Wigwam and War-path Or the Royal Chief in Chains Part 65

Great patience may be required in settling the differences that will arise, and I trust that you will, at all times, bear in mind that you are laboring for a race who are docile and reasonable when they are made fully to understand the wherefore, etc., of any proposition.

I regret that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has not furnished this office with more specific instructions in the premises.

This order to make allotment is in antic.i.p.ation of orders from the commissioner, which, I have no doubt, will be forwarded at an early day. At all events, the necessity of immediate action is obvious.

July 20th, Wm. R. Dunbar was instructed to enroll all the Indians of Grand Ronde Agency, including those of Nestucker and Tillamook. Mr. Dunbar reported the enrolment complete, a copy of which you will find in your office.

It is possible that some changes have occurred in the arrangement of families, of which you will take note, and correct the same in making statement of allotment.

You will also be particular to see that the original and present name and tribe, together with s.e.x, estimated age, and relations.h.i.+p to families with whom they are residing at the time of allotment, be identified with the number of the particular tract allotted to such person or family.

In this connection it is necessary, in cases of plurality of wives, that each man shall designate one woman to be his legal wife, and all others to be members of his family, with the privilege of forming other marriage relations, taking with them the lands allotted in their respective names.

Orphan children, who are _attached_ to families, must have the same rights.

It would seem proper that, so far as possible, these people should be allowed to retain their present homes, and to adjust their respective rights among themselves; but it will be necessary, in some cases, to a.s.sume control and adjudicate differences.

Inasmuch as there are several treaties in force with the Grand Ronde Indians, in the complications arising therefrom I would advise that the treaty with Willamette Valley Indians be adopted as the guide, without regard to the other treaties.

Let the allotment be uniform to all persons ent.i.tled to lands, as per instructions of commissioner in reply to queries, and above referred to.

Should any number of your people elect to remove to Nestucker, and there take lands in severalty, it would seem right, perhaps, to do so. Land will be ordered, surveyed at the places above referred to, and possibly also at Salmon river.

I do not know of any other instructions or laws to guide you, except this: In absence of law, do justice fairly and impartially. Law is supposed to be in harmony with justice and common sense; and, if it is not, it is _not good law_.

Fully realizing the difficulties in your way in fulfilling this order, and having confidence in your integrity and ability, I can only say, in conclusion, push this matter through, and furnish this office, at an early day, full report of your doings, together with statistical table of allotments made under the rules and instructions furnished you.

It may be observed, by reading the several treaties, that the amount of land stipulated to be allotted differs somewhat in the amounts specified.

From surveyors' reports, it appears that there is some deficiency of lands suitable for Indian settlement, and since the several tribes are mixed up, and to avoid confusion, I have indicated the treaty with the Indians of the Willamette Valley as the proper one to govern your action.

Now, if the question should be raised by the Umpquas, and they refuse to accept the amount named in the treaty referred to (Willamette Valley), you will propose to the Umpquas to have the excess claimed by them set off to them of timber lots; or otherwise let the whole matter stand for further instructions.

Should the question come up at an early day please notify me, and, if possible, I will in person adjust the matter.

I think, however, that if you make the proposition to the Indians to settle it _before_ allotment, they will agree to the Willamette treaty, and I will arrange for the acknowledgment, on their part, of the fulfilment of treaty on the part of the Government hereafter.

Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, A. B. MEACHAM, _Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon_.

ANNOUNCEMENT.

The undersigned, to whom alone Mr. Meacham has been pleased to give s.p.a.ce for an advertis.e.m.e.nt in "The Wigwam and Warpath," will soon publish a work, whose t.i.tle will be: "THE CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS, IN ITS RELATION TO THE DAY LABORER, THE BUSINESS MAN, THE PROFESSIONAL MAN AND THE SCHOLAR."

The work is designed to furnish a key to success, not alone or chiefly in the art or means of acquiring wealth, but success in a higher and n.o.bler sense, indicating some of the best methods of reaching the intellect and the heart, as well as the purse.

The work is mainly a result of the author's own experiences and struggles--an outgrowth of the practical methods by which he has secured, at least, many of the objects not altogether unworthy of his ambition and hopes.

The unfolding of the grand principles or laws of _Compensation_, even in every-day life, to which the author devotes some s.p.a.ce, will, it is believed, have a tendency to increase the faith, or, at least, quiet the fears, of those who are often crushed by what appears to them the heavy strokes of Providence, or the inevitable fiat of Destiny; but, rightly understood, proves to be the true Magician of Life, which evokes light from shadows, and a calm from storms.

D. L. EMERSON.

BOSTON, July, 1875.