Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-01-16
That Lost Tribe.

In these perifous times it is well to be
particular. A poet once intimated that
there was nothing IN name, and insist
ed that rose would smell just as sweet
if called something else; but he evident
ly did not understand himself Last win
ter an appropriation was asked for tribe
of Indians called the Teton Sioux )"
$500.000 was voted by Congress, and
100000 of this has been expended. Some
lurid genius discovered short time since,
however, that in Indian vocabulary there
was no such tribe as the Teton Sioux,
and thereupon indignations welled the 80
SONS of the Confederate patriots. That
money should be paid to savages without
knowing their proper designation was hor
rible, and it was freely intimated that
those having the disbursements of this
money had put it into their pockets. The
changes have been rung on this Indian
business, and charges Of embezZlement
preferred, when the writer's knew as little
about the actual truth as they did about
legislation of New leland. The fact is
there has never been any reason for sup
posing that any portion of this money
has been misapplied. 1t was plainly sta
ted at the time the appropriation was
made that the true name of this tribe of
Indians was not positively known. They
were generally called Teton Sioux, under
this name the money was appropriated.
When the bill was under discussion in
the Senate, Senator Window spoke of
them as follows:
Il have no affection for these Indians
but have some regard for the people of
Montara, and if there is any possibility of
keeping these Indians quiet by feeding
them, L am in favor of doing it rather
than attempting to.fight them again.
Sir, we had a little experience in our
efforts to punish these same tribes of In
dlans IN 1864 and 1865. after the massacre
in Minlesot The military authorities
sent large expedition into the north
western region to punish them, to bring
them into subjection. Sir, what was the
result OF this large expenditure Of over
$6.003000? The estimate of the result of
the labor shows that about one Indian
was killed for $4,000 expended, if / recol-
lect the statement Alright. / am not in
favor OF that sort OF expenditure
There is such tribe as the Teton
Sioux so named. | do not know wheth-
er Teton is the proper name but there
are about $4,000 of these Indians congrc-
gated from all he various tribes of Sioux
in and around Fort Peck Whether "Tc-
tom be the proper name or not do not
know ; and | think the Indians will not
stand upon thc lame"
At the same time Senator Ramsey ad
ded his testimony as follows.
Mr.. Ramsey simply wish to say one
word III vlndication of this ancient desic-
nation of the Sioux Indians, Teton. 1t
is as old, the Senator from Illinois will
lind, as any OF our Indian treaties with the
Sioux. The Teton Sioux were known to
the earliest French voyagers and mission
aries who came into the Northwest, and
from these earliest days the far Western
Sioux west of the Minnesota River were
designated as Teton Sioux. They
among themselves described themselves
as the seventh great council fire
No one doubts that these Senators un-
derstood what they were talking about,
or that there is tribe called, whether
properly or otherwise, the Teton Sioux.
We have as little doubt that the money
appropriated for them has been properly
expended, and the vague and indirect
charges made against the parties having
the distribution of it is in keeping with
the other reckless statements regarding
the public business. The letter of our
special correspondents this morning throws
additional light upon the matter, and ex-
plains whatever ofmYstery has enveloped
it.-Inter Ocea7e