New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-09
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

To he President ofhe United States:
The undersigned, Commissioners appointed
under the Act Of Congress, approved July TO-
establish peace with certain hostile Indian tribes"
authorized by said act TO call together the chiefs and
head such bands Of Indiansas then wsging
war; the purpose Of ascertaning their reasons for
hostility and II thought ADVISABLE to make treaties with
them having in view the following objects
First: To remove, il possible, the causes OF war
settlements and the safe building OF the railroad looking
Third: To suggest or inaugurate some plan for the
civilization OF those Indians.
Congress- in the passage Of the law, seemed to indicate
the policy Of collecting at early day. all thendians
east of the Rocky Mountains reservations,
and with that view 1t made duty TO examine and
select district districts Of country having sufficient
TO receive all the Indian tribes occupying territory
on permanent reservations under treaty stpuations
IL required that these reservations should have
placed them support themselves, and that they
should be so located not TO interfere with established
highways OF travel and the contemplated railroads 10 he
Pacific Ocean. The subsequent action and approval OK
Congress will be necessary however to dedicate the dis
ct districts selected to the purposes OF exclusive
When the act was passed was being openly waged
by several tribes and great diversity Of opinion
existed among the officials Of the Government, and no
sdspaS To meet IT, sc%e Thought peaceful negotiation
would succeed while Others had no hope Of peace until
As concession to the latter sentiment largely pre-
vsing, well to meet the possible contingency Of
vded that in case peace could not by treaty.
should the Indians fail 10 comply with the stpnlaos
President might call out Four regiments Of mounted
troops for the OF S IT INC
ganzed by selecting N G. Taylor President and A. IL
TO- a with the 6he, and leading
warriors OF these hostile tribes They were roaming over
tent and much Of It unknown to hunters and trap
pers OF the white race. Small war parties constantly
would suddenly strike border settlements killing the
and carrying into captivity the women and children
dreds OF miles from each other would be attacked the
same day, perhaps In the same hour Overland mail
railroad and military stations unguarded by soldery
were in perpetual danger. All safe transit across tho
Plains had ceased To without soldiers hazardous
in the exreme to with them forbade reasonable hope
securing peaceful interviews with the enemy When the
Indian goes war; he enters upon its dreadful work
with earnestness and determination; he goes on an
him 1t may be because with him all wrongs have be
redressed by In intercourse with him We have
redTes Ho knows mo- law except that Of retaliation
He wages with the pertinacy. and, indeed in
vction Of the right proseeutes his in court His
only compromise is to have his rights, real aneied,
he surenders and is the more exeusabe therefor
that he accepts capula'on at the hands OF Others
In war; he not ask expect mercy He then tho
consistent that lie does not grant mercy so lttle
that he often hestates to conade. Proud himself and
yet conscious OF the contempt OF the white man. when
suddenly aroused by new wrong the remembrance
OF old ones still singing his SOUL he 10 become
EXPRESSED by himself "bnd with rage" II he fails
see The olive branch or flag Of truce the hands OF the
peace commissioner, and In savage ferocy adds
to his victims, we should remember tDat Tor two
and half centuries he has been driven back from ciy
zaton where his passions might have been subjected To
influence of education and sOftened by the lessons OK
| Christian charity
This difficulty meeting at the very threshold OF our
duties had to be before anything OF practical
| character could be accomplished Fortunately we had
the commission combination OF the civil and military
powers necessary to give strength ana eseney TO our
commanders of posts aud those Of Commissioner
Taylor superintendent and agents under his charge ia
the proper districts perfect concert OF action was re-
cured and according 10 our Instructions the hostile In
dams of Western Dakota were notified that we wouhl
meet them at Laramie the 18th day OF September
and those then south OF the Arkansas, including Che
| ehes that We would meet them for consultation
point Fort Larned or about the 18th day OK
While runners being employed and sent out 10
notify them OF 3ne PnSsc ann pace stated .J e Somm
SION resolved to occupy the time intervening before the
first meeting in examining the country the Upper Mis-
souri, River The steamer st. Johns chartered and
such goods purchased as were thought suitable as pres
| ents to the Indians.
on the 18th Of August we met at Fort Leavenworth and
took the statement Of MaiorGen Hancock, Gov Craw-
proceeded to Omaha Nebraska and took the stateent
| OF Maior-Gen. Augur and others At Yankton We met
Gov Faux OF Dakota and took his evidence Oh subjects
embraced in our duties. Gov Faux, at request,
companed the Commission up the river and was present.
the subsequent interviews with the Indians OF his
Owing to the low stage of water our progress up the
river was retarded, and failed 10 reach Fort
Rice intended on the 90th OF August, point IL
miles the mouth OF the Big Cheyenne River was
reached when it was found necessary to turn back in
order to MI our several engagements made with the In.
dams on the river up and then reached Fort
Laramie by the 18th of September.
on the return trip councils were held with various
bands OF the Sioux or Dakota Indians at Forts suy and
Thompson and also at Yankton, Ponca and Santa SIOUX
Reservations full reports Of which will be found in tho
appendix Although these Indians along the Mission
River not hostile, and do not therefore egmately
come within the scope OF duties assigned TO u.s. yet 10
thought quite important, In determining whether tho
country itself was M for an Indian Reservation to exc
into the condition OF those there, and espec
lly fhOsQ o. In ~ ~
The time given too short TO make anything Ike
personal inspection Of large district OF unnhab-
tied country as that which lies north OF Nebraska be-
the Missouri River the east and the Black Hills
on the west, and 10 which public attention Is now being
very generally directed home for the more northern
We took evidence OF those who had raversed this re-
gon in reference 10 the SOIL climate and productions,
which evidence will be found In the appendix To this
subject shall again allude when come 10 speak of
reservations for Indian settlement.
In this connection, however before returning 10 thu
thread Of narrative 10 Is duty to remark that thu
condition of those tribes demands prompt and serious at
altogether inappropriate. They TO been made
total ignorance OF their numbers and disposition and
in utter disregard of their wants Some OF the agents
among them should be removed and men appointed
who by honesty fair dealing, and unseltish devotion
duty, secure their respect and confidence Where the
present treaties fail to designate particular place
home for the tribe, they should be changed.
Returning 10 Omaha the 18th OF September the
steamer was discharged and Immediately proceeded
TO the North Platte the Pacific Railroad, where
found considerable number OF the Sioux and Northern
Cheyennes OF whom had been friendly while others
had but recently been engaged in war. council was
held with them, which at time threatened TO result
in good but finally full and perfect understanding
was arrived at which, though not then nor even yet re-
duced to writing have every reason to believe has
been faithfully kept by them.
1t at this council that the hitherto untred policy
In connection with Indians of endeavorng to conquer by
kindness was nauguraed Swift Bear, Brute chief.
then and faithful friend OF the whites had inter-
ested himself to induce the hostile bands TO come into
this council and had promised them, II peace were made.
that ammunition should be given them 10 XIII game Tor
hut that had haen