made for them AT ONCE, the Indians will have to spend another year in idleness and poverty.

We therefore respectfully solicit an early and favorable consideration of this petition.

BENJAMIN HALLOWELL,

DILLWYN PARRISH,

JOHN SAUNDERS,

SAMUEL TOWNSEND.

WASHINGTON, Third Month, 14th, 1870.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

The Indian Problem in the Northern Superintendency. The present status of the Indian question in the Northern Superintendency, invites to a deliberate examination of the whole subject, in order that, by seeing the present condition of things, and what is needed to be done, a working plan may be devised by which the benevolent and philanthropic objects of the National Administration, for the elevation, civilization, and enlightenment of these people may be successfully and economically effected.

A Superintendent and six Agents, members of the Society of Friends, entered upon their respective duties in this Superintendency during last 5th and 6th Months (May and June, 1869.)

About the middle of 7th Month (July,) consequently

soon after these duties were commenced, a delegation of the Friends made a visit to all the Agencies, occupying them more than a month, in Nebraska, to take a close view of the initial condition of these objects of our benevolence and labor, and see how the philanthropic designs of the Administration can be most efficiently carried out.

These wards of the Government were found in a very depressed and degraded condition-as a general thing, poor, hungry, idle from want of means and inducements to labor; destitute of suitable clothing; complaining of unfulfilled treaty stipulations; living in lodges with several families in a single apartment, thus excluding that healthful privacy which decency and virtue require; the lodges dark, unventilated, often filthy; and, as a consequence of this condition, sickness extensively abounding, especially among the children,-scrofulous gatherings and ulcers, sore eyes, debility, and consumption.

This sad spectacle made our hearts ache in tender sympathy with these neglected and suffering fellowcreatures; and would have discouraged us from further proceeding, had not a careful examination of the causes convinced us that the present condition of these Indians was their misfortune, not their fault, and that it is entirely practicable to lead them into habits of industry, to instruct them in learning, to teach them to

be agriculturalists, mechanics, and operatives generally; to enable them to be self-sustaining, and to raise them to any plane of civilization and enlightenment that may be proposed for them.

The mode proposed for accomplishing this most desirable result was stated in the Report made by the Delegation, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and published in his Report for 1869, page 119.

Now, with the means at their disposal, the present Superintendent and Agents cannot change, to much extent, the existing condition of things. Hence the important practical question arises, is the National Government willing and prepared to enter upon this long-neglected work of philanthropy and justice? If so, the Friends are willing to render every aid in their power.

The plan, in order to be successfully carried into effect, must necessarily involve a considerable moneyed expenditure, as well as much anxious and arduous labor, but we believe it will ultimately tend to great economy in the Indian affairs.

The allotments of their farms in severalty is completed on the Omaha Reservation, nearly so on that of the Winnebagoes, and is considerably advanced on the Santee Sioux Reservation.

On the six Reservations in the Northern Superintendency, there are reckoned to be about 1613 fami

lies; and it is estimated that the money-aid required for settling each family upon their allotment, in building a house, procuring a cooking-stove, fencing and breaking ground, seed potatoes and wheat, cow and other stock to commence with-will be about $300; making the amount for the 1613 families, $483,900. This is exclusive of school-houses, some additional teams, farming implements, and tools.

On the other hand, the Winnebagoes have a just claim against the Government [see Commissioner's Report for 1867 in relation to the Winnebago Indians], amounting, as they represent, to $200,000; and most of the tribes, perhaps all, hold more land than they need, some of which may in a short time be sold to advantage, and the proceeds of the sale applied to liquidate in part the advances made for them in the expenses of settlement.

Inasmuch as the whole of the improvements we contemplate cannot be made in one year, we have petitioned for the sum of $140,000 to be divided among the six Agencies, as shown in the accompanying petition.

Although the indicated expense and labor seem great for so comparatively small a number of Indians, yet two considerations will tend to show that the sum proposed is not beyond what strict justice to these people and the future improvement of their race will warrant.

1st. That it is an accumulation of indebtedness for some sixty-five years, these Indians being in decidedly a worse condition now than they were when Lewis and Clarke held a council with some of these same tribes on behalf of the United States Government in 1804, promised them its friendship, and sought amicable relations with them. From that period they may be regarded as having been the wards of the Government, and the neglect of them has not cancelled the debt, which should now be paid in full, so as to make amends, as far as practicable, for previous delay.

2d. When these Indians become civilized and enlightened, as we believe upon the plan proposed they will, in a comparatively few years, they may be made powerful auxiliaries in aid of the civilization and enlightenment of the tribes beyond them, so that instead of the few persons now engaged in the work, the numbers will be augmented year by year in the benevolent and elevating engagement of drawing their red brethren into habits of industry, self-reliance, and support, the recognition of their individual manhood and social and family rights, civilization, enlightenment, and ultimately citizenship, with peace and love, and their multiplied blessings.

Signed on behalf of the Convention,

BENJAMIN HALLOWELL,

Secretary.