OCR Text |
Show I REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. and matters, especially sncli as relate to the conveyance of lands, sbonlcl recede citizenshil) if it is the intention of the government to sa7-e the Indians from panperism and extermination. The progTess made in Indian ci~dizationt,h e history of each tribe, the reports of this otlice, and of each and every officer ~vho has intelli-gently im-estigateil this qnestion, all go to sl~ow the necessity for a 1)ermanent home for the Indians ~ i t han indefeasible title to the same. If this desired reformation in the managenlent of their affairs cm be effeotetl, I am assured that the progress of the Indians will be rapid and per~~~anennnt(,l that all cause for the maintenance of an awe d force. to restrain the Indians and seci~rep eace in the Indian coiint~rjn- il1 be at an eml. They will then fall readily wvitliin the jurisdiction of tlie lam, and tlieir future statns as a peaceable arid law-abiding ~eol)lew ill be fixed. After a careful consideration of this important qnestion I hare come to the conc111sion that as fast as tlie Indians are consolidated itpou reservations, as recommended in another part of this report, or in cases where they are nom located on good agricnltnrad lai~dsv, here it is deemetl best that they shoiild remain, the Secretary of the Interior should be anthorieed by a la,w applicable to all the tribes to allot tbe lands in sncl~ reservations among the Indians belonging thereon, in tracts not exceed-ing 160 acres to each heacl of a family, or 80 a,cres to each single person over 21 years of age, and to issue patents thercfor ~vitl~otulite riglit to sell, mortgage, lease, or otherwise alienate the same for the term of t,went,y-ti~,yee ars from the date of the patent, after wldcli time t.he same may be alienated nncler snch rules and reg~lat,ionsa s the Secretary of tlie Interior, for the time being, may see fit to impose; said lan(l8 so patented to be exempt from taxation and from levy or sale under process of any conrt for a like term of years; a11 property acqnired by the Indians, aside from the lands received from the government as above snggested, and the annuity or other tribal funds derived under any treaty with the goveniment, to be subject in all respects to the la\!-s of the State or Territory in which the party may reside. This may be ac-complished by retaining the reservation intact for all purposes con-nected with the title to these lands. Such an act wvoul(1, I a,in satisfied, afford to the Indians the (logree of protection necessary to their oivilieatioii and lead them gradually to a f t~lclo mprehension of the rights, privileges, dnties, and re~ponsibilitieso f American citieenship, which I slrall hope to see accorded to them wlken-ever in tlie future they way become fully competent. A bill embracing the material points above indicated will be prepared for s~~hmissioant tlie coming session of Congress. INDIAN AUXILIARLES. The scattering of seventj--four hdian agencies over a wide extent of territory has apparently necessitate(1 the establishment of a greater |