THE INDIANS.

[From the New York Tribune.]

THE INDIAN COMMISSIONERS.

Annual Meeting—Missionary Co-operation—Interview with the President.

The Board of Indian Commissioners met in this city January 10th, to receive the annual reports of the several religious bodies to which, under the policy adopted by President Grant some years ago, the selection of agents and other field employés of the Indian service has been confided, and to make up their own annual report. Representatives from the Presbyterian Foreign and Domestic Missionary Boards, the Baptist Home Mission Society, the several Yearly Meetings of Friends, the American Board, the American Missionary Association, and the Unitarian Association, were present. A report was received from the Episcopal Board. The Methodist and Roman Catholic Boards sent no reports, and several of the smaller denominations having agents also failed to present a statement of their work.

These annual conferences of the Board of Commissioners and the representatives of the different religious denominations, unofficial as they are, have been of great benefit to the official administration of Indian affairs, and, at some critical periods, have helped to save the peace policy from disaster. The Conference this year has been unusually interesting, in view of the disposition lately manifested to transfer the control of Indian affairs to the War Department, and of a new class of questions respecting the Indians themselves, which assume practical importance in view of their rapid progress toward civilization.

It appears that the religious sentiment of the country, as represented by those who control and direct its efforts to civilize and Christianize the Indians, is unanimously opposed to a change in the present general policy toward the Indian, in the mode of its administration; and many weighty facts and reasons are brought to the support of this opposition. The new questions brought into view, affecting the Indians themselves, are specified in the following address to the Board of Indian Commissioners, adopted by the representatives of the religious societies, and presented this morning:

“This Convention would respectfully express its deep interest in certain recommendations, in relation to the welfare of the Indians, which received the approval of similar conventions held in former years, but which have not yet gained their rightful place in the action of the Government. Among these are:

“First—The extension of law over all the Indians, so as to provide for the safety of property and of human life.

“Second—Legal provision for the common-school education of Indian children by the General Government, until such education shall be provided by the several States in which they reside.

“Third—Definite regulations to secure to Indians the possession of land in fee and in severalty in all practicable cases by titles properly guarded.

“The Convention regards these three things as of the greatest importance, indeed, as essential to the civilization of the Indians, and as calling for the action of Congress without longer delay. Further, the Convention would express grave doubts as to the wisdom of removing Indian tribes to the Indian Territory, or to larger reservations, in cases in which the Indians are in a good measure prepared to abandon their tribal relationship, and to enter on civilized life. They should, at the least, have the option of remaining where they are subject to the conditions of citizenship, before they are compelled to remove to distant places, at the great hardship and suffering, and loss of health and life, which such enforced removal always involves. At the same time, this Convention is deeply impressed with the importance of all wise measures that look to early self-support of the Indians as citizens of our common country.

“The Convention would close this address with thanks to Almighty God for the progress that has been made under the humane policy of the last few years, and for the evident advance of many of the Indians in civilization and the knowledge of the Christian religion.”

It is understood that the Board of Commissioners will appoint a committee to carry out these views as far as possible, by securing necessary legislation by Congress.

The following day the Convention, accompanied by the Board of Commissioners, called on President Hayes by appointment. They were presented to the President by General Clinton B. Fisk; and the Rev. Drs. Lowrie, Clark, Strieby and Cutting, and Mr. Tatham, presented their views briefly. Dr. Clark submitted a paper showing the progress made under the present policy since 1868, claiming that it was greater than that made in the fifteen years that preceded its adoption. The President responded briefly, expressing his hearty sympathy with all efforts to civilize and Christianize the Indians, and his gratification at the progress that has been made, and indicated practical methods to secure the additional legislation desired. He did not seem to share the apprehensions of his visitors respecting the early transfer of the management of Indian affairs to the War Department. Mrs. Hayes, General Cox, former Secretary of the Interior under President Grant when the Peace Policy was adopted, and the Hon. Henry S. Lane, of Indiana, a member of the Board of Indian Commissioners when it was first constituted, were attentive and interested listeners, and took an active part in the pleasant informal conversation that ensued. Following are some of the items of Dr. Clark’s statement:

1868. 1877.

Houses occupied by Indians 7,476 22,199

Number of Indian schools 111 330

Number of teachers 134 437

Scholars 4,713 11,515

Acres of land cultivated by Indians 54,207 292,550

Bushels wheat raised 126,117 688,278

Bushels corn raised 467,363 4,656,952

Bushels oats and barley raised 43,976 349,247

Bushels vegetables raised 236,926 556,975

Tons of hay 16,216 148,473

Horses and mules owned by Indians 43,960 216,286

Cattle owned by Indians 42,874 217,883

Swine owned by Indians 29,890 121,358

Sheep owned by Indians 2,683 587,444

In addition to these comparisons are the following figures:

Number of Indians in U. S. about 278,000

Wear citizens’ dress 112,903

Houses built last year 1,103

Money expended for education $337,379

Indians who can read 40,397

Learned to read last year 1,206

Church buildings on reservations 207

Indians, Church members, about 28,000

Male Indians engaged in labor 34,632

(Five tribes in the Indian Territory are not included in these figures.)