New-York tribune., 1868-06-16
THE INDIAN COUNTRY.
GEN. sHERMAN's TREATY WITH THE NAvAJos.

| GEN. sHEEMAN's TREATY WITH THE NAvAJos
| From Our Special Correspondent
| FORT SUMNER, NEW MEXICO, June /, 1868.
Lieut.. Gen. William r. Sherman and Col. s.
Tappan Of the Indian Peace Commission arrived here
few days ago from Fort Laramie Dakota Territory,
post about 700 miles north of this place Already treaty
of peace has entered into with the EavajOs tribe
now Numbering 1000 and a few hundred souls pro-
yidng for their early removal back to their old country
in the mountains the head of the Kee San JUAN
within the boundaries Of the proposed Territory Of Ma
vao The Indians are perfectly beside themselves with
10Y at prospect Of returning TO their old homes
in the mountains from which they fOrcbly driven
by the officer then commanding this Department To our
disgrace as a nation. fought these Navajo Indians
thirteen years. destroyed all their property drove them
from their homes. put them here as 10 prison, merely 10
their and childrenwe did all this the side Of
the hdnapper-punishing the Indian. killing them
reducing them to imprisonment and the most abject
poverty by defending their hearhstoDes from the raw
ers ~Hen 10 ba me donS @ hass o%s
and outraged people In the Spring OF 1864 President
Lincoln ADVISED !he ciyi anu nty t Si tns
Indians from prostitution and peonage, which was at
tempted but the Indians still complain that their chill
dren held in captivity by some OF the Mexicans not
withsandng the act Of Congress making IT criminal
oense TO do So Gen Sherman deserves the thanks OF
memberance OF posterty, for MS able ana noble
conduct in the settlement of this Indian question He
money from his military departments, believing that
Congress will raify his action they do not Cen sher-
Commission discharged their clerks and employees and
doing the work themselves IN order 10 save
pense Congress has not yet made any appropriation OF
money 70 enable this Commission to do tho work assigned
them.
on the 2sth OF May the Commissioners met q delegation
Of the Navaos in council their near Fort
Sumner, the Indians being represented principally BY
their chief, Barboncte, who acted as spokesman He
gave effective narrative OF the hardshps the tribe
had undergone since their removal TO this reserya-
tion. and expressed their wish to be sent back
to their old The suggestion Of Gen. Sherman that
lands should be assigned them in the Indian Territory
south OF Kansas not acceptable; and was finally
agreed that the United States should send them back to
their old hsunts and give them tho TO start life
But before leaving the place council Barbarcite
said 1t was customary for the Nayaos TO counsel with
their women and take their advice In all matters OF bus
and therefore he wished to have them present at
the council the next day that they might all see and
vote In our councils and follow their adyce they are
one with u.s." or course the Commissioners consented
that the women should come, and they desired take
mems rights" Indians in America They say that their
God is a female The generally own the property
men do the outdoor work. and have been engaged for
years In pastoral and agriculturl pursuits
AS Gen. sherman with map spread OUT before hiIn'
walton in their old country and explained TO them the
purposes OF Government 70 give them country and
themseyes tie eyes of the chief Barboncite became
moist, his lip trembed the blood hushed his face, his
nerves quivered and his whole frame shook with the
threw his around the General and with an elo-
quence far SURPRISING art exclaimed do thls Tor my
people and will look upon you as our father ana as
our mother. II TO that you are god" II
was a proud moment for our hero-he who marched
down TO the broke the back OF the Rebellion and
saved his country Now, out In this wilderness win.
dicating his treatment OF the Indians the honor and
good will OF our Government providing future ana
saw and appreciated the acton-reazed the fact that
people the protectors and not the de-
1ooSed SOon Gen sherman as god and is it TO be won.
dered at, after all they have suneredf