New-York tribune., 1868-12-24
OUR INDIAN DIFFICULTIES.


COL, wYNKooP BEFORE THE AMERICAN GEO.
GRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL SOCIETY,"
In response to the request of the American
Geographical and Statistical Society exIndian
f. W. Wynkoop delivered address last evening before
the Society In their at the Cooper Institute on he
Indian troubles Benjamin satham, esq, presided VINO
requested tho Secretary read the letter addressed 10
Col Wynkoop which was done. The following letter.
from the Rev. II. B. WhiTple Episcopal Bishop OF MN
nesota was also read by the Secretary:
FARIBAuLT.sNfinn., Dec s. 1863.
My DEAR FRIEND: did not thinklt would be heees-
ssry to write you so soon again ON behalf qi he poU m
TO asl the Executive Committee Of your Indian Conus
SION 10 employ some @ pSr indian war
have not the proof would appeal over my own sig
nature 10 the people OF America TO stop tins stem OF
i,o"tt Vnn catiuot cure bv wrong; YOU cannot atone
for robbery by murder 1t IS my firm belief that every
provision Of the treaty made with the Indians by the
Peace Commission was violated and they left to destitu
ton last Spring and that by failure OF Congress To make
and 80 to the Buffalo 10 escape death
SecOnd That refusal 10 give them either 1000, OF
the means (arms, &c) to Kill game, Was regarded as
violation Of the treaty. - A., !,
Third: That early as August or september ohcers OF
the United states 20 forgot every principle OF human
y and fear Of God TO issue u order hat no mercy
should he shown to women ana chdIe, ana lntt e1e &
duOns should be fitted out 10 strike dow on the id
ics OF Indians. a.
the Indians killed recently Black Kettle ana Ills party
wero friendy Indians
tty committed by individual indians Oh peaeeaples p s
bands and by hostile bands, this shameless disregard OF
justice as been The most oohardy course we could pave
need not 60 on You know md tho whole world
We guilty before God Of winklng at robbery; we
know 81 Congress knows It, the people know IT, Nil We
escape the sure retrouon OF Gods eternal justice py
seeking 10 murder every lndianf
said you must have a fearless man 10 examine and
plead for the Indian You viii come IN contact ana CON
hict with men who are hOnoTcd by tho whole people
Congress will whtewash Il all overs the press and people
aft. ytlI not nuf La
tales" Human knd like to throw mud on people they
Nonbg could slor rs plqny ne recent eren,s that ne
reform Of ne Hd1m B.Scaa 0'H Hot come through NE
Wien distributing goods recently at Fort wadswerh,
the Chiefs asked TO take the names OF certain squavs
from their lists because wives Of officers and soldiers JUS
tfod their shame by example. Dear brother, time is
short, eternity is long God is Just We must be up and
doing. and God Wi help U.s. Your tiienaand 3EGtaSr
The Chairman then introduced Col. wynkoop, who
spoke as follows: .--...
GTNTIrMFV lu reference 70 your first question ne -
what Induced me TO resign the office held rs agent OF
the Arapahoc aud Cheyenne indians would state that
tho causes have already been set forth In my official
communication 20 tho Department of the Interior, 10
which publicity has been livcn, but have objection
10 rccapitulatc. After hOsues had bean eXsung Tor
short with the Indians O the Upper Arkansas ana
order from tho office OF the Indian bureau % proceed 20
Fort Cobb tho Wachta River, or 10 that vicinity, and
congTcgate at the point might select such Indians as
were disposed 10 DO fucrdy subst and take care ~
the same, 10 act In cooperation Win Cen IAzeh VINO
S1fy ~ lh9 Character. While en- route 10
Fort Cobb learned that tie different columns
hat locality thcir objective point; tat volunteer ree
mcHt from Kansas was marching In the same direction,
might meet under any circumstances. knowing, II fl-
filled my instructions, was only acting IS dccoy 10 In
whore they liable to Do fallen upon Al any moment
aud murdered had nothing ieit me hut 10 resign the
become an accessory tHe crime, which knew must bo
the inevitable consequence, under The state oi nhdirs
point mentioned
In regard 10 the causes OF the Indian war which has
own personal kuowledge Ton.d say, without hSs1n @
our ovn ncople TCn wears ago WAS one q party OF
II adyenturers who started from tho TERRITORY ef Kansas
ialns that thcn known as tho ikcs Peak
country, now the Territory ot Co,orahO. DuIlhg
GUS bands OF Indians, VIZ: Kowas, Conanchcs
Aarahoes Cheyennes end Apse1&es: & Ih99,augs m 81 hj %
Rocky Mountains We were treated Hospitality by them
aud with the utmost kindness We were the van sft oil
army Of emlTnntf, VINO We're soon 70 lake ps,sson
of THEN hunting grounds, aud II w0n!d nave Dh ut
simple effort FOR them to have eI,ed us a, tnat n1%e %
had they YET SO dl.poscd BlI on tne c3h,! VIII ] ,o
nucleus which wo formed had gathered togcthsr hunu
reds ol gold seekers 80 the mouth Of Cherry Creek where
now si'1d, the city Of Denver and the Indians knew
that supposed treasures OF these mountains Woud az
ther ieis sun their intercourse 0fthe most pacific
character, and rs tho emigration contnuen 10 now IN
stance n which the friendly relations existing between
the indian and tho white man we're interrupted b dI
,,rr rcc of man I'm pOwer tho commander of military
District I'm which was included trc Territory of Colorado
il eyDdnomous with infamy Col. J. NJ. ChlvingtOn
Having had hi command reduced by frequent ciH5 Tor
troops to take the cld against those who were endcayor
uC 10 deeyCT our Union found that II was necessary 10
do something 10 retain him In the most exalted position
he had ever hcd-that OF commander OF military as
trct where troops were not really required le therc-
fore Thought 10 was polite TO inangurae an indian war,
Finding good opportunity on tho preense thaJ GER
ram hu ig party OF Cheyenne Indians had run OIL some
stock which they had found on the pr9e, anI at tne
mi o,uers he OrlcrCd a detachment OF his troops to
make an attack upon them. They naturally defended
which lives were lost aud from i9' arose the cry
Of Indian wm Under me orders on & t, h ,n9
might meet The Indians, in retaliation for the wrongs
that had been imposed upon thein' n,turnly con-
nty; bnt after this state OF affairs had existed ior
couple OF months under thc lnnuencg I fro 1ne
the highways and tie vicinity OF ne settlements
and sued for peace AZ Sosscre Of sand creek
with the details Of winch almost every one IS ianlh
where Indian women and children murdered IN cold
HOOD Inv United states troops ard thoir bodies muialcd
ia the most horrible manner VIII pass IIo tnls soh
first aVoke to the realization Of the state Of Indian alrs
which attention had before been dalracledp ny our tt5
tine farc-and the matter appeared OF such moment
10 investigate The Committee consisted OF sobnt0s IOs
ter and DoOlttle and Representative lsOss ana ther re-
port 10 which publicity has been gwen, NOT ohy SHOWS
that these poor Indians were tue agsneteu put tt he
white rapac0us lh MS cruelty; ms y result VI
the report the said Committee feace commission WIS
appointed 10 treat with these wronged Indians, Whch
CaInnssiou, numbering among its members such non
orcd names as Harney, saDborn. and kt Carson
mot council at the mouth OF the Lille Afkahsh-'
I'm Kansas In the month Of October, 1865, inade hch
treaty as was perfectly satisfactory to the Indians anu
which the Government should have sustained Dut
when tho said treaty submitted 10 the uhlted
states Senate there were such antndments mils
nrar In s ranGcaton as entirely changed the face uf
The document; not withstandDg Their kh0Wehgc mat
the Government had not fulfilled It's promises the Indians
hnrc braycly M under their WRONGS and remained III
SmIy with their white brothers From the date OF the
WAS no overt act committed by them people, but In