Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-11-05
The Indian Commission,

lurnished py ehe correspondent Of the st.
Louis Democrat. On the 18th of October,
the members of the commission held conn
Gil with the chiefs of the principal hostile
tribes at point known as Medicine Lodge
Creek. On the part of the commission, SEN !
atOr Henderson of Missouri, addressed the
the chiefs, closing his remarks as follows:-
What has the government done of which
You complain! Ii soldiers have done vronu
to you, tell us when and where, and who are
the guilty parties. If these agents whom We
nave put here to protect you have cheated
and detrauded you, be not afraid to tell us.
We have come to hear all your complaints
and to correct all your wrongs We have
full power to do these things, and we pledge
you our sacred honor to do so. For ANYTHING
that you may say in this council you shall not
be harmed. Before we proceed to inform
you what we are authorized TO do for Won. we
desire to hear fully from your own lips what
you have done, what you have suffered and
what you want. We say, however, that we
intend to do justice to the red man. Ii we
nave harmed him, We will correct it it the
red man has harmed US, VIC believe he is
brave and generous enough to acknowledge
1t, and TO cease from doing any more wrong
AT present we have only to say that we are
greatly rejoiced to see our red brethren SO
Wen disposed towards peace. We are espe>
eIally glad because VIC US individuals would
give them all the comforts Of civilization, re-
ligion and wealth, and now We are authorized
by the Great Father to provide for them COM
Portable homes upon our richest agricultural
lands. We are authorized to build for the
Indian school houses and churches. and pro,
vide teachers to educate his children. We
can furnish him with agricultural implements
to work, and dYmestic cattle, sheep and hogs
to stock his farm. We now cease and shall
wait to hear what you have to say, and after
we have heard it, we will tell you the road
to 60. We are now anxious to hear from YOU
In response to these remarks of Senator
Henderson, SATANTA, Kiowa chief, made
the following characteristic speech:
The commissioners have come from afarto
listen to our grievances. My heart is glad,
and shall hide nothing from you. / under
stood that you were coming down here to see
US. l moved away from those disposed to
war. and l also came from afar to see you
The hlowas and Camanches have not been
fighting. We were away down South when
we heard that you were coming to see us.
The CheSennes are those who have been
fighting with you. They did it in broad day
light, 20 that all could see them. If | had
been fighting would have done SO also Two
ears ago made peace with General Iiarncv,
Sanborn and Col. LeavenwOrth at the mouth
OF the Little Arkansas. That peace [ have
never broken. When the grass was growing
this spring, large body of soldiers came
along ON the Santa Fe road. had not done
anything, and therefore, was not afriad.
All the chiefs Of the Kiowas, Camanches
and ArapuhOes are here to day They have
In listen m bn ,yoo1 yFo.J
been waiting here long time to see YOU, and
VIC are getting tired. All the land south of
the Arkansas belongs to the KiOwas and Ca.
tuanches, and l don't want to give away any
of it. love the land and the buffalo. and
will not part with any. | want you to under.
stand also that the Kiuwas don't want TO
fight and have not been fighting since we made
tie treaty. l hear good deal Of iine talk
from these gentlemen, but they never do what
they say. | don't want any of those medicine
homes built in the country; want the pa
pooses brought up just exactly as am.-
When I make peace, it Is long aud lasting
one; there is no end to it. We thank you
for your presents.
All these chiefs and head men feel happy.
They will do what you want. They know
that you are doing the best you eau. I and
they will do so also. There Is one big chief
lately died-Jim Pockmark. of the Caddoes
he was a great peace, maker, and we are
sorry he is dead
When look upon you know you are all
big chiefs. While you are in the country
We go to sleep happy and are not afraid. 1
have heard that you intend to settle us on n
reservation near the mountains don't want
to settle there. | love TO roam over the wide
prairie. and when 1 do it, / feel free and ham
Ply, but wher We settle down, We grow pale
and die.
Hearken we'll to what say. I have laid
aside my lance, my bow and my shield and
yet feel safe in your presence. have told
you the truth. have no little lies hid about
me, but don't know how it is with the COM
missiOners; are they as clear as an: A
long time ago this land belonged to our IA
theirs, but when l 90 up to the river l see a
camp Of soldiers. and they are cutting my
wood down. or killing my buffalo. l don't
like that, and when l see it my lheart feels
bursting with sorrow. l have spoken.
Satanta's speech produced rather blank
look upon the faces of the peace commission
ers. Satanic has knack of saying boldly
what he needs, regardless of what anybody
thinks. On the close of his speech he sat
down, and wrapped crimson blanket around
his form The next day, October 10th, tho
council was continued, and number of
speeches were made by the different chiefs
in attendance. When the commission de-
sired to bear again from the Kowas, SATAN
TIA arose and delivered the following brief.
but sententious spcech:-
The Kiowas have no more to say. We
have spoken already. W hen you issue goods,
give ull that is our due to US; do not hiGe any
from US. Keep none back. want all shat
is mine"