OCR Text |
Show Notwithstanding peace exists between the whites and the Indians, and at present among the Indians so far as we know, still I wish to call your attention to the heavy expense on small settlements, to maintain the preventive, concilliations and fatherly policy towards the poor, ignorant natives so widely adopted by our government, and So uniformly carried out in my official acts, and by the inhabitants of this Territory. Wherever small settlements are made the Indians gather round them in greater or less numbers, and are constantly importuning for clothing, provisions, arms and ammunition, even when their demands, usually exorbitant - from contrasting their known poverty and wants with the fancied wealth and comforts of the whites, are not complied with, they indulge angry feelings, and often practice stealing horses, cattle, clothing, &c, causing much loss of property and requiring great forbearance. It is no matter of surprise that such recurrences happen, when it is understood that this territory is poorly supplied with fish and game, that the Indian is raised to a roaming and indolent life, and to consider thieving as an honorable and praiseworthy avocation. Under a cautious and prudent policy, a certain number of guns, and powder and lead sufficient for reasonable hunting purposes should doubtless be allowed them, and it has been a difficult and delicate matter to withhold as they have so long been accustomed to recieve such articles from traders in the country before our arrival. I do not deem it necessary to incur the risk of being prolix by particularizing or moralizing minutely on this subject, as it so fully accords with every previous experience, who is in the least |