The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1866-02-01
TREATY WITH THE EBLACKFEET---
THE NORTHERN OXERLAND ID MAIL.

the 10th of November last, which has an i'm
portant bea'ing on the prospects of estab-
fishing a Northern Overland Mail. Of the
Indians, there were present Mt the signing
of the treaty forty-three delegates and head
men from the bands of Picgans. Gros-Vcn-
tres, Bloods and Blackfect, all of which al e
commonly known as the BlackfoUt nation OF
Ind ans. The Commissioner on the part oi
the United States was Major G.. Il. Upson,
assisted by Cen T. +. Meaghcr, Acting Su-
pcrintendent of Indian Affairs for Montana
and l.. f. Manson, legal adviser on the part
of the Government. Of the lrea the Mon
tai1a Post remarks;
The principal provision is contained in
Article HI which p ovideS for ccSsion oI
all lands erctoforc claimed 10y the Black
feet, excepting tho clying north of 4so north
latitude--thc Teton, Marias and Nilsson
rivers, as far cas- MS Milk river-the Indians
agreeing that o her tribes may be settled in
this reservation. This Article is somewhat
modified by the next, which allows the Gov
ernment to build roads and tclcglaphs cs-
tnbliSh military posts, agencies, mission
SNHOOlS, cll., III WV fCoSI Ntu .tCIIIlUll nHu
permits the whites t &c privilege to travel
across it ; but whites are prohibited from
making settlements or trading (unlc spe.
cially licenscd) within the limits Of the re.
servution: and intoxicating liquors, and all
persons dealing in them are to be rutly
dcbarrcd entrance thereon. The Indians ac.
Knowledge their dependence on the United
States and their obligation to obey the laws
| IN mn nd tbnv n lyn,
to the utmost of their ability for the purpose
Of enforcing them promising to deliver al
offenders to the proper authorit cs wh'nevc
called upon-so to do. As r"cumpensc fol
the lands ceded, the Unit States agree t,
cxpcnd or the Blackfoot Nation in addition
to the goods distr buted at the time of sign
ing the treaty, $50, 900 annually, for went,
years such portion of tn morey as may b
deemed proper by the President, to be use,
inpromoting civilization among the Black
feet.
In effect, this treaty means that hereaftc
the Blackfeet are to conlinc themselves to
territory bounded west BY the Rocky Nom
rains cast by Milk River south by the PAL
allel of 4So north and north by the Inferno
ional Boundary Line ; except that they huv
territorial possessions extending far in,
British America, so that shey are not so cor
Bned MS TO hnnting G ound, as would appea
upon q cursory examination. Theft land
in the United States will cxtead nearly foy
hundred miles from east to west, and or
degree north and south. The line. of 4;
north iDtcr,ecs The Mi souri, River q fc
: miles below Fo Dnton, and the terms
tie treaty appear to contemplate that n pie
of land lying sonth of that line and betwe,
" the Nilsson land Marias rivers shall be I
mined by the Indians t.H"
The obvious intention Of the treaty is
remove the Indians from. the vicinity Of I
: mines, and BY is terms the United States 4
qaire the title to near two hun dred thou
and square miles of land. The rescrvat'
Of the righ by the whites to build telcgrap
! and roads across the lands to be hcreaf
. occupied Ivy he Indians, points gnifcan
!, to the { ct that the sautholi les had in. vi
I, the opening Of q new mail line from t
frontiers Of Minnesota, in retaining thu
l privileges. by bringing the Blhckfeet t,
X condition of peace wth'the whites, nea
&c one-hnlf OF the distance from the Roc
n Mountains to St. Paul is secured from (
y ther danger from savage hostilitics! '""
m The negotiations swith the Siouxat f
rs Sully, on the Missouri sewere not product
of as much nivan'agc to the government
~ those at Fort Benton but in time these
ic dians must entirely abandon their hos
m attitude to the whites and their interests
at submit to a long deferred and richly -mc,i
r. ehostisemnnt NothinO hnt the p,cifc IA