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Show 14 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIA^ AFFAI~S. '. , . expire, and the office of Superintendent of Indian Trade, with the $yetem ' of Government trading houses, was abolished. Correspondence with Indians prohibited.LRy an act of January 17, . 1800 (2 Stats., G), correspondence with the Indians to prodnceiufraotion of treaties or disturb the peace of thcUnited States, and correspond-ence with foreign powers in relation to Indians, was prohibited under heavy penalties. Issuing rations and defraying expense of Indians visiting Oovernment.- By act of May 13,1800 @Did., 85), the President was authorized to Issue such rations to Iudians visitiog the military posts on the frontier, or within their respective nations, as he should judge proper, and as could be spared from the army provisions without injury to Lhe service; also, to defray expenses of such Indians as might from time to time ' ., visit the seat of Government, and durirlg their stay to give them such presents as he might think best. Except the act last above referred to, all important laws relating to Indian affairs that were passed by Congress prior to March 30, 1802, ' , were of a temporary character, and except where they were s~rperseded before the time fixed for their expiration, they all expired by limitation Agents appointed to promote civilization.-At that date a permanent act was approved (2 Stat*., 139) making provision for ascertaining and marking the treaty bonudaries of lauds of various tribes, for the pro-tection of those litnds fromtrespass and settlement by the whites, for contirlning the sgstem of licelisetl traders, and authorizing the Presi-dent, 'd in order to promote civili.zatiou among the friendly Indian tribes, and to secure the cootinuance of their friendship," to expend annually asnm not exceeding $15,000 in ft~ruishingth em with usefi~ld omestic animals, iniplemnnts of husbandry, good8 aud money, llnd in appoint-ing persons from time to time as temporary agents to reside among them. Annuities under treaties.-Contem~~ora~eouslyw ith the legislation . above rrferred to, treaties were entered into with many of the tribes, by which they ceded lands lo the -Uuited States and acknowledged them~rlves to be uuder the protection of the United States, and of no other sovereig~l whatsoever,"* and the United States on its part agreed to protect them in all their rights, under their several treaties,' as well as to give them aciiinally, for a period, certain supplies, goods, ' and nrolleys. These a.nnuities were paid by the War Department, which had charge of all Iildian afaiirs (see act of August 7, 1789, 1 Stats., 49), through the agents or factors appointed under t,he act of April 18,1796, and the *Sea treaties 1~1thth e Cherokees, 17-5, 1791, 1792, 1794, and 1798, 7 Scats., l8,39, 42,4Y, and ($2; mith the Chickaaaws, 1766: and 1801, ibid., 24 and 65 ; with the Chip-pewa and ot,har tribes, 178% 1789, and 1794ibid.,l6,2.(,&nd45; with the Choot?wa, 1786 and lW:,ibid., Dl an11 66:: with theCreeks.1790 and 1796, &bZd.,35 and 56; Dela-warasx~ d other tribes 171(5, l7d9, $bid., 16, 28, snd with the Shawnees, 1766, ZMd., 26. |