The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-23
THE MINNEAPOLIS.
A Big Council With the Bank
rupt Braves of Wisconsin.
Governor Washburn Talking Tribe Away to
the Indian Territory-Indian Objections
to Fresh Fields and Pastures New
A Pitiful Tale to Her
aid Correspondent

MADISON Wis, juno Is, 1873.
Whatever concerns the aborigines, now fast dis
appearing from the face of this continent is OF
paramount interest, for the red man, by his stub
bornness and treachery, is bringing upon the rem
nants OF his race the eyes OF the civilized world.
The Indian and his scalping ground are attracting
unusual attention. The M0doc campaign has
stirred the whole country. The history OF the
bloody dongs OF this treacherous tribe has been
given to the readers of the HERALD with unpar-
alelcd minuteness and fidelity. The nation will
watch with extraordinary interest the progress OF
Stanley's column across Dakota, now the land OF
the bloody Sioux. and win be fully informed Of
its movements for few weeks since. ! shook
hands with an enterprising HERALD brother NOV
ing to join the column. The story of Crook and the
Apaches Is well known, while Mackenzie's raid
after the kicking KicKapoos is still topic of con-
versation. Three days since, pursuant to instruc-
tons from the HERALD office, armed myself with
Faber No. and set out for Sparta to attend the
wINNEBAGo INDIAN COUNCIL,
which was held six miles east Of that place. His
Excellency Governor Washburn, the big white
chef of Wisconsin, was in attendance to urge upon
the Wlnnebagoes the necessity of their immediate
departure to their reservation in the Indian Terri
tory. Some Jour or Eve hundred Indians had
assembled to assist IN the big council and with
their tawdry skin and motley garments made
picture which was full OF interest. individually
they were interesting only because OF their gro
tesqueness, but grouped in solemn council they
presented scene which, to eyes accustomed to
view civilization as seen in cities, was queer, but
picturesque. Governor Washburn opened the
council and as his remarks tell the object of the
gathering and something Of the history OF the
Winnebagoes reproduce them.
II need not tell YOU" the Governor said,
"that the Great Father has appointed
Captain Hunt to attend to your
removal to the Indian Territory. l want to tell
you now why the President and the people want
you to remove. 1t IS now thirty-fve years since
you sold your lands to the United States. The
government then paid you large sum and now
owes you million dollars annuity fund, amount
ing yearly to $4,000, to those members oil the tribe
living on the reservation IN Nebraska. You get no
part of tins money. When you sold the territory
you agreed to leave the State in eight months. The
whites have been kind and lnougent to you.
Now so many whites have settled on the land 1t is
NOT AGREEABLE TO HAVE YOU REMAIN HERE
LONGER.
They have petitioned me for your removal; it will
be better for you TO go, for your new home VIII be,
we wish 1t TO be, safe and pleasant. At govern
ment expense you were permitted to send dele
CATION your own choosing to examine your new
homes. If they have told you that 1t was not
beautiful and fertile country, they have lied to you.
1t Is an excellent country, admirably adapted Tor
an Indian settlement. IL is now the policy OF the
government TO have all the Indian tribes, not on
reservations, settled in this territory. We appre-
cate your feelings when called upon to leave your
THE cHERoKKEs WERE RELUCTANT,
but were forced to go to their new country. The
Sacs and Foxes were also unwilling to depart; but
now that they are settled in their new homes they
are pleased and satisfied with them. The Indian
Territory is larger than Wisconsin, and but small
part is occupied by any tribe ii the portion you
saw does not suit you, there is still large region
for you to select from a the Greek r Indians a are
you to 90 In the hot weather Some of
You, l hear say that you viii not go at
all unless you choose. II you have any such
idea you must correct it, for you will
be required to leave the State this Fall The gov
ernment has appropriated a sufficient amount OF
money Tor your removal ana maintenance. When
upon the reservation you viii get your portion OF
the annuity. 1t Is my duty to tell you-and you
must not misunderstood me--that you must move
this Fall 1t will be much better for all parties con-
cerned that you go quietly. Your ponies and all
that you can avoid going by buying land here; but
this is mistake, Tor you are the wards OF the gov
eminent, ana cannot hold lands without its con-
sent.n Then arose
one of the last of the Winnebagoes. There was in
science in his eye, though suavity graced his
speech lie informed Governor Washburn that he
was not a father. simply man and brother He
spoke OF the visits OF the chiefs to Washington
many years ago, and said that the Great Father
had declared that the Indians were his Children
and that soldiers would not be sent among them
aud that they need not leave the State. Here his
Grafton reached an unlooked-for peroration, and
his voice was no further lifted in the council, for
THE GENERAL CHIEF wINNEsuEIK,
sage in council to offer his protest against
m0va He Is an earnest, eloquent old man. He
spoke something as ioliows:-"The God who made
u all has cleared the skies. to-day, and we viii
talk kindly shaking hands as brothers should.
went to Washington last Winter about this re-
mOva. The Great Father said the whites were
getting tired OF you, but claim you nv orphan
children. We have been moved before. When we
move a short distance many Of our children die !;
ii they go long distance fear all VIII die. Ii we
fra tn IN WI In n u
and kill us-we would die IRON the heat. There
are few oil us left and you take us there it Will be
the end of us. We will try and DO what our Great
Father wishes us to do. We will try and live like
civilized people,"
talked 10 the unhappy red men, admonishng them
not to hearken TO bad counsels. II any one should
counsel them to resist removal he would arrest
him. Rations would be furnished to such as could
not pick berries or work, and the sick would he
provided or 1t was Governor Washburn's pro-
their tribe to look at their reservation and If they
wished, visit Washington The chiefs asked for ten
DAYS IN which TO make a selection, and the council
broke up for the purpose Of assisting as actors
spectators in scene unusual within the borders
OF one of the United States, though common
enough in its Territories.
AN INDIAN DANCE
was on the programme. A drum was pounded in
dreary d,scordsnce with howngs OF the human
voice, while bedevllied braves, nourishng toma-
hawks and swords, moved in queer contortions
about a limited circle. IL was ptiable to witness
the crlnglng complacancy with which the sturdy
red men passed round the hat for contributions,
but IL was credtabe to their honesty that they
divided the earnings OF their odd performance
with perfect impartiaity
THE HERALD CORRESPONDENT
learned from Winneshek that the Winnebagoes
were loath TO leave, not so much because they
would quit Wisconsin, which has so long been their
home, and not at all because they thought the In
dian Territory an uninvlting place, but because
they feared that some hostile tribe would make
war upon them. The spirit mas departed from the
Winnebagoes; there Is no longer about them the
odor OF war pant; they have no young men who
would go gladly upon the warpath. They are
bankrupt braves, waiting for the slow but sure
determination to which heir race is doomed.
the desired removal VIII be made.
RAILROAD DEADHEADISM
Agreement OF Railroad Managers TO Issue