Wisconsin Winnebagoes would have been entitled had they remained on their reservation, amounting in all to $48,521 07, has been set apart, awaiting such act of Congress as will give relief in the premises; thus reducing the total amount received per annum by that portion of the tribe living on the reservation to but little more than one-half of what it was seven years ago. It seems needless to say that they are very much dissatisfied at this, and that when they refer to the subject I have some difficulty in satisfying them as to the justice of the governmental policy in setting apart funds (to be expended at some future time) for the benefit of certain individuals who persist in absenting themselves from their reservation, while others, who are absent but a few months, are deprived of all advantages from issues of supplies or payments that may have been made during their absence.”
This case is a good illustration of the working of the trustee relation between the United States Government and its wards.
In 1877 we find the Secretary of the Interior still recommending that the Indians be “gradually gathered together on smaller reservations,” to the end that “greater facilities be afforded for civilization.” He reiterates that “the enjoyment and pride of individual ownership of property is one of the most effective civilizing agencies,” and recommends that “allotments of small tracts of land should be made to the heads of families on all reservations, to be held in severalty under proper restrictions, so that they may have fixed homes.”
The commissioner also recommends “a steady concentration of the smaller bands of Indians on the larger reservations.” He calls attention again to the fact that there are 58,000 square miles in the Indian Territory “set apart for the use of Indians, and that there they can be fed and clothed at a greatly diminished expense; and, better than all, can be kept in obedience, and taught to become civilized and self-supporting.”
In 1878 the Commissioner of Indian Affairs reports that a
