The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-09
THE INDIAN PEACE couML8SfoN
Meeting at Sc. .LOuis--PermRnent OrgRnt-
zRttOn Of the Board-PLRns aud sugges-
tiOns OF Lieutenant-Ge General sherman,


Meeting nc Ses esLoutR-PermRnemt Organt-
zStiOn Of the Board-PLans aud sugges-
tiOns OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sherman,
Etc. Etc.
FSon, the 81 Loufs Hep,tbIfcda Of IN inst.
The Commissioners from abroad, appointed
by the Government to select reservations and
treat with the hostile Indian tribes, arrived in
the city yesterday, and are registered at the
1he names OF the Commissioners are Colonel
N. G. Taylor, Commissioner OF Indian Affairs
Washington; General John b. sanborn, of Min.
nesota Colonel s; +. Teppan, of Colorado;
Lieutenant-G General w. T. Sherman, General w.
s. Harvey, Senator John B. Henderson, and
General Terry, OF the United States Army, who
is the only Commissioner not present. When
last heard from General Terry was about start
ing from Fort Benton for the mouth of the
Yellow Stone river, and it is expected in order
to join the Commission wherever they may be,
he Will reach them on the route.
The Commissioners held a preliminary meet
ing for the purpose of organizing, yesterday
afternoon, In parlor No. 8, of the Southern. On
motion of General Sherman, Colonel N. G. Tay.
lor was elected permanent Chairman of the
Board, and Mr.. A. s. II. White, of the Indian
Bureau, was appointed Secretary.
A free interchange OF opinions then took
place, in which various plans were talked over
question 10 settle is, whether in the first place
to make a selection of the proposed reservations,
or to assemble the Indians first, aud ascertain
what would suit them best in this particular.
These and several other points were casually
discussed, and the Board then adjourned to
meet again this morning at half past TO- at Gene
raj Sherman's headquarters, when programme
| of operations will be settled upon.
Some OF the members of the Commission
| favor the plan of assembling the hostile bands
| for the purpose of treating with them, at two
| different points, For instance, the Northern
| Cheyennes, the Sioux, and Blackteet tribes, to
be got together with the least trouble say at
| Fort Laramie, while the hostile tribes of the
| South.R comprising the Arapahoes and the
| MI hnr hn 1n1 ok nlVN
Zarah, on the ArkansasIriver. In order to notify
| the Indians when and where to assemble in
| council, 1t will be necessary to send out scouts
| composed of Indians who are on friendly terms
! with the hostile tribes. With regard to the time
| when the Commissioners will leave for the In
dian country of course nothing has been deter
| mined upon. The Indians can only be got
together during the full of the moon, period
| when they start on long journeys. The next full
moon will be in eight days hence, the time being
too short to assemble them together. The next
full moon, subsequent to the first, will occur
| about the beginning of September, during
| which period 1t is probable the time will be
fixed by the Commissioners to meet the Indians
| in council.
General Sherman will provide an escort to
accompany the Commissioners, for which pur.
| pose orders will be issued at once
The purpose that Congress had in view is to
make personal examination of the proposed
| reservations, the Commissioners being autho.
Tized to select as many as four, and to treat with
the Indians with reference to this object. II
the Indians are disposed to peace, and bury the
hatchet, they can have it on favorable terms; if
they reject all such offers of settlement and
mean fight, then the war will be prosecuted in
earnest and with vigor.
With regard to the origin of the movements
in Congress for peaceful solution of the Indian
problem, 1t may be proper to mention, in this
connection, that there are some twelve treaties
pending with various bands of Indians that have
not been acted upon by the Senate. The Com.
mittee on Indian Affairs In the Senate, under
resolution of March q, 1867, were instructed tC
examine personally the reservations upon which
1t was contemplated to remove the Indian:
under pending treaties. The necessity for such
a personal examination is apparent to all who
examine into the subject.
This Committee consists of Senators John B.
Henderson, of Missouri, Chairman; l.. M. Nor
rell, of Maine; E. g. Ross, of Kansas; H. w
Corbett, OF Oregon; j. M. Thayer, of Nebraska
Charles R. Buckalew, of Pennsylvania; and Jas
R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin. NJ. Il. Kretzmar i
the Secretary. The above-named Committee arr
expected to start for the Indian country Il
September.
The present Commission, now in the city, wa
appointed under Mr.. Henderson's bill 'to estat
lish peace with certain hostile Indian tribes,
which was passed towards the close of the lat
extra session. An appropriation OF $3.50, 900 wa
made to carry out the temporary arrangement
with the Indians. The Commissioners are arme
with full powers to make such treaties as the
may deem advisable. The army officers belong
ing to the Commission were designated by tn
President, and the balance by Congress.
The Board is composed of men of eminer
character and distinguished services, and doub
less whatever they do in the arduous under
taking before them will receive the approval {
the country.