The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-04
From the 81. Louis Republican.

The United States Government has authorized
Col. DID. Mitchell, Superintendent Of Indian AT
fairs at this place, to hold a treaty with large
numbr of Indians occupying the Indian Territory
and Hew Mexico, at Fort Laramie, during the
| mont of September. The Indian tribes invited to
atteni this council are those lying along the base
| of th Rocky mountains. on the south side of the
| Missouri. as far south as the boundary of Texas
| including many of the tribes embraced in the ju-
risdcton of the United States by the acquisition of
| New Mexico. With these Indians the United
Statet have, yet subsistng treaties; at least
none such places them entirely and sufficiently
under the control of the Government. The extern
sion of our population, the establishment Of the
| Territories OF New Mexico, Utah, and Oregon, and
| the necessary INSTRUMENTATION between the
Territories and the States. renders it indispensable
thst a more intelligent and reliable relation should
exist between the Government and the Indians 1t
lie also hoped that, by of this council of all
TIE tribes and mutual treaties, an end may be put
TO the constantly recurring hostities between the
Indians themselves, and greater security afforded
to emigrants, travellers, the mails, Slc &c., across
the plains and in the mountains
I The last Congress favorably impressed
with the propriety of the measure (ihe suggestion
we believe, originated with the superintendent at
this place. that large appropriation was made for
this specific purpose; and the Department has, very
properly, contded the principal management OF 1t
to Colonel Mitchell.
Expresses were sent out at all early day TO invite
the attendance of all the various tribes, with in
structions to the several agents and others to in
duce them to come in. Definite reports have been
received from only few of the expresses. So far
az heard from there conflicting reports, but
the expectation is that some of the tribes, owing to
the rAvages of the smallpox and cholera, and
others because fthe hostility existing between them
and other tribes whose country they must pass over
may not attend How far these may ope-
rate in preventing the Indians from attending, it
is impossible to say. But, Notwithstanding, the
number which it is now quite certain will at
tend will be very large If all requested to at
tend shonld meet, 1t viii be the largest as.
semblage OF Indians congregated at one
place in the United States. 1t is estimated that,
If the several tribes partially represented
they will amount to twenty thousand, and, if
fully represented full forty thousand The specta
Gle of such a number of tribes congregated toge-
Their will probably neveroccur again on this conti
| nent. They are fast disappearing before the ap-
proach OF the white man. and many of the tribes
now in existence, and expected to be present at
this treaty, in few years will be SO wasted away
by their continual hostiities with each other, by
disease, and other causes, that they will either be
wholly destroyed swallowed up in some other
community. To one who is dcsirous of seeing a
representation Of all these tribes the present
is a most excellent occasion. 1t affords an oppor-
tunity that under any circumstances, can but sell
dom occur. The Government has been prompted
to this by considerations Of adequate pro-
tCCuOn 10 her own CluZcns, ana greater security
and friendly relations with the Indians. How far
the effort may be successful remains to be
Col. Mitchell left yesterday on the steamer Gaia
ract, for Kansas the point from which he takes his
departure. He is accompanied by Col Chambers,
the senior editor OF this paper, and 5. Gratz Brown
Of this city; and by Henry c. King, of Georgia.
and J. III. Dillon, Of England He will be joined
before he leaves Kansas, soon thereafter, by Col
X. Campbell, of this city, George w. Kendall of
the New Orleans Picdyune, Lord Fitzwilliam of
England, and another English gentleman. II is
probable that others will join the party before they
leave the boundary OF the State military escort
will accompany the party from Fort Leavenworth
to Fort Laramie. The trip promises to be one of
pleasure and qualification to these gentlemen;
and, besides the luxury of witnessing new scenery
new, Mt least, to some of them-and the assem-
bling OF the Indians, may be advantageous to their
health.
Our senior being one Of the party, we hope to be
Kept well informed of passing events, as his con-
nexion with the commission will enable him to ad-
wise us by every express or means Of communica-
ton. The trip will probably occupy from ten weeks
TO three month";.