, 1866-01-19
TREATY WITH THE BLACKFEET.

TREATY WITH THE BLAcKFEET.
The early settlers Of the Wallal Halla
Valley will recOllect that in the Spring Of
1855 that great man, the late Governor Isaac
1. Stevens, (the first Executive Of this Ter
ritOry,) acting in the capacity Of Superiu-
teudent of Indian Affairs, passed through
this valley, with small party, on. his%ay
over to Fort Benton, for the purpose Of ne
gotiating treaty with the various tribes Of
Indians living on the Upper Missouri and
included upder the general appellatiOu of
Blackfoot Nation. The original treaty was
concluded on the 18th October of the same
year. At that date what is now Montana
Territory formed an almost terra incognitd
-an uuexplored region; nearly the entire
section of that country was given to the ab.
origines for their use; all that part lying
south of the Muscle Shell river was allowed
them as a common hunting ground This
was prior to the age of gold, and Un.le Sam
thought he was accomplishing wOndss when
he donated to the red skins.a territory which
at that day appeared utterly worthless % the
whites. How times have changed! Al the
very lowest calculation, we should judgethat
fifty thousand white inhabitants have made
settlements upon the lands once roamedpver
BY the Blackfeet, and hence it recently be-
came necessary for the Government to 'ntei
into new treaty with these people for theil
lands, the greater portion of which is hOugh
to be rich in deposits Of gOldl silVeS mer'
curry, etc, .......
By letter from Washington City; vi
learn that in March last the G5venmen
empowered Maj G. E. Upson Iudia1Agen
for the Blackfeet) to make new tresy will
r this nation, and to obtain, if possible ces
sion Of such lands as it is possible VH b.
settled up by the whites at no distsF day
So the 10Th of November last was gal
, day at old Fort Benton, on the UpPd Mis-
, souri, river; the PieganS, Bloods, GroI Ven
tres (Big Bellies) aud Blackfeet Chopper
tribes we're all present, and the neV treat
was signed by the principal chfef'Of eaCl
tribe. The Blaokfeet agree to gle US pos
session of all the country claime3by them
=, except that area lying to the nth Of 4S
north latituds-ths Teton, Mars and Mis-
souri, rivers. Through this rterVet poi
tioH, however, they permit us build mill
tary posts, roads aud telegraph ln retur
for the lands coded; the GOv'nment StiPu
lateS to expend for their us, annually, 70
twenty years, $4,000; besids the goods dis
Z tributod among them at tbJ time of makini
the treaty. The srest..e1oh' of gold seeker
and others, therefore, wbish vii, pass thrOugl
+" our CITY SO sUUu 0Prrug shah have 'lened
. will IU e--1:G.I ts hoar that they ma here
after travel through the BlackGOot ,uuIr,
a with perfect safety, feeling cob6det tina
!. they will be protected by the esisof tn
!, Government
n A correspondent writes US a leDgy let
ter from Fort Benton, Of late da, con
tanning much in addition to what hav
o given above. Our space does notpermi
the publication Of his cOmmunicatiOrutire
/ "SpectatOr says, however: al wasresen
8 on the occasion, and was glad to witD,s sucl
= manifestations of friendly feelings an goo,
= understanding among the Indians ai thei
o pale.faced brethren