The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-06-18

He was appointed, on this commission, by
Mr.. Browning, our representative in the
cabinet from this state. The commission
consists of Gems. Sulley and Parker, APP
pointed by Gen. Grant; Gen. Buford, Gen.
Sanborn, Judge Kenney, and Mr.. Beauvais,
appointed by Secretary Browning. After
visiting the Indian region and making
full investigation of the Fort Phil. Kearney
massacre, and the various causes of discon-
tent existing among the Indian tribes, Gen.
Buford was requested by his colleagues to
return to Washington and report. On the
9th of June he made his statement to the
Acting Secretary of the Interior, Gen. j. c.
Cox, and was by him requested to communi-
cate the same statement to the War Depart
ment. His report has not yet been publish
ed, but, in long conversation with the Cen
eral, yesterday, we learned from him that, at
ter very complete and full investigation he
is satisfied that there is no necessity what
ever for an Indian war, and that there would
be none if the Indians were protected from
the rapacity of frontier settlers, whose inter
ests are to bring on war, and supply our
armies with subsistence at exorbitant prices.
In fact the present war which is upon us is
nothing but a raid upon the treasury of the
United States by the frontiersmen and army
contractors These men band together and
make false reports of alleged massacres by
Indians, and then call upon the government
to send troops to protect them, when in fact
they only ask for them that they may grow
rich from the supplies furnished them.
These men see that the Pacific railroad is
fast driving them out of business, because it
furnishes supplies cheaper and with more
dispatch, to military stations, than the
rancho traders can do; therefore, they get
up the war so that the Indians can be driv-
en- from the lines of railroad, and our army
following them must then be supplied as
heretofore.
To show the enormous profits made by
this class of people it need only be stated
that at Fort Laramie our government pays
four dollars per bushel for oats, five dollars
for corn, and one hundred and twenty-five
dollars per ton for hay. These prices are
obtained by the settlers creating the impress
ion that they run hair-breadth escapes on
the route to camp, when they are in fact the
instigators of hostilities.
The. employees of the Union Pacific railroad
are also advocates of war, because the
transportation of troops and passengers
would put into the treasury Of the company
large sums of money. In fact those only
are for war who desire TO plumber the gov
eminent, and the alleged atrocities of the
Indians are merely used as means to con
sumate this robbery.
difficult to secure peace north of the Platte
river, as the Indians all have regular faeili
ties for communicating with each other, and
when war is made ON one tribe the others
think they will be included. s1" .-7
These commissioners also had power to
separate the peaceful from the warlike Indi-
ans; but, for the reasons just stated, they
found this very difficult. They, however,
induced the Brules tribe, numbering $500
persons, to keep out of the way of the hostile
forces. These tribes were given $4,000
worth of presents, and were assigned, for the
time being, as hunting ground, all the
county south of the Platte and north of the
Smoky Hill route, bounded by the longitu
dinal lines passing the mouth OF Plumb and
Lodge-Pole creeks.
The commissioners found that those tribes
which lived in the vicinity of military post
we're much more demoralized than thos'
who lived far away. This is especially so o
a tribe called the Laramie Loafers," Twin;
in the vicinity of the fort of that name.
Gen. Buford saws he and Gen. Sanbor1
are of the opinion that all the territory nortl
of the state of Nebraska, and west and soutl
of.the Missouri river as far Las the -mout
of Muscle Shell river, containing abou
$4,000 square miles, should be set apart a
an exclusive Indian territory, in which n
one should be allowed except agents, teacf
ers, and licensed traders. No military post
should be erected or white persons above
there, except those mentioned. In this tel
ritory could be collected gradually all tn
Indians north of the Platte and east of tn
Rocky mountains. Corn can be grown sue
cessfully there, and the agents and teacher
can teach them agriculture and the arts G
civilized life. In fact these Indians, In tn
opinion Of the commissioners, should be al
lowed all the advantages enjoyed by the Ii
dams south of Kansas g.
The new route to Montana by way of Fo,
Phil Kearney is in, their opinion; unnecessary
as all the supplies and emigration destine
for that territory can be sent up the Mis-
.Sasst = S41ss5. III .a11sA tres