[No. 18.] INDIAN AGENCY, Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 1, 1849. SIR: I am this moment in receipt of your communications of the 13th and 16th of July last-the first instructing in reference to a census of Indian tribes, and the latter enclosing a blank bond; both of which shall receive my earliest possible attention. This is sent to Las Vegas, with the hope of there overtaking the mail that left here on yesterday morning. In great haste, your obedient servant, ORLANDO BROWN, Esq., J. S. CALHOUN, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington city, D. C. [No. 19.] SANTA FE, New Mexico, November 1, 1849. SIR: Not until last evening was I aware of the existence of execu tive document No. 60, ordered to be published on the 28th of April, 1848; otherwise the labor of preparing my communication of the 25th of Septem. ber last would have been saved, and you the trouble of its receipt. At the time the document was ordered to be printed, I was in Cuerna vaca, Mexico, to which fact I attribute my ignorance of the publication. In addition to which, the secretary of state for this Territory could give me no information as to the transmission of copies of the papers to Washington city-such as I forwarded to you. With great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. T. EwING, Secretary of Interior, Washington city. J. S. CALHOUN. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, April 11, 1849. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith a commission constituting you sub-Indian agent on the Rio Gila, in New Mexico, to include the In. dians at or in the vicinity of that place, and any others that may hereafter be designated by this department. Your compensation will be at the rate of $750 per annum, to be in full for all pay and emoluments whatever. You will execute a bond, in the penal sum of $2,000, with two or more sureties, whose sufficiency must be certified by a United States district judge or district attorney. So little is known here of the condition and situation of the Indians in that region, that no specific instructions relative to them can be given at present; and the department relies on you to furnish it with such statistical and other information as will give a just understanding of every particular relating to them, embracing the names of the tribes; their locations; the probable extent of territory owned or claimed by each respectively; the tenure by which they claim it; their manners and habits; disposition and feelings towards the United States and whites generally, and towards each other; whether hostile or otherwise; whether the tribes speak different languages, and, when different, the apparent analogies between them; and also what laws and regulations for their government are necessary; and how far the law regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes (a copy of which I enclose) will, if extended to that country, properly apply to the Indians there, and to the trade and intercourse with them; and what modification, if any, will be required to produce the greatest degree of efficiency. You are authorized to employ one or more interpreters-not exceeding more than one at the same time, unless otherwise absolutely necessary to aid you in the discharge of your duties-whose compensation, if employed by the year, will be at the rate of $300 per annum. It is very desirable that the greatest economy shall be observed; and it is therefore hoped that the employment of one permanent interpreter will be sufficient, and that the services of any others will be but temporary, and for as short periods as possible, consistent with a proper discharge of your duties. You will report direct to this office, and will lose no opportunity of doing so, as it is extremely desirable that the department be kept well advised of the state of affairs in that region. In consequence of the remote position of your sub-agency, the Secretary of the Interior has directed that one year's salary be advanced to you, and the same to your interpreter, together with funds for other objects, which you will find explained as follows. These funds will be remitted, to be paid over to you, as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made: One year's salary for self...... One year's salary for interpreter. Pay of interpreters temporarily employed.. $750 300 100 $1,200 2,350 You are authorized to purchase two horses-one for yourself and one for your interpreter-which you will be held accountable for as public property. In making presents to Indians, you will be as economical as possible, and confine yourself to such cases only as will effect some important object. It is supposed that there are captives, or prisoners, either Mexican or American, among some of the Indians of California or New Mexico. If you should find such to be the case among the Indians of your subagency, you will demand, and endeavor to procure, their release and surrender, whether American or Mexican; but it must, if possible, be done without any compensation whatever, as to make compensation would but encourage a continuance of the practice of making captives. And any demand must be made under circumstances not calculated to produce mischief or hostile feelings on the part of the Indians. I enclose blank forms to guide you in rendering your accounts, which must be done quarter-yearly, or as nearly so as possible. In rendering your accounts, you will account for the money placed in your hands under the following heads of appropriation, viz: JOHN C. HAYS, Esq., Care of Harvey T. Hays, Esq., New Orleans. P. S. I enclose copy of the late treaty with Mexico, and also copies of the reports of Messrs. Fremont, Emory, Abert, and Cook. I also enclose a copy of a report from his Excellency Governor Bent, which you will find to contain much useful information in relation to the Indians in New Mexico. W. M. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, April 17, 1849. SIR: You were apprized, in your instructions of the 11th instant, that arrangements would be made for the transmission of the funds for your sub-agency; but, finding it impracticable to adopt any better course, the Secretary of the Interior has directed that you be authorized to draw for the amount allowed for the year's expenses, in conformity with your instructions. To preserve uniformity, I annex the form of the draft to be used by you: (Place and date.) two thousand SIR: At sight, please pay to the order of three hundred and fifty dollars, value received, and charge the same to account of the expenses of my sub-agency on the Rio Gila, New Mexico. Very respectfully, WM. MEDILL, Esq., J. C. H., Sub-agent. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington city, D. C. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN C. HAYS, Esq., WM. MEDILL, Commissioner. Care of Harvey T. Hays, Esq., New Orleans, La. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, June 5, 1849. SIR: I have had the honor to receive your favor of the 17th April, and an now prepared to embark for my destination on the Rio Gila, to enter upon the duties assigned me under your instructions, and shall leave here to-morrow, intending to reach my post with the least practicable delay. I have made much inquiry respecting the Indians with whom my duties will associate me, and have been able, I think, to procure much valuable information, and would report now what I considered most important for your information, but, fearing I might mislead the department, I have concluded to defer even facts, of which I myself am satisfied, until confirmed by personal observation and knowledge. I shall, however, lose no time after my arrival to be correctly informed of all that should be known, and take at once such measures as humanity should always dictate in our delicate relations to the Indians, with a steady eye to their civilization and the best interests of the government. And you may rest assured of being constantly advised of all matters of interest; and my best efforts shall be dedicated to promote the wishes of the govern ment. I cannot doubt that this agency must be one of the most important in dr country, and I would respectfully suggest the propriety of an increased owance for the expenses of the agency. Its very remote position, and the enormous expense necessarily attending it, must be apparent to you as far above that of any other at present established in the United States; and my Own outfit has already far exceeded the allowance your instructions have established; and I do most respectfully urge your favorable consideration of this matter. Immediately on my arrival, I shall report in detail, and constantly after keep you advised of everything of interest to the department, and hope to reach my point towards the end of July; sooner, if practicable. I shall hope, from time to time, to receive additional instructions from you by such conveyance as may offer; and will also thank you to forward to me such documents as will keep me constantly informed of the wishes of the government on all Indian matters, and very particularly such as may relate to my agency. I have, in conformity to your instructions, drawn on you this day, in favor of Major L. G. Capers, for the sum of $2,350, (two thousand three hundred and fifty dollars,) which will be presented in due course. With high considerations of respect and regard, I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WM. MEDILL, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, JOHN C. HAYS, Sub-Indian Agent, River Gila. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. SAN ANTONIO, June 8, 1949. DEAR SIR: Enclosed you have an official bond, duly approved, together with oath of office. The blank bond enclosed to me from the department was signed and forwarded to Galveston, about ten days ago, for approval by Judge Watrous, but unfortunately was lost on the route. Not having retained a copy of the bond, I do not know the precise form, nor have I been able to procure the form of a bond at this place. I presume, however, that the accompanying bond is sufficient. But if it should not be, I leave a power of attorney authorizing Franklin S. Paschal, of this place, to execute in my name a more formal bond, if it should be deemed necessary by the department, as I shall leave here in a day or two for the Gila. The great distance of the district judge and district attorney, both residing at Galveston, two hundred and fifty miles from this place, and no great facilities of intercommunication, has produced more delay in this matter than was desirable. The last bond was intrusted to the private hands of a person of known responsibility, (Doctor Thomas F. Foster, of Louisville, Kentucky,) and he informs me that there is no prospect of its recovery. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. THOMAS EWING. JOHN C. HAYS. GALVESTON, TEXAS, July 7, 1849. SIR: At the request of George W. Paschal, to whom the enclosed bond was sent by the obligor, I have examined and formally approved said bond. The letter, also enclosed, from Colonel Hays, will give an explanation of the transaction, which may or may not be satisfactory. I am well aware that the act of Congress requires a bond from a sub-agent in the sum of one thousand dollars; the fact that the bond enclosed is for two thousand dollars, I presume, will not render it illegal. I find no act of Congress or rule of your department, or of any other, requiring either the district judge or attorney to approve such bonds. But as a bond has to be executed, I have given it an approval. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Hon. THOMAS EWING, Secretary of the Interior. ROBERT HUGHES. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, July 26, 1849. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 8th June last, and to inform you that your official bond as Indian sub-agent, received therewith, has been submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, and by him approved. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. JOHN C. HAYS, ORLANDO BROWN, Commissioner. Indian Sub agent, River Gila, New Mexico, Care of Harvey T. Hays, Esq., New Orleans, La. |