Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1866-05-05

the Saotees and North Yanktonais, who
had moved beyond the British line, under
the protection Of The British flag, where
they could cross the frontier to commit
depredstions on our people, and retrsst
back over the frontier, when pursued, but
l suppose ths English government only
only considered them beIligerents, for
they did no worse than tho rebels did in
Canada.
" During the summer Of 1865 . small
cavalry force, about one regiment, was
ordered up in the Indian country under
Gen. SoI'y. They weat on, the east side
OF the river up to the British line. Large
numbsrs of Indians heretofore hostile
came ipto the camp to make peace A
very large number also sent in word they
desired peace. but could not come 10 vet
- they we're hunting.
Thus peace was established with tho
Indisns Of the Northwest. This vas re-.
ported to the authorities at Washington,
aud they deemed it expedisnt to send
Commission 10 make = permanent treaty
with these Indians, but the Com mission-
ere reached thu. upper country 90 very
lsss in the season that they could only
succeed in meeting few Of the chiefs Of
the different bands it was impossible for
all the Indians to meet them at any one
point They had to hunt to support their
families during the winter, 30 they we're
scattered hundreds Of miles over the
country; no permanent treaty could be
m ade. The chiefs have not the power to
make any treaty without their people are
present; il they do, the treaty will am cunt
to nothing, for The nation will not consid-
er it binding. But all these treaties and
appropriations of Congress of annui.ies
to the Indians are causes principally Of
our troubles with them.
1t will 20 doubt be very difficult for
Congress to abolish this old system, but
they can regulate aud improve it. A
treaty We will say is made giving certain
Indians $50. 900 year for 80 many years
"a part Of this amount in blankets, .
part in provisions, and a part in some
thing else. To the simple mind of the In.
dian this sum is sufficient to purchase
everything for every body, but the frs.
paymen. Of their annuities opens their
eyes, when they see the very smaI amour,
OF goods their Agent can purchase with
this sum; Of course they arc very much
dissatisfied sometimes they refuee to re-
ceive their goods altogether, and act 20
out-sgeously because they think they are
cheated, that the Agent has to call on the
nearest military post for protection. 1t 10
ia vain, the Agent protests, that no has
not put one dollar of the annuities in bis
pocket that when he boueh BIT these goods
he expended every cent Of the money that
the "Great Father gave him that the
prices of goods have gone up very much
that freights are high, and the goods fur
nished are Of the beet quality, etc. The
Indian don't see It, and | fear in many
cases no one else sees il. The manner
in which goods are purchased is wrong
An agent receives the money appropriate
ed, with VII oh he purchases the goods
aud f.rwards them to the Indian Agency.
No one is near him to see bis purchases.
These goods are distributed BY this same
Agent. No responsible person is near
him ~ the time to zee what he gives the
Indian. or who he gives it to. All that is
required Of the Indian is fov him to touch
the end Of pen; the Agent then makes
the Indians mark, which is his receip,
for what he has got, or ought to have got
as the case may be. do not say such
things are done. but | do'say means sho'd
be adopted to prevent anything wrong
being done in case the Agent should hap.
pen to be dishonest man. Some dis,io.
guished man in our country, | forget who
said that "she only way to talk to Indians
was through their tears-the only way 10
make = treaty with them was over tho
point of the bayone,.' He was no. far
from right. Instead Of making treaties,
tell the ludians they must do so; and #
they don't do SO they will be made to do
70 but be sure to have a military force
At hand to back what you say, or the 10.
dian wont believe you. The Govern
ment should undoubtedly remunerats the
Indians for the lands We take from them,
and, above oil, they should pro.ec, the m
against the tricks Of dishonest white men
do away with all these anuuities; and IN
stead Of Congress sppropriatng SO much
maney every year for different tribes of
Indians, let them appropriate 90 many
blankets, 80 many yards Of cloth, 90 many
pounds OF provisions, etc., and Of such .
quality for issue to the ludians % the
President may direct. Let these goods
be issued by the Agent At some military
psf; let them be inspected and issued in
presence Of witnesses, like the soldiers
receive their clothing aud rations; do
this, aud | think you will find the position
OF Indian AgsVk on a salary Of 81 500 :
year, now so much sought alter, uol quite
80 desirable n positi on. As before said,
the Indians IN this section Of country are
At the present time at peace, aud be.
lieve this is the first time they ever could
be said to be in such a state. l except
the Saniee Sioux and their friends, living
beyond the British lines, nun bcr,ng about
| 900 warriors. caunot, however, speak
70 positively a. regards the Sioux near
the Platte, never having been there, and
knowing nothing about them. At the
present time small parties OF three or four
soldiers traverse with safety on foot or
horseback the country from For. Berthold
TO Sioux City, = distance much over 500
miles. Several email parties OF travelcrs
during this fall have come down the oouu-
~ from above aud have made the here
|ofore hostile camps Of Indians their
stopping place over night Large nun.
aers Of Idaho miners, in parties Of 10 or
ID, in open fatboats, have fosted down