Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1873.djvu/5

Forestry

Washington, D. C., October 31, 1873.


 * I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this Department during the past year, together with such suggestions as my experience has convinced me will promote the efficiency of the Public service:

INDIANS.

The situation in the Indian service may be regarded as favorable and as a vindication of the propriety and practicability of the humane policy which was inaugurated at the beginning of your first presidential term, and which has governed the Department in the transaction of all business matters pertaining to the conduct of Indian affairs. That policy has for its main object and aim the restraint and elevation of the wild tribes of the frontier through firm but kind treatment. That progress has been made in the establishment of that policy, and in an improvement of the condition of Indians reached by it, is shown by the increased interest in educational matters, a growing willingness on the part of the Indians to engage in industrial pursuits, a desire for the division of lands, and an increase of stock and farm products.

In preliminary to the annual exhibit of the affairs of the Indian service, so far as the control of the Department is concerned, and especially in view of certain occurrences of the past year in that service, and the very general discussion of the character and scope of the Indian policy, I deem it proper to indicate at this time more in detail what that policy was originally intended to accomplish, and the appliances through which it was sought to work.

The so-called peace policy sought, first, to place the Indians upon reservations as rapidly as possible, Where they could be provided for in such manner as the dictates of humanity and Christian civilization require. Being thus placed upon reservations, they will be removed from such contiguity to our frontier settlements as otherwise will lead, necessarily, to frequent outrages, wrongs, and disturbances of public peace.