Irreclaimable Savages

Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, accompanying the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior for the year 1857. URL

“Their destiny must be determined and worked out where they are. There they must advance and improve, and become fitted to take an active part in the ennobling struggles of civilization; or, remaining ignorant, imbecile and helpless, and acquiring only the fatal vices of civilized life, they must sink and perish, like thousands of their race before them. A solemn duty rests upon the government to do all in its power to save them from the latter fate, and there is no time to be lost in adopting all necessary measure to preserve, elevate, and advance them.” (page 4)

Written by:
J.W. Denver, Commissioner
J. Thompson, Secretary of the Interior (page 12)