The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-08-14
THE SIOUX TREATY.
MENDoTA, Aug. 5, 1851

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After an interregnum of several days,
profitabiy spent in maturing the terms Of
treaty nearly acceptable to both the high
contracting parties, the Grand Council again
met at | o'clock this day
The Council having been opened by the
usual preliniinares,
The chief, Good Road, said they desired
TO say several things in reference TO various
matters, before signing the treaty.
Col Lea:--The treaty has been prepar-
ed IN pursuance Of the terms agreed upon,
and being now ready for signatures, il is
have the treaty read aud explained so all
can see il is good treaty.
The Secretary then read the treaty in
English; and il was afterwards explained TO
the Indians in their own language hy the
Rev. G. II. Pond.
Coz. RGmsey:-The chiefs and pritcira,
men have had the treaty explained TO them.
Have they arranged among themselves who
shall sign FIRST, or is IL left 10 US
There was no response for Some time :;
ami Col. Lea desi gnated Little Crow rs the
first to sign; but he did not come forward.
At last, the chief Wa-ba- sha, arose and
addressed the Commissioners You have
have told these people standing around, that
it is for their benefit; but an, of different
opinion. In the treaty have heard read
you have mentioned farmers aud schools,
physicians, traders and haIf-breeds To all
these am opposed. You see these chiefs
sitting around. They and others no are
dead went to Washington and male trea-
~, in which the same things were said; but
we have not been benefited by them and I
want them struck out. of ihs one---we want
nothing but cash turned over 10 US for our
lands. You have named a place for our
home; but il Is a prairie country. | am a
man used to the woods, and do not like the
prairies; and perhaps some Of those who
are here will name al place we would all
like better. When | Invent to Washington
to see our Great Father, he asked us for
our land and we gava 1t to him aud be "a
greed to furnish Us with goods and provis-
IONS for 30 years. wish 10 remain in this
country until that TIME expires.
Col. Lea:-Say to;the chiefs, that have
heard Of Wa-ba-sha before ! came here
expected to see map who was a chief and
was the friend Of hispeopie. expected to
see man who did ni,t speak with forke,l
| tongue. But we knew he has been talking
/ IN a way that shows he has been neither the
friend OF the white man, nor of the red man
We are satisfied he has been attempting 10
deceive both the Ind aos and Us. We know
| full well, The treaty does not meet his views
nor is it what he WAITS. We don't expec
to he able TO make "a treaty to suit him
! That would be iInpbssible--tor he want:
none. You recolecf now Wa-ba-sl,a ad
yised you 10 make Appropriation to sell foI
six millions of dollars; be knew it was ;
/ foolish proposition, and said so; md he did
+ it TO prevent us making treaty with you a
all rs we wished to do. Is that the way foi
a chief to talk and ael? Now, we know h,
wanted; TO make an arrangement to trea
separately, along with the Wah-pay-koo
! tags, and cut these upper hands off from
| participating in II. We have understood
his movements all along very well. He wal
not willing the Others should make goot
treaty, unless be could have things his own
way. We are surprised and mortified tc
! find chief like him, whose father ant
grandfather was great chief. act in this
manner. Suppose your Great Father want
ed your lands and did not want r treaty for
your good, he could come with 100, 900 men
, and drive you off to the Rocky Mountains.
! But your Great Father loves his red chill
Gren, as he does his white children and he
wishes US 10 make d treaty which he knows
will save you from the trouble which is now
coming upon you. Since have been here,
/ | have tried TO inform myself in regard TO
your wishes, condition and wants. Now,
YOU are all men and have your peculiar no
tons about things, and you can hardly get
two men TO look alike upon the same prop
ositon. Ii is Impossible 10 get a treaty to
suit all---what suits one won't suit another ;
I Ian, l.. Sb n, 81 ~ tc do
all the most good. We have thought upon
this long time and we have written This
in such way as we think will he for your
good. We have talked about the matter
until there is no use of talking any more
We have written ibis treaty and signed it,
and it is now too late to talk Of changing it.
We couldn't make it any better if we tried
Cor. RGmsey:--W either Of the prin-
cipal chiefs sign the treaty! DO they say
yes or no!
| There was paase and silence for some
time, and the confE NATION Of the treaty APP
peared for wbile quite doubtful.
Bad Hail, cd chief Of Gray Irons band
remarked that they had two claims to taik
about, and then they would sign.
The Commissioners hereupon told them
to proceed, aud thsy would hear them.
The chief, Sha- ko-pee, then came for
ward and laid before the Commissioners ,
manuscript deed, executed in 1857, b,
which the Indians bad made a gift of ,hre,
sections of land, oH'the present site of Six.
village to their relative, Mrs. Lucy Bail
ly, wife Of Alexis s3ailly, Esq. Shake pc,
said that they desHed that this land Nigh
be secured to her by the treaty; or that S 10,
900 should he paid her instead of it.
Bad Hail presented similar paper, rela
tive TO reservation Of several hundre
acres TO the heirs of Scott Campbell, tn
old interpreter Of the tribe.
Anoageenazheen, (2d chief Of Sha .ko
pee's band, also came forward; and takin
up both papers, handed them again to III
Commissioners, and said he wanted them {
comply with the requests made in regard {
them.
Col. Lea said /: We have before sec
these papers, and considered what they RI
late to. Our Great Father has instr scie