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9 Savage tribes in its remotest extremities. But our people and the tribal Indians have been for years, and are still, in continual hostilities, and there is scarcely a county or district in our frontier States or Territories which does not demand and expect a military force for its local protection larger than the Russian or British Government had deemed necessary for the control of its vast Indian possessions on this continent. These facts should receive your careful and serious consideration, in assuming the command of a Military District in which there are some fifty thousand natives, and a population of only a few thousand whites and creoles. In this connection, you will have in mind that neither the Russian nor the British government on this continent has ever made Indian treaties, had an Indian Bureau, or Indian Superintendent and Agents, or paid millions of dollars for Indians annuities and Indian goods, which were promised to, but never received by, the native Indians. 24. Orders heretofore issued from the Head Quarters of the Division and Department will, so far as applicable, be considered as in force in the District of Alaska. You will however, regard such orders, and these instructions, as directory, in the general sense of that term, but subject to modification in their application to new cases, and under new and different circumstances. But orders and regulations exclusively of an administrative character are applicable to almost every case which may arise, no matter what may be the special contingency and particular circumstances.
Very respectfully,
Your Obt. Servt.,
Signature Major Genl. Comdg.
(Through Bvt. Major Genl. McDowelle Comdg. Dept. of California.)