, 1863-06-13
The Nez Perces Treaty.
Font LAPwAI, l. T., June !

Font LAPwAI, l. T., June 1st, 1863.
EDS STATESMAN The Council is progress
ing slowly, and as it proceeds the impression
grows stronger among those who are watching
the progress of events from the outside that no
such treaty can be effected as was first proposed
by the Commissioners, nor indeed any arrange
ment by which the present or existing treaty will
be in any manner materially changed.
There are over two thousand Indians present
at the Council, among whom are all the princi-
pal men and head chiefs OF the nation and
there are also representatives present from almost
every tribe this side of the Rocky mountains
The followers of Big Thunder" and Eagle
from-the-Light" are encamped quarter of a mile
from those of Lawyer and "Utes-a-mil-a-kin," !"
with the pavilion of the Commissioners between
the two encampments The former encampment
numbers about one-third as many lodges as the
latter, " gle-from-the-Light" has only brought
with him twenty-five of his warriors.
Despite the efforts of the Commissioners to
stave off the reply to their first proposition until
they could obtain one such they desired, the
Indians would be heard without delay and in
their reply, the Chiefs, who spoke unanimously,
and almost peremptorily, refused to accept the
conditions of the proposed new treaty; and they
further made known that they were not desirous
of treating at all-asserting that the existing
/
with. They also complained of the failure on
the part of the Government to comply with the
provisions of that instrument in times past.
The impression seems 10 have obtained among
the Indians that our Commissioners are not truly
the agents of the Government but merely or
dinary fellows having no more authority TO treat
with them, or to pledge the faith of the Cover
ment than any other persons and, following up
! this impression, they have not uniformly mani
Tested that degree of respect for our worthy Com
missiGne-s to which their position as agents of
the Government would justly entitle them.
Judge Hayes, contractor, supplying subsist-
ence &c, for carrying on the treaty, was stopped
on the highway between the Council-grounds and
Lewiston few evenings since by druken Indians,
with drawn pistols; and yesterday another one
struck Commissioner Howe over the head with his
riding whip. Neither of these gentlemen were
armed when assailed by the daredevil renegades;
and the Indians do not seem disposed to correct
the style of their ecreant fellows; so the indigni-
| ty is allowed to pass, thus far, without resent
ment. If affairs do not change for the better
soon, and the Council is not disbanded, there
will be little need of sending our soldiery away
out among the Snakes to hunt up a fight; they
can have one at home, without hunting it, and
perhaps as much of it as they will want for the
whole summer.
Cilm w hiNihatiJ tIlc lubSi pICbSig hao uiiiNSNJ
and we may now expect the long-deferred big
gun speeches of the boasted Nez Perces orators.
The responsible talking is supposed to be yet
in reserve. Hitherto they have made no great
display of native eloquence, if the Interpreter has
done them full justice. AS orators, Lawyer and
Qu-qushe-ne-n are called the noblest Ro-
mans of them ALL"
Whether the Council results in a fight or
treaty, shall endeavor to learn as much of it as
l can, and will then have my opinion of such
things. AT present feel almos; persuaded to
call it humbug. My notions of Govern
ment recognizing Indian tribes in the sovereign
capacity of nationalities are not particularly
called for in this connection but little more
vigor would not be amiss at the present me,-f
may be allowed to guess-instead of pampering
them and receiving insults in return. The Nez
Perces are good Indians, but they are, neverthe-
| less. Indians O. v H.