in the matter. As soon as we can find the right man, you may expect to hear from us again on the subject.

Our friends do not design to restrict their inquiries to members of the Presbyterian denomination. This you will understand as an evidence of the kind of feeling with which this service is regarded by the board.

Yours, very truly,

Mr. VINCENT COLYER, Secretary, &c.

JOHN C. LOWRIE, Secretary.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 23, 1870.

DEAR SIR: Yours of June 8 and yesterday are before me, and I am glad to learn that your board will take care of the Navajoes. I hope they will go a little further and include the Moqui, Pueblas, Pimas, and Maricopas, of Arizona, who live just beyond the Navajoes, in the same direction. They are an agricultural people, docile, and much more manageable than the Navajoes.

The President has decided to place all the other Indian reservations under the care of Christian bodies, and the new appointments will be made some time during the early part of next month-July.

Faithfully yours,

Rev. JOHN C. LOWRIE, D. D., Secretary, &c.

VINCENT COLYER, Secretary.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 23, 1870. DEAR SIR: The honorable Secretary of the Interior suggested that I should write to you concerning the direction which the management of Indian affairs is now about to take.

Last year you will probably have noticed that a portion of the Indian reservations (the Northern and Central superintendencies, in Eastern Kansas) were placed under the care of the Society of Friends, while all the remainder, and by far the larger portion, were placed under the care of officers of the Army detailed from the War Department. Congress having passed a law that "Army officers cannot hold civil positions, the President has decided to invite the coöperation of other religious bodies beside the Quakers to take charge of these reservations, and to nominate such persons as they can recommend as agents in the place of the Army officers, and to add that, inasmuch as the Secretary of the Interior, General Cox, is now at Cambridge, Massachusetts, making a visit of a few days to Ex-Attorney General Hoar, if you could drop him a line, he would probably call upon you, or you might call upon the Secretary at Mr. Hoar's. He has the matter very much at heart, and would be glad to see you. The new appointments will be made soon after the 1st of July. With high regard, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, VINCENT COLYER, Secretary.

Rev. S. B. TREAT,

Secretary American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,

*

Boston, Massachusetts.

*

I inclose a brief synopsis of the present condition of the Indian tribes, which may interest you. V. C.

WASHINGTON, June 25, 1870.

SIR: Some time since I spoke to you about your society's enlarging its work among the Indians. I hardly thought at that time that the work would be so suddenly precipitated upon us, as it now has been. The President has had, up to this time, two lines of policy in his treatment of the Indians-the Quaker and Army officer, antagonistic the one with the other. I have contended against the Army's supervision, as simply policing the Indians, not reclaiming or civilizing them.

Congress has taken our view of the business and retired the Army officers. Now come in the politicians to resume sway; but we beg the administration not to give it to them, but to call in more Christian denominations like the Quaker, and the President agrees. So we now have the whole of the Indian tribes in the hands of the Christian churches. Will they take hold? that is the question. The Presbyterians say yes; they will assume charge of a reservation designated by us to them--the Navajoes and Moquis, in New Mexico and Arizona. They will nominate an agent, (not necessarily a Presbyterian, Rev. Mr. Lowrie says,) who will take entire control of the tribe, the annuities, goods, schools, churches, &c., as Bishop Whipple has done in Minnesota, and as the English churches have done in Canada and British Columbia. The Roman Catholics will take hold with eagerness. The Baptists have the subject under gravest consideration, and so also have the Methodists; these latter have said that they will take care of two reservations. Now, what will you say?

I have written hurriedly to Rev. Dr. Tyng, and he may introduce the subject to you. I think it a glorious opportunity for doing a great work for our dear Redeemer. Whoever comes to the poor Indian with goods and food and protection, to him will he turn and listen; and the gospel that first heals his bodily infirmities he will think most resembles the character of Jesus of Nazareth, as he reads or hears of it in Scripture.

I trust that you will bring this subject to the prayerful consideration of your society, remembering that here is not a body of poor paupers, who are to be thrown on your charity unprovided for, and who will only be a heavy burden, but that here are poor people who come to you with means and power placed at your command to provide for and protect them with.

I inclose you a brief abstract of the tribes of the United States, and have to add that the salary of an agent is $1,500, and that of a general superintendent $2,000 per annum. The new appointments must be made early next month, when the Army officers retire, so that our prayers, consultations, and action must be prompt, or the golden moment will pass out of our reach.

Sincerely your friend, &c.,

Rev. Mr. ANTHON,

VINCENT COLYER, Secretary.

Secretary, &c., Am. Ch. (Episcopal) Missionary Society.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 24, 1870.

DEAR DOCTOR: For nearly a year past I have been earnestly striving to have the care of the Indians of our country taken out of the hands of the politicians and the Army, and placed under the care of Christian churches, and at last the President, under God, has consented to the change. Congress having forbidden officers of the Army to hold civil positions, fifty and more vacate the offices of Indian agents, and their places in the early part of next month, must be supplied by other persons. The President says that if Christian denominations will take charge of other Indian reservations as the Friends have done in the two superintendencies in Kansas and Nebraska, he will gladly appoint such persons, clergymen or laymen, as they may nominate.

I have already written to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, of which Rev. John C. Lowrie is secretary, and under the guidance of Mr. William E. Dodge and Howard Crosby, D. D., they will take charge of the Navajo reservation in New Mexico and other tribes thereabouts. Now I write you to know if the American Church Missionary Society will not come forward, and, looking over the field in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Nebraska, select a field and tribes, and assume at once the responsibility and nominate suitable men to the honorable Secretary of the Interior as agents. The salary is small, only $1,500 for agents and $2,000 for general superintendents, except in California, where it is more. The amount of goods and money they have to handle in some cases is considerable, so that honest men are essential.

It is the first time in many years that our churches have had so large an opportunity for usefulness, and I trust that the project will appear to you favorably, and that you will use your influence to aid us promptly.

The honorable Secretary of the Interior wishes me to write this letter and will indorse all I say, and cordially cooperate with your society in every practicable way. I write in haste per mail.

Yours, truly,

Rev. STEPHEN H. TYNG, D. D.,

New York, Chairman Ex. Com. Am. Ch. Miss. Society.

VINCENT COLYER.

IRVINGTON ON HUDSON, July 6, 1870. MY DEAR FRIEND: Your letter of June 24 should have been promptly answered if I had possessed the means to answer it. But my own incoherent affairs have so much occupied and harassed me that my attention has been much absorbed, and the midsummer takes all our gentlemen away, so that it is impossible to obtain a meeting adequate to consider so responsible and important a proposal as you have made. For myself I should intensely delight in adopting such a proposal. But in the extremely low state of the Church Missionary Society, and of the interest which it represents in the Episcopal Church, I hardly dare to indulge the hope that they could fulfill the engagement if it were made. I have been to the office for the purpose, but have as yet not succeeded in seeing any of our committee. The opening is a grand and providen tial one. My heart leaps to embrace it. But I am personally crippled in everything. I have not been permitted to bring the influence and wealth of St. George's to the point I have desired, nor near the stand and action which becomes them in the position which they hold. My own resources in my own missionary fields are extremely hindered and limited. How great is the grief of seeing such opportunities for usefulness in the Saviour's cause with no power to grasp and enjoy them! It is one of my constant griefs.

My own age forbids the personal effort which I once could make, and I am obliged to witness for our negligent churches fields of unspeakable usefulness unoccupied and passed by. I will do my utmost in this matter. But we must have more time than you specify.

Yours, affectionately and faithfully, Hon. V. COLYER.

STEPHEN H. TYNG.

MISSION ROOMS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
805 Broadway, New York, June 25, 1870.

DEAR SIR: We, the secretaries of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, took an early opportunity to report to our proper committee the substance and many of the particulars of the conversation we had with you in our office a day or two ago touching the President's Indian policy. The committee was so impressed by its wisdom and utility that they communicated informally to our board of managers yesterday their convictions. A free and full conversation ensued among the members of the board, which resulted in the unanimous adoption of the following resolutions, viz: 1. Resolved, That we, the board of managers of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, do heartily approve of the Indian policy of the President of the United States as indicated by Mr. Vincent Colyer, and that we will coöperate with him in the same.

2. Resolved, In pursuance of the preceding resolution, we name to Mr. Colyer, to be suggested to the President, the following gentlemen, viz: Richard Smith, for Michigan; Rev. James H. Wilbur, for Oregon and Washington Territory.

In coming to these resolutions there was a universal agreement in the declaration that we did not intend or desire to assume any of the responsibilities of any Indian agent, but to informally name through you to the President such person or persons as, in our judgment, would be faithful agents, and be agreeable to the Indians and to all moral and religious societies engaged in prosecuting moral and religious operations among them.

You will perceive that we name two gentlemen: one for Michigan, and one for Washington Territory and Oregon. We name them from the personal knowledge we have of them as persons who have large experience in Indian affairs, and of unblemished reputation. We name the territories in which we suggest that these gentlemen shall be employed as agents severally, because the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church has for many years carried on large and expensive missions in those fields. Should there arise occasion we shall be pleased to learn what action is taken by you, if any there be.

Very truly, yours,

VINCENT COLYER, Esq.,

J. P. DURBIN, Corresponding Secretary.

Washington, D. C.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 25, 1870.

DEAR SIR: The Christian denominations are responding cheerfully to our proposals to them to take hold of the Indian work; but they all foresee a difficulty in the fact that the offices of general superintendent of those western reservations will still be left in the hands of the political governors of the Territories, which will embarrass their work greatly. Some years ago Congress relieved the governors of several of these Territories of this part of their duty; and I think you were present when Governor McCook, of Colorado, and one other, expressed a wish to be relieved from this duty. In talking with Senator Morrill, of Maine, to-day, he seemed to think the committee of conference of the two Houses on the Indian appropriation bill would agree to report a bill chang.ing this, if you approved of it. He took hold of it at once. I think this an important movement in the line of our new Indian policy, and beg of you a prompt reply by telegraph, on Monday, as the committee hope to meet Monday evening. By prompt action we shall gain a year, and, avoiding protracted discussion, enter on our work harmoniously at once.

Truly, yours,

Hon. J. D. Cox,

Secretary of the Interior, Cambridge, Mass.,

S. Ex. 39-7

VINCENT COLYER.

APPENDIX 25.

INITIAL LETTER DIVIDING THE INDIAN AGENCIES AMONG THE CHRISTIAN SOCIETIES.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 11, 1870. SIR: Agreeably to your suggestion of yesterday I have made a rapid sketch of localities where the various Christian denominations of our country may most naturally follow up their work, in most instances already commenced, on behalf of the Indians. First in order come the Quakers, the Orthodox branch of which society are already established in Kansas and the Western Indian Territory.

Going south, next in order come the Baptists in Cherokee country, side by side with the Presbyterians, or rather the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, of which Rev. Mr. Treat, of Boston, is secretary. These two societies have had the larger part of the mission work to do in the eastern side of the Indian Territory among the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and others, and although other societies are working efficiently there, the prominence of these two societies ought to give them the choice of agent or general superintendent.

Crossing the northern plains of Texas you meet the Wichitas, Kiowas, Comanches, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and the Apaches. These are now in the care of the orthodox Quakers.

Next across in New Mexico, which is more directly reached by way of Kansas Pacific Railroad, you have first the Utes near Maxwell's at the base of the Rattoon Mountains. These you can assign to the American Missionary Society, Rev. Mr. Whipple, secretary; and you can continue their mission field down into Southern New Mexico and Arizona, giving them a portion of the Pueblo villages, on the Rio Grande, and the Apaches of New Mexico and Southeastern Arizona. Other Pueblo villages on the Rio Grande are claimed by the Roman Catholics, and as they have missions there these can be assigned to them. Passing westward you come to the Navajoes, Moquis, Pimas, and these, together with the Utes on the San Juan River, ought to be assigned to the Presbyterian Board, which already has missions there, and they are alone in that field. The secretary is Rev. Mr. Lowrie, 20 Centre street, New York.

At present the basis of supplies in that direction ceases with the Moquis, and the tribes and people in Western Arizona are supplied via San Francisco. The tribes in Western Arizona are assigned to the Reformed Church, of which Rev. Mr. Ferris is secretary, office corner of Vesey and Church street, New York; this society formerly known as the "Dutch" Reformed Church.

As these tribes will hereafter be supplied via Union Pacific Railroad and Salt Lake, I have continued (on the map) their missionwork up among the tribes in Salt Lake Valley to the railroad.

As the Roman Catholics already have missions among the Indians on and near Puget Sound, and General Parker says also among the Nez Perces and at the head of the Missouri River, and the Powder River Sioux, I have marked these reservations down to that Church.

Coming down the Missouri, the great reservation of the Blackfeet, Assinaboines, Piegans, &c., has been placed at the disposal of the Methodists, of which Rev. Dr. J. S. Durbin and Dr. Harris are secretaries, 805 Broadway.

Continuing down the Missouri, you next come to the Episcopal and American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Societies' missions in Dakota, and these reservations, I think, might without jarring be placed in the care of these two societies. The Episcopal Society is what is known as the evangelical branch of that Church, and differs only in church discipline from the Presbyterian. The Rev. Mr. Anthon is secretary, 13 Bible House, New York, "American Church Missionary Society," and Dr. Treat, of Boston, secretary of the other.

Along the line of the Union Pacific Railroad the Baptists have established, or are commissioned to establish, mission stations, and as there are numbers of stray bands of Indians along that railroad I have marked these, together with the tribes in Southern Idaho, to the Baptists. Hon. Nathan Bishop, 11 East Twenty-fourth street, New York, will respond to letters addressed to that society.

This brings us back to Omaha and Nebraska, and here the Hicksite Society of Friends are already successfully operating.

In Minnesota the Yankton Sioux are under the hospitable care of the Episcopalians, of which the Hon. William Welsh, of Philadelphia, is the efficient patron.

In Northern Minnesota, the Chippewas, if not already provided for, might be recommended to the able supervision of the Unitarians, of which society Dr. Henry W. Bellows, of New York, is President.

These are simply suggestions made in response to your kind request.

Faithfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. J. D. Cox, Secretary of Interior.

LETTER FROM FATHER DE SMET, JESUIT MISSIONARY.

ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY,

S Louis, January 6, 1870. HONORABLE SIR: Having the honor of your acquaintance for these several years past, in my capacity of missionary among the Indian tribes, knowing the deep interest you take in the welfare of the Indians, and in your present capacity as member of the board of commissioners instituted by Government for the interest and civilization of the Indians, allow me the liberty of laying before you my intention of establishing a mission among the upper Sioux tribes, should it meet with the approbation of the board of commissioners.

A few words of explanation may be here necessary. I visited various bands of Sioux in the summer of 1868. Several considerable portions of Indian tribes about Fort Sully and Fort Rice were friendly, and entertained peaceable dispositions toward the Government and the whites. The presence of the hostile Sioux bands being highly desirable and necessary to meet the commissioners at Fort Rice, in order that a treaty of peace might be concluded, I offered my services, which were accepted. Accompanied by Mr. C. E. Galpin in the capacity of interpreter, and a band of friendly Indians as scouts, we proceeded across the Plains in a western direction. After about fifteen days' travel we found the hostile bands, to the number of several thousand, encamped on the banks of the Yellowstone River, ten miles above the mouth of Powder River. They had been apprised of my approach by some of the scouts, and I was met by hundreds of warriors clad in their finest apparel and war ornaments. They welcomed me into their country, and amidst the greatest rejoicings conducted me to their common camp, consisting of about a thousand lodges, and composed of Ogallallas, Brulés, Blackfeet, Sioux, &c. The day after my arrival I held a council with the Indians, attended by thousands. A space of over an acre was surrounded by Indian lodges and served as the council hall. It was filled to its utmost. I made known to them the benign intentions of the Government in their regard. I was listened to with apparent great attention, and received the answers from the various orators appointed for the occasion. On my return to Fort Rice I was accompanied by a number of deputies from the hostile bands. They attended the great council of the Government commissioners, and signed the treaty of peace.

Several of the chiefs present at the council, in their speeches to the commissioners, expressed a desire to be attended by black gowns, or Catholic priests, for their instruction and that of their children. For years past, during my missionary visits to them, and more particularly in the summer of 1868, at Fort Rice, have I been earnestly requested by the chiefs to make a missionary establishment in their midst. I made them a formal promise to that effect, if in my power, and to interest myself in their behalf. I entertained the hope of seeing them the following summer of 1869, but being called to Europe on business, and on account of subsequent sickness on my return to the United States, I have been compelled to postpone my visit until next spring.

In conformity with the wishes of numerous Indians and half-breed families, I feel desirous to establish a mission for their welfare in some well-suited locality. Í must here humbly observe that our means for such an undertaking are very limited and inadequate. Should we be able to bring the design about, and should our services be acceptable, my principal object in addressing you, honorable sir, is to humbly beg you to present our case to the honorable board of commissioners of which you are a distinguished member. Should means be accorded for the undertaking of our contemplated mission, it shall be gratefully received and conscientiously applied in accordance with the views of Government, and in favor of the Indians.

Allow me to make the observation that our Catholic missions among the Pottawatomies and Osages during their whole existence, for over twenty years, have always been in a flourishing condition, and have merited the approbation and praise of the various superintendents and agents of the Government. The usefulness and good done by our missions in the Rocky Mountains (Montana and Idaho) are highly spoken of in late letters I received from General Sully.

Should references be necessary, allow me to name General Sherman, Commissioner Parker, Generals Stanley, Harney, Terry, and Sully.

With sentiments of profound respect and esteem, I have the honor to be, honorable sir, your obedient servant, P. T. DE SMET, S. J.

Hon. R. CAMPBELL,

St. Louis, Missouri.

REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH.

34 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK, September 10, 1870.

MY DEAR SIR: At the meeting of the executive board of foreign missions of the Reformed Church, held September 7, 1870, it was