The result of these educated young men did not advance the civilization of their tribe. The fault was not the want of intellect in the young man, but a defect in the application of his talent to some useful purpose, either to himself or his tribe; in this respect the measure adopted for his education was defective. After the result was known, it was at once said-" you cannot civilize the red man." Now, sir, how much better it would have been if these young men had been taught to read, write and cypher, working at the same time on a farm with some good christian white man, or learning some useful trade, so that when they return to their people, here lies a wide field open to them; they could labor on the farm, and thus set an example to their people. So with those who may have learned the mechanic arts, and thus do much good. In a large Indian community, sometimes one white teacher is sent to civilize them; because he does not succeed in five years, it is declared impossible to civilize the Indians, hence the labor is abandoned. I might, sir, go on and state many more particulars and circumstances; what measures have been adopted, apparently proving ineffectual to civilize the red man, and disappointed those who had planned the desirable and praiseworthy object. In my opinion the mission-system among the Senecas of New York has worked the best; and the Senecas are now in a fair way to become eventually civilized. Our missions are supported by the American Board of Missions; the general Government has also done something through this Board, in supporting the common schools among the Senecas-say about one thousand dollars yearly are expended of the civilization fund, for the Senecas, under the direction of the Missionaries. But the best plan is to have Boarding Schools connected with the Missionary Stations, in two departments-one department for the males, and one for the females. The boys, between school hours, to labor on the farm or in the shops, and the girls to learn what the farmers daughters are taught, each to be under the direction of competent teachers, of men and women of good practical christianity, and no catholics. This is by far the best plan for civilizing the red man. Civilization must commence with the young; the preference or advantage should always be given in favor of the girls, because they will soon become mothers, and they will have the care and training of the children, and thereby the advantage gained should not be lost, but step by step be advancing up and up, and over the hill of civilization, until the summit is gined. The effect of this system would be perceptible very soon in the old people. It would have a strong tendency to keep them at home, and would prevent, in a measure, from roving over the lakes, and from creek to creek, or, at all events, they would always be within hailing dis tance. Experience has shown that the payment of annuities to the Indians, with the view of being divided among them, is decidedly injurious in my opinion. It always makes them indolent and lazy-always anticipating it, and will not be satisfied until it is spent yea, half a dozen times over, if they can. Money comes to the Indian like a powerful rain in the summer, in a little while the ground is covered with water, soon as the sun appears again, the rain disappears from the ground. So goes the Indian Annuity, and it does them no good. The annuities should be devoted to the building of school-houses and purchasing farming utensils, for carrying on blacksmith shops, and erecting grist and saw mills, where it is possible, and for building roads and bridges on the Indian Reserves. In short, the money should be devoted to something permanent, and for public improvement, calculated to benefit the Indians; and they should be made to understand that these things are for their good, and must be done; and they must learn to make individual exertions, and not depend any longer on their annuities; and every encouragement should be given in their efforts to alter and better their condition, and that they should be told also that they must depend upon the domestic animals for their meat and clothing, instead of wild animals, as formerly. Their motto is now, "sufficient unto the day," &c. The removal to the West: I consider that proposition is now out of the question. The Six Nations of New York Indians, attempted it in 1846, and proved a failure. I am decidedly of the opinion that the plan is so full of objections, that it shall not again be attempted by the Northern Indians. But the great and principal reason is, that the Indians there would be in no better condition. They would then be under a Territorial jurisdiction, and therefore better remain where they are, under the protection of a noble and generous State. And there is, and always are, many associations connected with the earlier history of the State, which calls forth noble and generous feelings on the part of her public men towards the remnants of the red men, who possessed and occupied the lands of the State before them. The future prospect of the red man of this country Ishall not speculate upon at this time; but when there is only here and there bright and cheering prospects for the red man, to the philanthropist. But the idea of reclaiming and preserving them into civilized communities, should not be given up, but it should be persevered in to the end, and only when the great and benevolent work is aocomplished, and not before, by adopting judicious and well digested plans for their civilization. I would suggest here, which is, in my opinion, to be very important, and which statesmen should never lose sight of: in planning systems for civilizing or ameliorating the red man, that is, he must change his superstitious notions which he calls religion. Barbarism and his religion co-operate with each other in resisting the approaches of civilization, and it is stationary. And if he is ever civilized, he has got to adopt christianity, that great principle, the greatest civilizer of man-and which co-operates and goes hand in hand with the modern civilization. The greatest hindrance why the red man hesitates to adopt the habits and customs of the whites-because he thinks it will interfere with his religion, and rejects all improvements as a matter of conscience. But this the benevolent white man must overcome by kindness, on the principle, that sometimes there is more Gospel in a loaf of bread than half a dozen sermons. As I have remarked before that I do not know the main purpose of this inquiry; but, gentlemen, I hope it is for the purpose of elicting facts and views from various individuals to enable you to devise some plan to submit to your House to enable them to make laws ameliorating, or calculated to aid in ameliorating the condition of the red man within the borders of the State of Michigan. If this is the case, I pray that you may be able to make such laws as shall prove a great and lasting benefit to the red man, and an honor to the committee who proposed, and the State benefactor to the poor sons of the American forest. The State of Michigan, I have noticed, has passed many salutary laws for the good of mankind. It has manifested much solicitude for the rights of man everywhere, and the greatest and crowning act to her honor is the passage of the prohibitory law against the use of intoxicating drinks. And if now it takes up the case of the red man, I trust it will prove equally as successful as it has proved in her other laws for the good of mankind. I regret very much that my time is so limited as not to be able to review the whole policy heretofore adopted to civilize the native inhabitants of this country in a more detailed manner. There are other considerations in my judgment than those assigned in this communication, which have retarded the progress of civilization, but it would require some space and time to prepare it; but most of which however arises from political considerations, and the form and manner of holding property. Indians are like'other men, and are influenced by the same motives, such as "honor, trust and profit." As they become more and more civilized, these motives will naturally and rapidly appear, and therefore no impediment should ever be thrown in their way to the final attainment of these objects, by a law of the State. If there are such laws in existence, they should be repealed; because if you make him feel that he is inferior, and therefore ought not to be placed upon a par with all the nations under heaven, as to rights and privileges, I confess in that case it is hardly worth while to talk about civilizing the red man. It is a mockery, and nothing else. But let a law be passed that shall be for the benefit of the red man, and a living monument to the glory and honor of the State of Michigan in having honestly and faithfully made efforts to save and redeem the red man from the extinction which awaits him, in his barbarous condition. Mr. Gilbert, Indian Agent, forwarded us the following letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs: HON. GEO. W. MANYPENNY, WASHINGTON, March 4th, 1854. Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington: SIR—I have noticed with much pleasure the recommendations contained in your last Annual Report, relative to the Indians of Michigan, and agree entirely with the remark that "the dictates of humanity and good policy alike require the early and effective interposition of the Government in respect to them." 1 I beg leave on this subject to submit to you the accompanying statements, and my own views of the policy that should be adopted by the Government in any attempt to permanently benefit this remnant of the race. The Indians of Michigan are principally of the Chippewa tribe. There are also remaining small remnants of the Ottawas and Pottowatamies. Their business with the Government is mainly based upon the stipulations of the treaty of Washington, of March 28th, 1836, annexed abstract No. 7. The annuities due by this treaty will expire with two more payments in 1855. The only remaining claims of the Indians under it, with the General Government, will then be, 9 1st. For amount withheld and invested in stocks in accordance with the provisions of article 4, to which interest should be added, $20,000. 2d. For this sum due by amendment of the Senate to article 4, for surrendering reservations, $200,000. 3d. A reasonable commutation for lands to which they would have been entitled west of the Mississippi, had they removed thither, and in estimating this item the expense of removal and of subsistence, all which has been saved to the Government, should be taken into account. All other treaty stipulations for the benefit of the Michigan Indians are permanent, and under them small annuities have been paid for many years. They are as follows: To the Ottawas under the provisions of 4 treaties, a per manent annuity of, $1,700 00 To the Pottowatamies of Huron, a permanent annuity of, 400 00 1,587 50 |