, 1865-10-24


II l,uy peace. ts many of them believed;
that the President wished for their goods
that peace Wis for the interest OF all On both
sides that they must make treaty, or the
war would 60 on. ...
The head chief, Lone Horn, replied N
moderate and sensible language. He wanted
peace. He had been averse to war, but the
whites had come in and scared the game
away upon which his people relied for liv-
Inc his young warriors, whom be could not
emily restrain, had come in conflict with the
whites; war had ensued. BE regretted the
wu, bnt did not know how to- point: to any
soon be broken by refractory spirits while
white men were in tho country driving away
the Indians 'subsistence-the game. He
spoke with every appearance Of sincerity and
With anxious caution. He said he had not
intended making final treaty at this time,
but returning to the various tribes Of the
whole Sioux Nation with The word lie re-
ceived, upon which they would then all act.
In this sense he spoke for and was listened to
Sioux, Sens Arcs, Oga1a1as, Bruies, .Arappa.
hoes, Ke.ak-sahs md To-ken-chlnk-ah-
tahc. For bis own tribe he seemed author
lied but not willing TO now make aud sig sisn 4.
Bull, spoke In similar tone OF peace and
general complaint.
SPIRITED sPEEcu OF LANE DEER.
At Ibis point Lame Deer, the chaef of tho
Minncconojucs, next In rank to Lone Horn,
entercd-a powerful, symmetrical, Light
moving lndian, Of calm, determined face and
quick, resolute STEPS yesitable king Of tho
forest. When he rose up. to speak, his fine
figure stood straight ns column, and bis
strong voice was heard over half the Fort.
He charged the whites with having DESTROYED
OF driven from his people all that tho Great
Spirit Ind given them to sustain Ifp-the
game. Long ago Gen. HaEney Ind come there
and made trcaty with him but the whites
treated the paper Gen. Harney gave to him
from the President, be wished them: to 60
back to him and tell him to take away the
military posts along the Missouri river, md
the red men would live In peace after the
whites left their country. He had heard Of
these commissioners coming, and had come In
to zee them: that M they mig might give hin some
wanted them also to tell the traders to let
him have blankets for his robes on better
terms than they had done. He did not like
the proposition to sign paper of peace-a
treaty: They had talked together; That was
enough.
BEr1r or GOV. EpMuSDs.
In the afternoon Gov. Edmunds, the Fresi-
dent Of the Commission, read the reply Of
the Commission to the speech OF Lame Deer,
and the substance Of the terms to be bro.
posed that this country cannot be left for the
Indians; that the whole country belongs to
the Government TINT our people must Be al
lowed to pass through unmo mo1csted, when they
see fit to do 60. While the, Indians were
friendly they would not be iuterfered With, but
they must let white men alone. Soldiers will
he kept hero to compel them to let others
alone. Roads are to be opened through here
TO the mountains. Indians must In no case
interfere with them. But the President is
their friend, and while they mr. friendly, will
and tools. The Commission would not give
them powder. They must now choose peace
OF wnr.
An INTERESTING coLEoQCr.
This firm tone had m effect on the Indians
very favorable to peace. Like children they
had been trying to see how far they could 60.
They suddenly dsopped their tone, by turns
Lime Deer, who had made so violent q
speech In the forenoon, rose first to reply
Before saying word he threw of his rohe
and stood, save brecch-clout, perfectly naked
before the Commissioners, and their eyes
trouble me for my land n He pointed to the
other rontes to the monnta'ns-' -''why not take
them w He spoke Of the poverty and trouble
around him-the soldier drove away his
GENE, and the trader, who had grown rich of
OF him, won]d do nothing for him. ue want
cd powder to hunt buffalo, that he might 1--we.
Kcv. Mr.. Reed, Of Iowa, one Of the Commits
eioners, and long among the 1nd1ans, then
took them back over the late troubles to the
time when there was peace between whites
and Indiana and happiness showing them
that war, which brought armies, scared away
and destroyed gome tnr more than the peaca-
bic whites. Then the Indians began this war,
and With It, ten times greater sseattes troubles than
they ever had before soldiers marching over
the country soaring a1l the buffalo away. The
whites have brethren beyond the mountains
and must be allowed to 60 to see them. These
routes would be opened whether the Indians
consented to 1t or not. Then why keep up q
wnr aud bring more soldiers hezci We want
Indians to have the butInlo, to sell the skins.
to lire comfortably, II they will, like white
men, when the buffalo are al1 gone, as they
soon will be. In this the white men will help
them.
TIE ROUTE TO TIE MOUNTAINS TO Re OPENED
-sNoK1NG THE FIFE OF PEACE.
The objections Of the Indians soon narrowed
down 10 question whether route should be
opened through their country. Gen. Curtis
showed them it's necessity to The nation, and
after an hours further debate, they gare q
consent, qualified BY come to making treaty.
This was efgnif1ed by their producing tho pipe
Of peace-a fne piece of Indian workmanship
which was charged With tobacco and killt-
klnnIck bark, lighted, and passed to Gen.
Curtis and the either Commissioners, each TAX
ing the three talismanic willis, when 1t was
passed around the Indian Chiefs and head men
In the Council, some dozen in number,
SIGNING THE TREATY.
To-day written treaty, containing the pro-
visions mentioned In the opening Of this let
ter, wns presented to them tor their sigma
turcs-that is, for each to touch the end Of
the pen before the mark was made for his
name+ The treaty WAS carefully interpreted
TO them. Again and again They manifested
their dislike OF the provision allowing the
opening Of a route through their country. It
was plain that the annuity Of ten thousand
dollars, which was first hroncllcd to them To-
day, Was not regarded as an equivalent for
giving their formal consent to admitting the
whites forever. Still they consented to Sign.
RPuoSANcE OF TIE cu1Ers TO THE OVER
LAND ROUTE THROUGH THRtR TERRI
TORY
But when tho last moment came, and each
one after the other was called up by na1nd TO
eien, their almost invfncib1e aversion to touch,
Ing the pen that threw open thet country,
broke out IN the action of some Of the more
determined. Lame Deer rose reluctantly,
looked intensely ot the hated instrument,
want this route; but you ask II, you muzt
have it, and for the sake OF the life OF my
nation I viii do it.'' Then be touched the
pen. .
Another chief 'sHe who files when going"
paused long, called upon tho good God to
hear him and hear the words that had been
spoken 10 him as the truth. He bent his
piercing black eyes in the face Of each com.
missioner, asking II the Great Father, the
President, had In truth sent them, md en-
Joined them to tell the truth md no lies, md
u they had spoken the truth,
His deep excitement was evident in the ner-
vous tension Of his strong limbs, the slight,
brightness Of his eyes, which were remarked
by all, as he rose, spoke and hesitated and
spoke again but when be touched the pen It
was with a calm hand a it be Tas now re-
solved.
Then came long distribution Of presents,
which had not been announced before md
were therefore surprise. The Mfnnecon9]ue
been effected, arc among the finest In,
dians in America. Their simplicity, good
sense, trankness, bold bearing, confidence In
the word Of an enemy In thus enaesingf q
handful In number, into q fort more than
hundred miles from their people, apparently
soual appearance, most Of the chiefs being
over SIX feet high, wonld seem to Justify the
name have heard given to them Of being q
leading band Of the Sioux nation. Tomorrow
q council will be held with the Brules.
The Elocun1 Cotton Swindle-Mr. W. S.
Grant, OF Winona, Minnesota.
WuoxA, Mimi, Oct. 10, 1865.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
Your issue Of the I'd inst. contained m artf
Gle nnder the above heading. It included the
report Of Commission, Of which Lieut.. Col.
J. Fl. Howe, ia Illinois volunteers, was presl-
dent, The Commission, among other things,