The republic., 1851-08-07
From the 81. Louis Republican, July 30.
The Treaty with the sioux Indians at Ira
a..

we have papers, and from st. Paul we have dates
TO Thursday last.
ty with the upper bands Of Sioux Indians had
doubtless been made, and that it then remained to
treat with the lower bands assembled at Mendoza.
No difficulty was expected In that quarter. IL is
not stated what amount of territory has been ac-
quired by this negotiation; but we observe that
Mr.. Commissioner Lea, in his speech, indicates his
desire to purchase all territory far west as Lake
Traverse, running up 10 the Red river OF the North,
and down TO the western border Of lowa-all that
they own east of the Mississippi. We not in
formed to the sum to be paid Tor this territory,
but puts it down at three millions of dollars
Presents amounting to forty thousand dollars were
to be distributed on the signing of the treaty
The editor of the Pioneer, who has returned to
ST. Paul from the treaty ground, says that much
diversity of opinion existed to the extent of land
to be sold, and the money to be received for 1t,
although all were willing 20 sell. The Indians
were convinced that they must sell or perish, 30
precarious is the chase.
'The Sioux Indians number in all about rs, 900
souls, and their territory extends from the ceded
lands in Iowa and Wisconsin to the territory be-
longing to the Assinnibons and other tribes. which
divides their northern boundary from British Amo
RIGA. Their limits extend southwestward from
the Mississippi, across the Missouri, near to the
Rocky Mountains as their rowing bounds, known
as the Tetons, and follow the buffalo ranges" The
Sioux of the Plains live upon buffalo, and as many
nine hundred lodges of them were encamped to-
gether last summer.
band of Indians expected participate in the treaty
having arrived. The 'ppe of peace" was passed
round, and then Governor Ramsey opened the ne
gotiation with speech. Mr.. Commissioner Lea
followed him in the following speech:
"CHIEFs, HEADMEN, AND WARRIORS: j have
come, my brother has informed you, a long dis
tance, to meet you in council Your Great Father,
the President OF the United States. has requested
me to visit you. should seriously offend him if I
spoke with double tongue; he expects and re-
qures me to speak nothing butthe truth. He thinks
that he has it in his power, through my brother,
Governor Ramsey, who has just addressed you, and
myself, to make certain arrangements with you
that will be beneficial to you and his white children
60 trust, therefore, you will receive what we
have to say to you on this occasion as spoken to
you in sincerity and truth
:" Your Great Father has appointed me espe-
cialy to look to the interests of his red children.
He has other and many chiefs to look after the in
terests of his white children. but it is my business
to attend solely to the OF his red children You
may, therefore, rely that on this occasion will
not ask of you any thing which your Great Father
and do not look upon as for your benefit.
You all, no doubt, understand the general OBJ
ject OF our meeting together. The country you
possess here is comparatively Of little value to YOU
and your Great Father wishes to purchase it of you
But he would not want to buy it of you, if he
thought it was not your interest to sell it. He
thinks it would be to your advantage to sell all as far
west as Lake Traverse, running up to the Red River
of the North, and down to the western border Of
Iowaall that you east of that to the Mississippi
river.
"But while he proposes to buy much of your
country it is part of his purpose to deprive you
of home. Your Great Father would not consent
to making any arrangement with you by which
you would be deprived Of comfortable and suffi-
cient home for yourselves and families. He expects
to give full compensation for all the lands he pur-
chases OF you. If you willing to agree to the
terms instructed to propose to you, we doubt
not it will be better for you and your posterity.
"Should you agree to sell this country, portion
49, ttaF F,,f,,
and common home of you all. There ia great
deal more of it than you want, or can use. 1t is
better for you to be settled in small portion OF 1t,
where you can have your horses, your farms, and
all your other interests collected together, than to
be scattered over so large region poor and often
suffering for the necessaries of life We think,
from all the information we have been able to OBJ
tain, that if you had country provided high up on
the Minnesota river, where the farms and improve
ments have mentioned could be ms ade, it would
be much for your good. Once collected there, you
would be less exposed to the bad influences OF bad
white men than if you should remain where you
are; and an agent would be sent to reside among
you to look after your interests
''But your Great Father ia not only disposed to
secure you home sufficiently large and good, but
he is willing to give you much in addition
enough, he thinks, to make you comfortable in fu-
ture
"There are many other tribes of red men who,
ike yourselves once owned large country. 1t
was Of little use to them, and they were poor SO
therefor goods, provisions and money, with many
other substantial benefits. Those tribes are now
happier and more comfortable and every year
growing better and richer. We hear of no starv
ing among them. They always have plenty to
eat and enough to cothe them. Yoar Great Fa-
ther wants to put an end, in like manner, to the
suffering and poverty which has existed among
you. Ifyou will agree to be governed by his nd
vice, no doubt the same happy arrangement may
be made for your benefit.
''In connexion with the home which will be set
apart for you, as before mentioned, your Great
Father intends to place farmers among you when
you settled there, toteach and help you to cul-
vate the SOIL 80 that you will not have to depend
upon the chase, which is every year becoming
more and more unsafe and unreliable, for your
support and subsistence. He expects, likewise,
that in few years all will have comfortable houses
to live in; that your children will be taught to read
and write those of the white people are; that
you will not only have corn in plenty raised by
yourselves, but cattle, horses, and other animals;
that you will have both provisions and clothing
sufficient to keep you from starving or freezing.
Jf you agree to go to this home which s to be pro-
vided for you, to many OF you the removal Will be
expensive. Your Great Father has thought of this,
and he will give you enough money to bear your
expenses thther, to supply you with provisions
for year afterwards, and to settle and arrange
your affairs before you start Your Great Father
will not only pay you fair price for your land,
but he will take care to have farms opened schools
established, and blacksmith shops erected and car
ried on for your benefit; and he will also have
medicines and physicians provided, so you may
be properly cared for when you taken sick.
You will not only be taught how to raise corn and
potatoes, but he will also have mills erected to
grind into flour for you the grain you may raise.
'In word, should you be willing to sell your
lands your Great Father, in addition to the tract
of country set apart for your common home, and in
addition to sufficient to settle your affairs, pre-
paratory to your removal your country, ,topay
your expenses going thither and to subsist you for
one year afterwards, will pay you from 900
to 80 900 year for many years; and will besides
provide funds for farming, education, and many
other matters conducive to your happiness.
"We have made known more particularly
than you had been previously advised of what we
have been instructed by our Great Father to pro-
pose to you We have, perhaps, said enough to-
day for you to think of until tomorrow; and let
me repeat, and wish you to consider, that il has
been said for your welfare. You meet us to-
morrow and tell us what you think of it. Having
come very far and been detained here unusual
time, will take it as a special personal favor il
you will let the business be transacted as speedily
as possible
Gov Ramsey.-We desire that the chiefs and
principal men should get together after we adj
journ, talk over these matters among themselves,
and make up their minds and meet us here again
to- morrow, ready to go with business.
Col Lea.-If there any among you W no
want to speak to night, we will hear them now; if