The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-06-17
INpIANs at wAsHrNaToN.

The Most Remarkable Indian Coun-
Gil Ever Held IN Washington
Great Sagacity and Diplomacy
Displayed by Red Cloud-He Is
Chief Of Thirty mine Nations.
WASHINGTON, June 10.
Red Cloud and party this morning had IL
final council with Secretary Cox and Com
missioner Parker The Secretary made a
speech, saying that some of the requests
made by the Indians concerning rations and
allowing them traders would be acceded to,
and the government would do all in its power
to make them comfortable and happy. He
announced that they had already received
some presents in the shape of blanket, etc,
and would receive more In New York on their
way home. He repeated wha5 the President
had said concerning Fort Fetterman, alt must
remain" They would be started on their
homeward journey Monday, which informa-
tiOn was received by the Indians with unmis
taxable signs of delight.
Red Cloud spoke in reply, cvidencinS most
certainly his dissatisfaction at the determine
tion of the government not to remove Fort
Fetterman. He said there was no necessity
for its continuance, and Its presence was II
useless burden and expense to the government
He also took exceptions again to roads run
ming through his country, and intimated that
if trouble arose it would be the fault Of the
Great Father.
Red Cloud made another speech, i'll which
he said that the troops in his country were
all afoot, and the government was throwing
its money away for nothing. The officers
there are all whisky drinkers. The Great
Father sends out there whiskey drinkers,
because he does not want them round him
here. l do not allow my nation or any white
man to bring drop of liquor into my country;
if he does that is the last of him and his liquor
too; Spotted Tail can drink as much as he
pleases on the Missouri river, and they can
kill one another if they choose. l do not hold
myself responsible for what Spotted Tail and
the traders do there. When you buy me any
thing with my money want you to buy me
what is useful. do not want dirty -four,
rotten tobacco and soldiers clothes dyed black,
such as you bought for Spotted Tail. only
tell you what is true. You have had a great
war but after it was all over you permitted
the chiefs who had been fighting to come
back.
Secretary Cox explained the treaty of 1867
to the Indians, and said the best way is to be
friendly and deal honestly with each other
The last treaty made, provided for railroad
to be built. The Sioux agreed not to disturb
it, and that it should be built now. If the
railroad interferes with the hunting, we will
i EIy 10 EOOu Jllo ny 1SGh41l5 yOu
We mean that the government shall keep the
white men from going into the Indian coun-
| try and also as we'll as bad Indians from going
| into the white country. This is what the
troops are there for. If any of our people al
the forts do not do what is right, the Presi-
dent will punish them and send better men in
| their places. The same treaty gives the line:
of the Indian country. The map of the Indi.
an country was produced, and the secretary
explained the boundaries fixed in the treaty
of 1867, Red Cloud looking on with great
interest
Red Cloud said he was asked to sign tbs
treaty merely to show that he was peaceable
and not to grant their lands. He continued
saying, this is the first time 1 have heard Of
such treaty; I never heard of it, and do not
mean to follow it, want to know who wa'
the interpreter who interpreted these thing
to the Indians.
The names Of three were mentioned, and he
said: 81 know nothing about it, it was never
explained to me.
| Bear-in-Grass said, the Great Spirit hear:
me to-day. tell nothing but what is true
when 1 say these words of the treaty were
not explained. 1t was merely said the treaty
was for peace eand friendship among the whites
When we took hold of the pen they said they
would take the troops away so we could raise
|
Secretary Cox explained that the treaty wa;
signed by more than two hundred different
Sioux of all the bands.
Red Cloud-I do not say the commissioners
/ lied, but the Interpreters were wrong. nev.
er heard word, only what was brought tC
nv camp. When forts were removed came
to make peace, you had your war houses or
forts. When you removed them signed a
treaty of peace. We want to straighten thing
up.
Secretary Cox-I have been very careful SC
that no mistakes could be made and that om
word should be as open as daylight, so we
may understand what binds the Sioux and
ourselves. We are trying to get Congress to
carry out our promises, and we want the Indi-
ans TO do their part. We simply say to them
this is the agreement made so far as We re-
member. We have copies printed. We will
give one to Red Cloud so it can be interpreted
to him exactly what it is.
Red Cloud said that all the promises made
III the treaties had never been fulfilled. The
object of the whites was to crush the Indians
down to nothing. The Great Spirit would
Judge these things hereafter. All words
sent never reached the Great Father. They
were lost before they got here. I am chief Of
thirty-nine nations. will not take the paper
with me- it is all lies.
The secretary distributed copies of the treaty
to the interpreters, agents and traders present,
and adjourned the council till tomorrow, in
order in the meantime that the provisions of
the treaty could be explained to the Indians.