[Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1850, p. 12]

 

            We know but little of the Indians in Utah, beyond the fact that they are generally peaceable in their disposition and easily controlled ; but further and full information as to their peculiar condition and wants may soon be expected from the agent recently sent among them. I therefore refrain for the present from making any recommendation in regard to them, except that our trade and intercourse laws be extended over them.

 

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[From the Report of J. S. Calhoun, Indian Agent at the Santa Fé Agency, New Mexico Territory, in Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1850, p. 99]

 

            Let me remark, that the Pah Utahs, who inhabit the country east of the Sierra Nevada, are Utahs proper ; benumbed by cold, and enfeebled, intellectually and physically, by the food upon which they subsist ; it consisting only of roots, vermin, insects of all kinds, and everything that creeps, crawls, swims, flies, or bounds, they may chance to overtake; and when these resources fail them, and they can find no stranger, they feed upon their own children. Such a people should not be permitted to live within the limits of the United States, and must be elevated in the scale of human existence, or exterminated. These people never approach the confines of civilization, unless they are called upon by their more adventurous and warlike brethren.

 

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[Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1851, p. 10]

 

            Pursuant to the provisions of a late act of Congress, an agent has been appointed for the Indians in Utah; and that full justice should be done to the people of that Territory, and our Indian relations therein he placed upon a proper footing, the discretionary power vested by law in the Department has been exercised by the appointment, also, of two sub-agents for said Indians. A delegation of the Shoshonees, or Snake Indians, a disaffected and mischievous tribe, infesting one of the principal routes of travel to Oregon and California, was conducted by the agent to the Grand Council, recently held at Fort Laramie, with the wild tribes of the prairies. These Indians were not considered by the superintendent as embraced in his instructions, and were, consequently, not parties to the treaty negotiated with the other tribes. The delegation, however, were kindly received, suitable presents were bestowed upon them, and they returned to their people with more friendly feelings towards the Government and the whites. No other information of any importance has been received at this office concerning the Indians in Utah.

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[Letter of J. H. Holeman, from Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1851, pp. 182-84]

 

No. 53.

FORT LARAMIE, September 21, 1851.

Hon. L. LEA, Commissioner Indian Affairs.

            DEAR SIR: In obedience to the orders of your department I proceeded to the Territory of Utah, and reported myself to his excellency, Governor Young, ex officio superintendent of Indian affairs for that Territory, on the 9th day of August.

            On my route to Utah I passed many trains of emigrants, some for Oregon, some for California, but mostly for Utah. I found many of them in great distress, from depredations and robberies committed by the Indians; some were robbed of all their provisions, and even of the clothing on their backs; many had their stock stolen, &c.

            These depredations, so frequently occurring, compelled them to collect together so many teams, in order to have a force sufficient to defend themselves, that they were unable to get grass for their cattle; they could not let them go out of their sight to graze for fear of having them stolen by the Indians, but kept them in corral at night, the Indians being constantly hovering about them. Consequently their teams were daily giving out, and the road was strewn with the dead. Wagons and other property destroyed to the great injury of the emigrants.

            The Indians who reside about and below Fort Laramie were thought to be the principal aggressors; the Crows occasionally.

            The emigrants not being able to distinguish one tribe from another, were equally fearful when they arrived in the territory of the Shoshonees, or Snakes, whose country embraces a portion of Oregon Territory, a portion

UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.         183

of Utah, and a portion of the St. Louis superintendency; they therefore continued their practice of corralling their stock, still apprehending danger.

            The Indians below having been publicly invited to the treaty at Laramie, and, as I understood, would generally attend, I thought it advisable to endeavor to get the Shoshonees to attend also, believing that it would promote the interest of the country and the Indians, and greatly benefit the vast number of emigrants who were daily passing the road.

            I believed, also, that it would not only meet the approbation of the Department, but that it was greatly desired to have them there, as the main route for emigration passed through their country. I was justified in this opinion from a conversation held with you on the subject of the Indians in Utah, in May last, at Washington, in which you expressed the wish that they, or as many of the tribes as could be got, should attend.

            Believing, therefore, that it would be beneficial to the Indians and the country, and believing that it would secure to the emigrants peace and safety in travelling the country; in short, believing it to be my duty, when I reached the country of the Shoshonees I immediately hired an interpreter and guide, collected some of their chiefs and braves, and made arrangements to attend them to the treaty at Laramie. I then hurried to Salt Lake city, and reported to Governor Young the arrangements I had made; it met with his approbation, and he ordered me to fulfil my engagements with the Indians.

            I immediately returned, and met the village assembled on Sweet Water, about fifty miles east of the south pass. On the 21st of August I had a talk with them, which resulted in their selecting sixty of their headmen, fully authorized to act for the whole tribe; we arrived at Laramie on the 1st day of September.

            I regret that Col. Mitchell so construes his powers and instructions as to exclude them from being parties to the treaty, believing that they are not properly in his superintendency, but that they belong to the superintendency of Utah. He has, however, expressed much gratification at their being here, and will give them presents with the rest of the Indians, which will be, I hope, satisfactory to them. They are a tribe who have been uniformly friendly to the whites, and seem to have great confidence in and respect for them.

            I have given you above my reasons for the course I have pursued; I hope they may meet your approbation. Col. Mitchell and Maj. Fitzpatrick will explain to you more fully all matters connected with my operations in this particular. I shall, however, as soon as I return to Salt Lake city, make a report in full, and forward to your department.

            If it can be done, and you should deem it advisable, I would like to have more particular instructions in relation to my duties and powers. I find much excitement among the Indians, in consequence of the whites settling and taking possession of their country, driving off and killing their game, and in some instances driving off the Indians themselves.

            The greatest complaint on this score is against the Mormons; they seem not to be satisfied with taking possession of the valley of the Great Salt lake, but are making arrangements to settle other, and principally the rich, vallies and best lands in the Territory. This creates much dissatisfaction among the Indians; excites them to acts of revenge; they attack emigrants, plunder and commit murder, whenever they find a party weak enough to

184      UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.

enable them to do so; thereby making the innocent suffer for injuries done by others.

            I find, also, another class of individuals—a mixture of all nations—and although less powerful in numbers, equally injurious to the country and the Indians—these are a set of traders, called here "Freemen," who are settled around and among the Indians; some have married among them; all, however, have an influence, which is exerted to serve their particular personal interests. This is operating against the interests of the Indians and the country, and tends greatly to prevent the agents from doing that which is required by the department.

            These scenes are transacted so far from the officers of the law, and by a set of men who are somewhat lawless, that it will require extreme measures and some force to relieve the country of them. With regard to all these matters, I would like to have particular instructions.

            I am of the opinion that it would be greatly beneficial to the interest of the Indians to have an agency established for the Shoshonee tribe, and located on Green river, at or near the ferry or crossing. It is on the main road, and is one of those places where the "Freemen" generally collect in the spring to prey upon the misfortunes and necessities of the emigrants. The Indians are consequently drawn there; and I am informed that they have induced Indians to drive off the stock of emigrants, so as to force them to purchase of the "Freemen" at exorbitant prices; and, after the emigrants have left, make a pretended purchase of the Indians for a mere trifle, and are ready to sell again to the next train that may pass, and who may have been served in the same manner.

            I think that a treaty with the various tribes of Indians in Utah would be productive of much good, if held immediately. It would have the effect of preventing depredations on their lands, quieting their excitement against the whites, and ultimately save the Government from much trouble and expense.

            If the department should agree with me on this subject, and Congress will make provision, I can have them assembled at any point in the Territory, during the next spring and summer.

            It would be of great importance to order a delegation of the principal men, say two or three from each tribe, to visit the States, and Washington city during the session of Congress. They have no idea of the power of the Government; many think that the emigration they see passing and re-passing through their country comprises the principal portion of our population; and like themselves, having killed all the game in our own country, we are travelling in pursuit of a better, and that very soon none will be left behind.

            All these matters I submit to the department, after a very hasty view of the condition and interests of the country, and shall with much pleasure obey any wish or instruction of the department.

                        I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, &c.,

J. H. HOLEMAN.

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[from the Report of Anson Dart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon Territory, in Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1851, pp. 216-217]

 

            The Shoshones or Snakes are a large tribe in the southwestern part of

OREGON SUPERINTENDENCY.   217

Oregon, extending into the Territory of Utah, and are supposed to be a branch of the Camanches, as they are said to speak the same language. It is impossible to ascertain their number at present.