified time, which has passed, and to espend for their use and benefit the $300.000 stiuulated to be so used and es~endedin th~e ~. c!vc.nt oi surh dceisioi. ~ 1 1 aL ~tI I I I Io f'I U O I I ( * ~h its nvvt~rh een' appnq~riarcd by Congress, nu11 there hri11.q 110 ~,larc.~l~*si&~tol nwrhridc h s81ch prrson8 can be~rembvedn, or i n s provision ma,de for the cost of remGval. no action can be taken in thk Gatter by the department. The snl?ject &as laid before the Senate by the Secretmy of the Interior on the 23d of July last. I also renew the suggestion heretofore made of the importance of a revision of the laws relating to trade and intercourse with Indian tribes, especially in the respects that thefe be given to proper courts juris-diction over cases where crimes or offences are committed by Indians against one another, or that the law define what course shall be taken by a superintendent of Indian affairs, or Indian agent, to arrest and punish offenders, and that the evidence of Indians, in cases of crimes or offences committed by whites against Indians, shall be received. The section of the law regarding the barter, sale, or giving to Indians spirit, uons liquors, or the introduction of the same into theIndian country, should be amended so as to include in the list of interdicted spirits, beer and cider, as the Indians indulge in these liquors to an alnrmiug extent, and often become intoxicated. In some, instances unscn~pulous men, knowing they were not liable to a penalty, have established their breweries near Indian reservations. Upon the subject of an increase of the salary of the superintendents and Indian agents, and that of a reorganization of the clerical force of this hnrean, I would again renew the reoonlmendations heretoforemade. I A 3 |
