Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1874 — The Indian Question. [ARTICLE]

The Indian Question.

....WASBixoToxyNbvr27. The following are the main points of the annual report of the Secretary of the Interior to the President on the Indian Question. The report bears date Oct. 31, 1874: “The operations of the Indian Bureau during the past year are highly gratifying. They furnish conclusive evidence of the justice, wisdom and practicability of the policy inaugurated by the present Administration. The success of this policy is no longer a problem. If steadily pursued, we shall soon see all roving frihes located upon reservations. We may reasonably expect occasional dis.turbances in the future caused by individuals, or by disorderly bodies of Indians, but with a judicious and efficient execution of the .present igode of treatment it is not believed that we shall see another general, or even serious, Indian war.

The present -method of dealing with the Indian race aims to induce, and when necessary to compel, the roaming tribes to accept reservations as rapidly as possible. On such reservations they are instructed in agriculture and iu otherpursuits incident to civilization, and with the aid of our Christian organizations their intellectual, moral and religious culture is advanced as rapidly as practicatdo. When ,n tribe refuses to accept a reservation, and continues to violate the laws of civilization, it is treated with all needful severity, arid thus made to appreciate the advantages of accepting the kiHd aud humane treatment which? the Government surely extends to such as are disposed to peace. By the judicious exercise of power and persuasion it is the aim of the Government to deal kindly and justly with this unfortunate race, and to make them appreciate, as speedily as possible, the real motives and purposes of the Government. The execution of this policy is necessarily attended with difficulties which cannot at once be entirely overcome. I am happy iu being able to say that the earnest, active and cordial co-operation of several Christian organizations to which the right of nominating agents has been assigned, and upon whose nominations alone such agents are appointed, is constantly improving this class of employes, and thus we are, each year, to some extent, advancing the service bv obtaining agents more experienced and intelligent, and of greater capacity for their secular as well as their moral and religious work.

liie Indian population of the L'nited States, since the first occupation of our territory by white men, has been compelled to recede as the white population has advanced. The natural result has been the creation of a feeling among Indians that they have suffered great injustice at our hands. They have strong local attachments, and adhere with tenacity to the home of their fathers. They once occupied without dispute vast regions of Country which have been wrested from them. Under no circumstances cau it be supposed that they will accept the complete, change in their modes of life and iu their management by tha Government which is now being effected without complaint and resistance,

which may occasionally require the employ, ment of farce; nor can it be supposed that time is not required for the accomplishment of such change, j To aid iu prosecuting the work of Indian civilization I recommend the extension of the Homestead laws to Indians, with certain modifications hereafter to be more fuDy stated. These laws at present apply to citizens of the United States only, and their provisions cannot be enjoyed except by that small portion of the Indian race who are legally entitled to the privilege# of citizenship.

The department has arrived at the conclusion that when an Indian tribe is dissolved and its tribal relations ended, with the consent of the United States, either by treaty or legislative enactment, the members of such tribe become ipso facto citizens of the United States, and entitled to all the privileges and immunities belonging to other citizens. The department lias also decided that an Indian cannot voluntarily dissolve his relation with his tribe, and thereby become a citizen of the United States; that before citizenship can be created the tribal rejation must be dissolved by the tribe as a trilee, and that, too, with the consent .of the General Government, as shown by treaty or act of Congress. Reviewing these opinions, I feel assured of their correctness. It was, in my judgment, inconsistent with sound law, as well as with public policy, to permit an individual Indian, by voluntarily withdrawing from his tribe, to become a citizen without sumo act of the Government recognizing his citizenship. Under these Circumstanced, and in view ot the importance of this subject, I deem it ■proper to invite the attention of Congress to - the recommendation of the Commissioner of the General Land Office in favor of legislation in behalf #f Indians who desire to withdraw from their former associations, become citizens of the United States, and avail themselves of the benefit of the Homestead laws. An extension to the Indians of the benefits of the Homestead laws, under the safeguards mentioned, and 6ueh others as the wisdom of Congress may suggest, will greatly facilitate the work of their civilization. Tlie time has arrived when some general ( law regulating Indian citizenship is," in my judgment, indispensable. Occasionally treaty stipulations with Indian tribes are expiring, among -whom is found a greater or less degree of civilization. This compels the department to determine the status of sueli Indians in regard to citizenship. There are also many who desire to separate from their tribes, adopt the habits and customs of civilized life, and beco'me citizens.

THE BLACK HILLS. The military Tecounoissance of the. Black Hills country was regarded by the Indians as a violation of their "treaty, and produced a turbulent feeling among them. Its objects* however, were peacefully accomplished. Extravagant statements concerning the mineral wealth of the country created great excitement among the people, and exploring parties were organized for the purpose of prospecting the country. Subsequent information establishes the fact that no evidence of valuable mineral deposits was furnished, and that the lands in that region are undesirable tor cultivation and settlement by white men. Notwithstanding this, organized parties have attempted to explore it, and have been attacked and repulsed by the Indians. It is apprehended that efforts will be made to induce legislation for the extinguishment ol the Indian title to the Black Hills country and to bring the land into market. It is hoped that such efforts will be without success, because of the general unfitness of the country for settlement, and because any attempt to dispossess the Indians at present of a region of country upon which they located for security against the encroachments of .lie white man would meet with violent and determined resistances — ’ —“What!” exclaimed Mrs.. Tones when her son John asked permission to join a club—“ What, you become a club man!! No, John, emphatically no; I’ve set up too many nights for your father, and now thatehe is bedridden I am having some rest!” . —The amount of lumber now in stock in Chicago is t 0,000,000 feet iu excess of the stock held there at the corresponding period last ye^r —a sufficient quantity to meet all the demands of next year, unless there should be an unlooked-for extensive revival of business.