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trary to the wishes of the person or persons assuming to act as their attorneys, and in despite of such influences as they could bring to bear against it; and yet these individuals have had the assurance and hardihood to go into the country of these poor, deluded, unlettered Indians, and surreptitiously obtain from them the papers marked L, M, and N, (appendix,) for the purpose of filching from them the sum of $168,331 67, of which $80,895 33 to be for the payment of an unjust and unfounded claim for services in procuring the additional allowance which was voluntarily made to them through the instrumentality of the department and the Senate; and $87,436 34 for various other claims against them, which, in view of the settled policy of the government, it is not in the slightest degree bound to recognize or respect, and which possibly are entitled to as little consideration on the score of justice as the other demand. These sums, too, are sought to be obtained from the amount allowed by the supplemental agreement with these Indians, which, as already stated, is otherwise sacredly pledged, and which cannot be diverted without a violation of plighted faith and justice. I cannot forbear expressing the hope that all persons having any agency in the administration of Indian affairs, whether connected with the executive or legislative departments of the government, now or hereafter, will resolutely set their faces against and frown down all attempts to secure the allowance or payment of such unauthorized and improper demands against the Indians.

For his culpable disregard of the policy of the department, and his duty towards the Indians, in having anything to do with these proceedings, the sub-agent who certified and authenticated one of the papers last referred to has been summarily dismissed from office.

The instruments marked M and N in the schedule are in the handwriting of one of the individuals whose name is attached to the contingent contract (H) with the late sub-agent; and the interpreters and other persons who attest the execution of M are to receive of the funds pretended to be assigned and appropriated by the Indians, by virtue of the same, to themselves and their assigns, the sum of $28,311 95, they being, without exception, interested parties.

This transaction among the Menomonees has not been referred to as an isolated case, but as a sample of a class, and illustrative of the outrageous and iniquitous attempts of unscrupulous white men to enrich themselves out of the funds of the Indians. The pecuniary losses to the latter comprise only a minor portion of the injurious concomitants

and results of such attempts. The Indians-particularly the chiefs and leading men-are frequently bribed, and otherwise corrupted and demoralized, in order to obtain their assent to being defrauded, while the agents and others connected with the Indian service, do not always escape the prevailing contamination. Among the Menomonees the fatal tendency and effect of such occurrences may be seen in the intemperate and demoralized habits and condition of Osh-kosh, principal chief, and many others of the tribe.

But the evil is a general and growing one; formidable in its combinations and alarming in its results, and therefore requiring the speedy application of the most radical and effectual remedy. All executory contracts, of every kind and description, made by Indian tribes or bands with claim agents, attorneys, traders or other persons, should be declared by law null and void, and an agent, interpreter, or other person, employed in or in any way connected with the Indian service, guilty of participation in transactions of the kind referred to, should be instantly dismissed and expelled from the Indian country; and all such attempts to injure and defraud the Indians, by whomsoever made or participated in should be penal offences, punishable by fine and imprisonment. We have now penal laws to protect the Indians in the secure and unmolested possession of their lands, and also from demoralization by the introduction of liquor into their country, and the obligation is equally strong to protect them in a similar manner from the wrongs and injuries of such attempts to obtain possession of their funds.

In this connexion I deem it appropriate to respectfully remark, that where, as is sometimes the case, laws are passed providing for the payment of large sums of money for alleged obligations arising in this branch of the public service, without the department having an opportunity of examining into or passing upon the accounts and other evidences of such claims, the effect is to deprive it of that salutary control over the important interests committed to its charge which is so necessary to a successful administration of its affairs; and it cannot and should not, in such cases, be held responsible for the consequences.

In carrying out all the plans heretofore devised for ameliorating the condition of the aborigines of our continent, difficulties have arisen and obstacles presented themselves on every side; and it seems impossible now to devise any means for attaining these desirable ends, by which all difficulties could be obviated and all obstacles avoided.

But partial success has attended the labors of the benevo

lent; and the efforts of the department when most faithfully directed have not unfrequently proved a positive injury. Adverse elements have always been at work to thwart the wishes of the government and counteract the labors of the philanthropist; and these have unfortunately been but too often successful. Our former policy, and the inveterate determination of the Indian to resist domestication, have combined to place him in a situation where the lawless and unprincipled could always have access to him; and such persons have, through all periods of our history, availed themselves of every opportunity to advise the ignorant and unlettered child of the forest against his best interests, and have but too successfully instilled into his mind prejudices against those who were laboring for his good.

Thus have the merciless and heartless followed in his path; flattered his vanity, corrupted his morals, impressed upon and confirmed him in the belief that labor and the arts of peace are degrading, and his submission to them. offensive to the Great Spirit; and directed and controlled his action and made him the victim of their avarice.

Such influences are believed to be as formidable, and more unscrupulous now than at any former period of our history; and when we add to them the train of ever-recurring and never-ending difficulties that beset the path of the weaker in the battle of life with the stronger race, we perceive in the present condition of the red man, and the dangers that encompass him, additional motives to call into active exercise in his behalf all the energies of the benevolent and good of the land.

As a Christian government and people, our obligations and duties are of the highest and holiest character, and we are accountable to the Maker of all men for the manner in which we discharge them. Having faithfully employed all the means placed within our reach to improve the Indian race, and preserve it from extinction, we can, with a good conscience and strong faith, leave the issue in the hands of our common Father.

Respectfully submitted:

GEO. W. MANY PENNY,
Commissioner.

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IX. THE PENSION OFFICE.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.

PENSION OFFICE,
October 10, 1854.

SIR: In pursuing the business of this bureau since my last annual report, the division into classes therein indicated has been observed. The result of our operations in applications relating to pensions, during the year ending June 30, 1854, and in applications relating to bounty lands, ending September 30, 1854, is as follows:

I.-REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS.

There has been no adjudication of cases under the act of March 18, 1818. The whole number of pensioners under this act now upon the list is 175. The semi-annual payments during the year have been made to 206 pensioners.

There have been six cases admitted under the act of May 15, 1828, in which the annual allowances amounted to $656. The arrearages due upon these claims, and paid during the year, amount to the sum of $6,228. The number of pensioners now upon the list, under this act, is eighteen. The number paid during the year is twenty-six.

One hundred and seven original applications have been admitted under the act of June 7, 1832. The annual stipend of all these applications was $8,602 73. Fifty-four applications have been increased under this act; the annual increase of all being $3,205 75. The arrearages due upon these several applications, and paid during the year, amount to the sum of $90,356 56. The number of pensioners now upon the list under this act, is 876. The number paid during the year is 847.

Two applications have been increased under the act of July 5, 1832; and the arrearages, amounting to the sum of $297 46, have been paid. There are no pensioners under this act now upon the list. The persons who rendered the service which entitled them to the provisions of this act are all deceased,

and the applications that now remain unsatisfied are presented and prosecuted by their legal representatives. It is believed that most of the real claims under this act have been adjudicated; yet inquiries are often made in relation to applications on file, and the suspended applications, numbering about one hundred, are the subject of frequent and often laborious examinations.

Fifty-seven original applications have been allowed under the third section of the act of July 4, 1836. The annual pay in these applications was $6,284 97. Twenty-five applications under this section have been increased, amounting to the sum of $2,504 05 annually. The arrearages under this section found due and paid, during the year, amount to the sum of $71,304 45. The number of pensioners now upon the list, under this section, is two hundred and eightyeight.

One hundred and sixty-nine original applications have been admitted under the act of July 7, 1838. The annual pay was $12,598 44. Thirty-four applications have been increased, amounting to the sum of $2,337 35 annually. Under the acts of March 3, 1843, and June 17, 1844, which are a continuation of the act of July 7, 1838, one hundred and fifty-seven applications have been admitted, at the annual sum of $10,618 44; and thirty-one applications have been increased the sum of $1,662 29 annually. Under the act of February 2, 1848, one hundred and sixty-five applications have been admitted at the annual sum of $9,172 37; and forty-four applications have been increased the sum of $1,353 53 annually. Under the act of July 29, 1848, and the resolution of July 1, 1848, one hundred and ten applications have been admitted at the annual sum of $6,897 40. The arrearages of pension found due in the applications under the five last named acts, and which have been paid during the year, amount to the sum of $178,040 57. As the acts of July 7, 1838, March 3, 1843, and June 17, 1844, give a pension for a limited number of years, which have already expired, the payments under them are now made to each recipient at one time; consequently, there are no pensioners. now on the list under these several acts.

The acts of February 2, 1848, and July 29, 1848, continue the pensions during widowhood. The whole number of pensioners under these two acts upon the list is three thousand three hundred and seventy-five. The number paid during the year is three thousand one hundred and twenty

Two thousand and forty applications have been admitted

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