In conclusion, we respectfully recommend a further exertion to secure treaties with more remote tribes who have not been reached by us, but, in our judgment, may, in the same way, be brought into amicable relations, and occasional communication with the officers of the government, and their ultimate friendship secured. Hoping that our efforts may furnish information of some value to your department, and aid in securing peace and better relations between the Indians and whites who occupy the region of the Upper Missouri, we respectfully submit this as our final report and conclusion of our services as commissioners for making treaties with Indian tribes. NEWTON EDMUNDS, S. R. CURTIS, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, YANKTON, D. T., SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge herewith the receipt of your favor of the 13th instant, in the closing paragraph of which you take occasion to invite the undersigned to furnish your office with information in relation to Indian matters in this superintendency for your annual report of this year. In compliance with the above request, and with the view of contributing by every means in my power to perpetuate the peaceful and friendly relations now existing throughout this superintendency, I beg leave to submit the following, believing them to be the most important considerations to be offered for perpetuating and cementing the friendly relations existing at the present time between the Indians of this superintendency and the people of the United States. As an evidence of the good faith of the Indians and their fidelity thus far to their treaty obligations, I beg leave to state that of the large number of persons (miners) who have passed down the Missouri river within the past two months, hundreds of them in open boats and in small parties of from two to twenty persons, in no case have these parties been interfered with, though passing for upwards of 2,000 miles through an Indian country, where only at intervals of from 250 to 600 miles is to be found a military post to which such parties could apply for protection, it being well understood by all the Indians along this river that these miners carry large sums of money. A strict and rigid enforcement of the laws of Congress and the regulations of the department in the Indian country in all cases is not only requisite but necessary to the successful management of Indian matters and the perpetuity of peace. In ali cases of failure to comply with such laws and regulations on the part of persons in the Indian country, such persons should be removed by the military authorities at once, thus giving the Indians ocular evidence of the determination of the government to protect them in every particular. Second. It is equally important that the new treaties made with the various tribes in this superintendency should be adhered to in every particular. Great discretion should be exercised, not only in the purchase of the goods, buying only such as are useful and will be of service and benefit to them, but the distribution should be regularly and promptly made, and in such manner as fully to satisfy the Indians that they get all that they are justly entitled to receive by the provisions of their respective treaties. These treaties having been made in open council and participated in and approved by a large majority of each tribe or band, after full explanations had been made to them by the commission on the part of the government, the great mass of the Indians thoroughly understand all the provisions made for their benetit, and I am fully of the opinion that all that is necessary to have the great mass of the Indians adhere to and abide by the stipulations therein is to have them fully convinced that they are receiving from the government all they are justly entitled to by the provisions of the new treaties. To this end too much pains cannot well be taken in guarding and making the distribution of annuities under these treaties. I therefore hope to see some plan adopted that will perfectly protect the Indians in this particular. Third. A reasonable amount of stock, agricultural implements, and seeds should be supplied by the government to the various tribes desiring to adopt an agricultural life, and, by way of encouragement in this direction, I would therefore recommend that the Lower Brule, Two Kettles, Lower Yanktonais, Arickarees, Gros Ventres, and Mandans, each be furnished, next spring, with a supply of these articles sufficient to test their sincerity in this respect. would also recommend that a farmer be allowed the above tribes at Crow Creek agency, Fort Berthold, whose duty it shall be to take care of this kind of property, and teach the Indians how to use it in the cultivation of the soil. I Fourth. I would recommend a thorough investigation into the conduct and management of all the Indian agencies at least twice in each year, by some person or persons, either from your office or, at least, entirely disconnected with the service in the district of country to be investigated. Such persons should be fully empowered to correct any abuses which may have crept into the service from any cause during the intervals of such visits. At such semi-annual investigations it would be well, in my opinion, to call upon the Indians at the various points visited to state their grievances, in case any such had arisen, in open council, and at the same time they could present to the special agent or visitor the views and wishes of their respective tribes; and should they on such occasions advocate a change of policy on any material point, they should be allowed to give their reasons therefor. They would be brought in this way, in a very short time, to realize the deep interest the government takes in their welfare and improvement in civilization. I feel confident that a rigid enforcement of the laws of Congress in the Indian country, strict and impartial justice in all cases of difficulty arising between Indians and white men, and a full, regular, and prompt compliance with the treaties recently made with these Indians on the part of the government, are all that is required to cause the great mass of them to adhere rigidly to their new treaty obligations and perpetuate the peace now so happily existing throughout our extended frontier settle ments. To reclaim and civilize them is a work of time. It cannot be effectually done in one year or two, even. It is the work of a generation, perhaps of generations. Patience, kindness, justice, truthfulness-indeed, I believe all the cardinal virtues-must be brought into play and constantly exercised toward them, and with perseverance for a series of years, it will be found that not an impression has been made, but that a gradual improvement is being made upon them in the right direction. That they are susceptible of improvement and civilization I have no doubt; but the fact should not be lost sight of that the Indians of the Territory are all what are termed (and justly so) wild Indians, and have been for many generations, with strong prejudices and natural inclinations to continue their present mode of life. They are satisfied with it, and nearly all believe it the only true and independent way to live. To reclaim them, their prejudices and inclinations have got to be undermined, and to do this they must be convinced of the superiority and benefits of a more civilized mode of life. One lecture or one speech will not accomplish this end. It is a work of example, often repeated, attended by a liberal and generous supply of patience and perseverance, with constant kindness and courtesy in all cases, accompanied with strict and exact justice, so frequently repeated and persisted in as to convince the benighted and savage mind of the supe riority of our ways over theirs, and cause them to adopt our mode of life in preference to theirs for its intrinsic merits, and the additional comforts and conveniences obtained thereby, of which fact they will have become fully convinced, under the proposed course of treatment, in due time. The above are deemed by the undersigned as of the first importance in relation to the general policy to be adopted as applicable to all the tribes in this superintendency. I have deemed it better, for the present, to confine myself to general rather than to specific subjects, awaiting future developments and the action of the President and Senate in such of the new treaties as have not yet been ratified, to indicate to the department a more specific and definite policy. There are, however, two tribes in this superintendency (Poncas and Yankton Sioux) who have for a number of years been settled upon reservations adjacent to the white settlements, have generally taken the first step towards improvement and civilization, and it is is believed they are now prepared to make another advance, and to whom it is believed to be proper at this time to offer encouragement for a second step by the organization of some plan for the improvement of the benighted and savage mind." To this end I would recommend the early opening of a school at each of their agencies, under the auspices of some benevolent religious association, who will look upon it not only as a duty, but a pleasure, to labor in such a cause, and who will (if necessary) willingly contribute pecuniary aid in furtherance of this object. I believe a reasonable amount of religious zeal is not only requisite, but necessary, to supply the requisite amount of patience and perseverance to secure the end sought, in trying to educate and civilize these people. In relation to the course to be pursued in furtherance of this object, I beg leave to state that I am clearly of opinion that a plan that will separate the pupil from the parent I believe the one the most likely to be attended with satisfactory results. Should this plan be adopted, in order to secure the number of pupils desired at the opening of such schools, I would call the whole tribe together, and after fully explaining to them all the objects and benefits of an education, I would ask them to designate from their number the persons they desired to have educated. First, I would invite parents to lead forward the child they desired to place in school. If, after this, enough had not been obtained, the chiefs and soldiers of each band should be called upon to make up the number. Second, the children shall be taken charge of by the teachers and matrons of the school, should be clothed, lodged, fed, educated, and kept at the school, under the surveillance of the teacher or matron at all times. I can but think that the influence of the twenty-five to fifty young men and women who will leave such schools after the first two or three years, who have learned how to live, how to manage and transact their business, how to take care of and make themselves comfortable, will be more salutary and beneficial to their respective tribes, and contribute far more to their amelioration than can be done in any other way by an equal expenditure of money. But slight impression can be made on the adults. Their habits are so fixed and firmly estab lished by example, inclination, and education that but little impression can be made upon their minds. Indeed, I am inclined to think this fact sufficiently demonstrated in all history of this people already found in your department, and consequently needs no argument to prove it from me at this time. This fact being admitted, the question naturally arises where we are to begin, in order to educate this people with a view to their civilization? The above fact in relation to the adults being admitted, we have no difficulty in answering the query, to wit, with the children. We commence our efforts on their children for the following reasons: First. For the reason that they are more tractable and susceptible of the kind of impression we design to make on their minds. Second. They have not arrived at an age in life when their notions of the future have become so fixed in their minds as to make it difficult, if not impossible, to change them. Third. They have not, for the reason that they are children, acquired those habits of indolence and carelessness in relation to the future which renders it difficult, and in a majority of cases almost impossible, to induce their parents or the adults of a tribe to change their mode of life. Fourth. They are, as a general thing, tractable and bright in intellect, and, away from their parents, easily influenced by persons enjoying their respect and confidence, and having been trained to habits of industry for a few years and become accustomed to the comforts of a civilized home, which they will have at a school of this kind, it is fair to presume that they will seek to induce their parents and friends to adopt a mode of life, bringing to their homes such comforts as they have learned while at school to appreciate and enjoy. SPECIAL CASES. PONCAS. Since my acquaintance with this tribe, for a period of upwards of five years, they have remained faithful to their treaty obligations in every particular, under circumstances at times that would have palliated, if not excused, a hostile attitude on their part. The unprovoked and fiendish attack made by a party of drunken United States soldiers in the fall of 1863 upon a small number of this tribe, while making their way to their reservation and home from a friendly visit to a neighboring tribe, the Omahas. by which seven of them lost their lives and considerable property, would have been considered, in a civilized community, as a sufficient cause for retaliating upon their murderers or their relatives, especially if no effort was made to indemnify the sufferers, by the government who had permitted its soldiers to perpetrate such wrongs. These outrages were at that time proven and the proof and accompanying report forwarded to your office, and are now matters of record there, and the supplemental treaty made with this tribe in March, 1865, extending their reservation down the Niobrara to the Missouri river and agreeing to pay them the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, was for the purpose of indemnifying this tribe for the losses they then sustained and some others not now in my recol lection. The ratification of this supplemental treaty is not only a matter of grave and vital importance to this tribe, but one that should be consummated in strict justice, and as a reward for their fidelity to their treaty obligations and their forbearance under such strong provocation. With this proposed addition to their old reservation, this tribe will, in a very short time, become not only self-supporting but good and industrious citizens. This tribe has raised a good crop of corn this year. YANKTONS. In some The prospects of this tribe, so far as food is concerned, are very flattering, comparing the present with the past two or three years. They have raised a good crop of corn and have an abundance of bread for all the tribe if properly cared for and saved for winter use. other respects they are no better off than heretofore. I am sorry to say I see no signs of improvement over previous management, so far as the conduct of their business is concerned. The interest of these Indians seems the last interest consulted in all cases, and this is only done, if at all, when all other interests are not only satisfied but fully satiated. In this respect I regard the prospects of this tribe as most unfortunate, and that some of the most intelligent of them feel this to be true I have every reason to believe. Their shops, instead of being used to promote and add to the comfort and convenience of the Indians, are first used for the accommodation and convenience of white people, who are either but temporary residents from pecuniary interests, or only passing through the reservation on business of their own. This is especially true of the blacksmith shop. The time of the smith, which is paid by the government out of their funds, and their tools, iron and coal, are not only used in this way, but Indian work is often laid aside or wholly neglected for the accommodation of this class of customers. The time of their farmer, who is in receipt of a liberal salary from the government and Indians, is largely devoted and consumed in attending to the business of the sutler store, though long since the agent was specifically instructed not to permit a continuance of these abuses. These matters are often made subjects of serious complaint by Indians, not only in private conversation but also in general councils, and the Indians are daily becoming louder and bolder on this subject on all occasions when they have any idea that a reiteration of these complaints are likely to be beneficial to them, but they say, and apparently with justice, that they see no way of remedying these evils and obtaining justice so long as they are permitted to exist. They also fear that in seeking to remedy them they will lose all, and so, for the sake of the small benefits they now receive at the hands of the government, dealt out to them, as it is, by orders on the traders' store to a very great extent, they keep quiet, hoping, almost against hope, that at some future time a remedy will be provided by the government, and they enabled to get justice done them at its hands. It is much more in accordance with my feelings, and a far more agreeable duty, to be able to commend a public officer for fidelity in the discharge of his official duties and good management than to feel obliged, from a sense of duty, thus to criticize his acts, and I should refrain from doing so at this time but for the fact of a knowledge of the deep interest you have taken in this agency, and the earnest efforts you have repeatedly made to correct its mismanagements in these particulars, indeed, any others to which your attention may have been called, and the additional fact that your efforts, I know, have been promptly seconded by this office in all cases. I simply, in this case, state facts to leave to your department the application of the proper remedy. The wrongs and deceptions practiced upon the Indians in the State of Minnesota for a series of years caused the Indian outbreak and massacre in that State in 1862, by which 800 persons lost their lives, and the government was involved in a protracted Indian war, lasting nearly four years and costing many millions of dollars, and we have no reason to suppose that a repetition of these wrongs in the management of Indian matters will not at some future time lead to similar results in this Territory. It was the wish and endeavor of the northwestern Indian peace commission, of which I was a member, to correct these abuses as far as possible, and to that end every opportunity was given to the Indians to speak freely of them in council, and every possible pains was taken to satisfy the Indians that they should be corrected, and that, in future, strict justice and fair dealing should be meted out to them in all cases. This course is as applicable to the settled tribes with whom that commission did not treat as to those with whom they treated. CROW CREEK AGENCY. I have as yet seen no reason to change or amend the recommendations made by the northwestern Indian peace commission in relation to this agency. I am clearly of the opinion that the department will consult its true interest by retaining this location for an Indian agency and seeking by every fair and honorable means to induce the Brulés, Two Kettles. and Lower Yanktonais to adopt it as their future home. ARICKAREES, GROS VENTRES AND MANDANS. These confederate tribes, which hereafter may justly be regarded and treated as one, are well satisfied with their present location, Fort Berthold, and they should, in my opinion, be regarded now as a settled tribe. They number about 2,500 people, are frugal and industrious, and are, in my opinion, reliable friends of the government. I would recommend that they be provided with a resident agent, a farmer, and also with a few yoke of working oxen, some ploughs, and a reasonable amount of hoes, axes and seed; also a few cows for their use, by way of encouraging them in their efforts to cultivate the soil. ASSINABOINES. Little, if anything, can be done with this wild and roving tribe to induce them to change their mode of life at present. A just and equitable distribution of the annuities to this tribe, regularly made in such manner and under such regulations as to cause them to know and feel that they are receiving all that is their due, will cause them to remain quiet and friendly to the government and people in the future. CROWS AND GROS VENTRES OF THE PRAIRIE. These tribes expressed a wish to settle at the same point on the left bank of the Missouri river, immediately above the mouth of Milk river, in Montana Territory I did not see this country, but from all that I could learn of it I think it as suitable for them as any place they could now be induced to select. In case the treaties with these tribes are approved and ratified, I would recommend that they be allowed an agent, and that agency buildings be provided for them at the point selected by them for a home. They will do little or nothing at present in the way of cultivating the soil. SIOUX OF THE MISSISSIPPI, OR SANTEES. With that portion of this tribe living for the past two years in the vicinity of Fort Wadsworth, numbering about two hundred lodges, I would recommend that a treaty be made at an early day, embracing the general provisions submitted to their representatives last summer by the peace commission while at Fort Rice, which was entirely satisfactory to a large majority of them at that time, and would have been signed but for the efforts of J. R. Brown, esq., who has resided among them for some years, who was not suited with it for some reason, doubtless best known to himself, but which we (the commissioners) thought was only for the reason that it (the treaty) did not provide liberally for himself and family, and place him and his partisans in a position to control this tribe and its interests in the future; a scheme which we, as commissioners, did not think it wise or best to recommend. In case these people are allowed to remain in the vicinity of their present location, and a treaty so made with them with that view, I do not think it would be difficult to induce that portion of them still regarded as hostile to make peace and return to their allegiance to the government. Should this be accomplished in a reasonable time, I would recommend that the whole tribe be once more got together, believing that it would be true economy to do so, and greatly to their advantage. In conclusion, which also concludes my official connexion with your office, I desire to thank you for the uniform courtesy I bave received at your hands, and at the same time bear testimony to your carnest and constant efforts (so far as I have been able to judge) to discharge the duties of your office with strict fidelity and justice to all parties. 1 am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. D. N. COOLEY, NEWTON EDMUNDS, General and ex-officio Superintendent Indian Affairs. Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. No. 66. THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION, May 23, 1866. On motion of Mr. Windom, the following was adopted: Resolved. That the Secretary of the Interior be directed to examine into, and inform the House as soon as practicable, how much money has heretofore been appropriated for the erection of school-houses and the maintenance of schools at the different Indian agencies within the Dakota Indian superintendency, and the manner in which the same has been expended, together with the present condition of said agencies, and the manner in which the business of said superintendency and agencies has been conducted. Attest: EDWARD MCPHERSON, Clerk. No. 67. WASHINGTON, D. C., July 16, 1866. SIR: In compliance with your instructions, under date of 9th ultimo, I left Washington on the evening of the 10th to visit the Dakota superintendency and make the investigation and report upon the conduct of Indian affairs there, which was required by the instructions above referred to, and by House resolution of May 23, 1866. Having taken such testimony as the limited time and the surrounding circumstances would permit, I have the honor to submit the same, with the following report. I desire to premise that, in making the investigation, I confined myself to persons against whom there was evil speaking by the people of the Territory, and to transactions in regard to which I could obtain competent testimony. If no evil is spoken of a superintendent or Indian agent in Dakota by the people, his conduct must have been circumspect; and if hearsay evidence could be taken, many volumes might be filled with a report upon Indian affairs in that superintendency. THE SUPERINTENDENCY PROPER. Hon. Newton Edmunds, governor and ex officio superintendent Indian affairs, was absent on duty as one of the peace commissioners to the tribes on the Upper Missouri, and I did not, therefore, have a fair opportunity to examine into the conduct of Indian affairs in the supre |