The New York herald., 1872-10-23
A Sensible Powwow at the IN
terror Department.
Twenty-Five Braves in Full
Feather Present.
Commissioner Walker Talks tn
Them Like o Dutch Uncle.
PEACE AND PLENTY OR WAR AND WANT.

WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1872.
Commissioner Walker, OF the Indian Bureau had
final business interview to-day with the Kiowa.
C0manche and Arapahoe chiefs and headmen
brought here by Captain Alvord, as they had not
already closed their business with the Bureau. tho
party numbered about twenty-five and were accom-
panied by their special agents ard Interpreters
General Cowan, Acting Secretary OF the Interior.
whose oicial position explained to the braves.
attended the conference for the purpose OF giving
weight to the straight talk to which they were
treated by the Commissioner.
THE INDIANS OPENED THE COUNCIL
in the usual style, by protesting their anxiety dS
all that the Great Father required, and had NO
other request at present than petition for the
lease OF their beloved Chiefs Saanta and Big Tree
from the Texan prison to which they were some
time ago consigned, III Communication OF their death
sentence for murder.
Commissioner Walker in reply, congratulated
those present on the good disposition tney had
shown in coming to Washington to hear what their
Great Father had to propose for their future good;
but regretted that one band of the Comanches had
positively refused the friendly invitation s6ht them,
as their Great Father
HAD NOW DONE WITH THEM FOREVER,
and when next they heard from him his soldiers
would be the messengers; for, Though the Great
Fathers heart was kind towards those Of his chill
dren who were obedient, the disobedicnt would
find his hand heavy.
The effect of the Commissioners words upon his
dusky auditors was very marked. They exchanged
rapid and uneasy glances, uttered grunt after
grunt. and shuffied uneasily about in surprising
contrast to their usual stolidity. 1t was apparent
that
THE "NEw POLICY, THUS BOLDLY ANNOUNCED
nv rnric and OIL hal
apprehension for their own future, in case OF mis-
behavior. On Thursday the whole band are to call
at the Interior Department to say goodby, and on
that occasion the following despatch will be read
to them by Commissioner walker:-
CHICAGO Oct. l5 1877
Comanches the North Fork OF the Red River killing
twenty whose bodies were found, and capturing
r. il. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General
This will be the first news to our distinguished
visitors Of the death and chAstsement Of their
kinsmen during their absence, and is to be accom-.
panied by an assurance that the proceedings have
met the approval of the Great Father, and that
THE SAME TREATMENT WILL FOLLOW OTHER RE-
CUsANT BANDS.
The despatch was not read to-day, because it waa
not desired TO stamDede the Indians, who mad
pending matters relative to their reservation and
other future arrangements to complete Satants
and Big Tree, the two convicts, are imprisoned at
Huntsville Texas, and, should their bands behave
well for the next two or three years, will probably
be pardoned by the Governor at the request OF the
general government; but there is no present dis
position to yield to Indian pressure
COCHISE PEACEFUL.
General Howard teegraphs to-day that Cochise
assents to the peace policy and processes to have
800 OF his people willing to go with him on
vation. The Indian Bureau, however, doubts that
the waning influence of the aged chief can control
anybody and believes that his outlawed followers
are more likely to dep0se him in favor OF another
leader than to follow MIN into the arms of Howard.
NEW POLICY OR NOT.
The officials OF the Interior Department take ex.
cepti0n TO q despatch in these columns on Monday
last far it characterzes the policy now fairly
started by t0day's proceedings as change Of sys-
TEN, they claiming that the so-called new policy
therein set forth is really the present Quaker policy,
with the penal and other harsher clauses kept out
OF view while the Peace Commission were expert
menting with purely beneficial parts. This state
ment is measurably confirmed by military authori-
ties, who alege its existence from one Of
President Grants earliest Cabinet meetings
of an arrangement by which the Indian
Bureau was to collect the tribes and bands upon
good reservations and place them in charge Of
agents nominated by the different religious socie-
ties Those who refused to 60 upon reserves or
who refused to stay after going on, to be left exclu
stances OF each case might require. They claim
that this arrangement has been wholly disre-
garded and that the incorrigible Indians have
coURrED AND LADEN WITH PRESENTS
and promises. instead OF punishments that
others who had accepted the situation have been
continually tempted to turn out on the warpath
and commit robbery and murder for the sake of
getting presents, being feasted and treated well.
This, the army people claim, is well understood at
every military post and on every reservation In the
~ and ars nS
by Vincent C0lYer, General Howard and such men
to commit outrages for which the army is held re-
sponsbe, while at the same time 1t Is forbidden to
punish the Indians, or their
PUNISHMENT is DENOUNCED AS MASSACRE
statement OF the Chairman and Secretary OF the
Board OF Indian Commissioners yesterday that the
Piegans, Bloods and Black Feet OF Montana are
thoroughly subdued by the new policy OF justice
and Kindness while 1t Is notorious in Montana that
the once dreaded Bloods and Black Feet were COM
philanthropists got hold OF them at all, and that
the Piegans were as untamable as the other two
SET BAKER AND HIS CAVALRY UPON THEN
o few years ago. All these three naughty tribes
have since been SO abject as to extort pity instead
Interior Department Is regarded as new policy by
the War Department. and, whether new or old In
cution The Indian oficias, both OF the Bureau
and Commission consider that the public mistake |
participation Of the army in the work Of pacncation
and preservation OF the Indians. ON the CON
trary, they know that the Indians can
have no better or more intelligent friends
than the army offcers and In now
setting the whole machinery in operation they
place the fullest confidence In the ability and dis
position of Generals Sheridan and Schofeld, the
two division commanders, and their subordinate
commanders, Generals Hancock, Crook, Ord and /
Pope IL is understood that the secretary Of the |
Interior, in his forthcoming report, will fully con-
firm the tenor OF these dispatches renectlng the
sentiments OF the President In carrying out the
future active policy, and that the same will be re-
cd In MesaanA