The New York herald., 1874-09-30
OUR GENTLE ABORIGINES.
Views Of Peace Com mmfssfoner c. G. Coz
The Savages To Be Educa ated, Civilized
and Made SelE-Sust lining.

Views Of Peace Commissioner c. G. Cox
The Savages To Be Educated, Civilized
and Made lining.
Yesterday HERALD representative had an ex.
tended Interview at the ST. Nicholas Hotel with
DR.. G. Z. Cox, OF Washington, one OF the special
Indian commissioners. This gentleman Is widely
known as the former Commissioner or Pensions,
Lieutenant Governor OF Maryland in lS65-67 and
now OF toe Washington Board of Health. He was
lately associated, by appointment OF the honor-
able the Secretary of the Interior, with the Right
Rev. Bishop Hare Rev. Mr. hindman and MIR. X.
b. Lines in the special Commission to visit the
ROWING TRIBES OF SIOUX,
Minnecongoes Sanarees, Uncapapas and others,
ior the purpose OF persuading them 20 abandon
their nomadlc habits and accept homes in the
sioux reservations
hEPoRrER-Were you authorized to make The
ihoiahs any proposition in return for their aban-
oohheht OF any of ther treaty rightsY
CohAissIoNER-Certainly We offered them in toto
$4,000 IN presents for so doing One or the objects
OF our MISSION was to remove the wetsrone Agency,
where there was an almost comuete absence Of
timber and very poor water, to some point further
east, as near as possible to the Missouri River in
order TO erect an immense saving in land transpor-
tation. Upon explorations being made, however,
we found no place suitable. although we finally
located 1t near the Red Cloud Agency about ten
miles distant on Beaver Creek. and greatly to our
satisfaction, the Indians almost unanimously ap-
proved OF our selection.
THE BLACK HILL COUNTRY.
REPoRTER-Did you find the Black Hills country
as rich and tempting as General custer has SO
glowlngly described lts
CoMNlssIONER-NO. Myjudgment is that it is suit.
able neither for agricultural nor mineral purposes
and, as lar as went, could detect no auriferous
deposits, or evidences OF them. left our party at
the base OF the Black Hill mountains, however,
at Ash Spring-and returned to Colorado to recu-
perate my health, which was some what broken. l
stopped at all the Indian camps on tile route, and
had p0wwows with the red cheftans in their
tepees, or tents, ana found them quite lavOrably
disposed Spotted ran and Yellow Hair were in
the general councils and when the rest OF the
| Commissioners returned the Indians gave their
decision. as they had promised and that was
tney agreed to give up their land after lone more
big hunt"
REPoRrERaDoctor. may ask your views in gen.
| erai upon the subject OF Jhe reservations, the
treaties ana the proper management OF the ln-
! dams
good deal of mlsapprehensiou in regard 70 the
treaty OF 1865. THIS was agreed upon by COM
mission or which General Sherman was one 1t
was unparalleled III It's generous concessions to
the Indians. but by 1t important objects were IN
tended to be secured. The Union Pacific Railroad
! great work should not be disturbed by hostile
tribes; therefore they received concessions OF lana
! the government agreed to close up its military
! roads, dismantle its forts-including Forts Reno,
/
provide education for them ana tender them boun-
! ties IN farming. No wonder that there was pub
The sixteenth article of the treaty should be abrO
| gated. 1t shuts out from settlement an important
part OF the country; 1t gave the Indians the right
to roam over and occupy unmolested all that coun-
| try north OF North Platte and east OF Big Horn
mountains, embracing the largest
PORTION OF WYOMING TERRITORY,
ali this being unceded land. Now the people or
wyoming properly complain that they are shut
out by this provision from settling IN this fne
agricultural Territory and are deprived Of its re-
sources. The northeast and northern portions OF
have no doubt If the restrictions as to white settle
ments were removed there would be within two
years from 10000 to 80, 900 inhabitants there. I
! think modest sum would purchase from the
Indians the right to the land as the hunting IS
very, poor there. the savages only shooting lew
antelopes In the wilds, and II would be ultimately
OF immense advantage to the Indians. for 1t would
restrict them to their reservations. AS long
as their n0madic life Is tolerated depredalon5
will never cease, nor can they be brought under
control In connection with this question three
catlon. This must be the superstructure on which
must rest the whole civilization OF the Indian. At
that school now organized could have for
scholars from one to two hundred youths of both
sexes. Second, the presence OF law and It's exc
cutOn. AS long as the Indians can commit mur.
ders of which no notice is taken by tue govern
ment, so long VIII they be reckless. Let swift and
certain punishment follow crime. Thlrd, render
tie savage II not product at least selfsustan-
ing Instead OF the Department of Industry try
ing 10 promote agriculture In a country not ada pted
for 1t let 1t substitute
! GRAZING AND HERDING,
WnlCh IS more IN c0nsOnance with their life habits
qualities and resources OF the soil. II possible a
region should be segregated large enough to main
tain the entire Sioux nation, with their cattle and
herds They should be required to condne them
selves within those limits and assist in their own
! maintenance. The present poiIcy OF the general
government renders them idle and vicious and
as Burton says, "Ideness is the devils cushion on
which His Majesty sanity repOses.o Pay visit
TO one OF their camps, and you find picture OF
Arcadia. 'LO, the poor (f) Indian" is provided by
the paternal government once month with beef
MS only trouble being to Kill it. his squaws dress
1t and cook It, The males seem to have nothing TO
do but to lie around their tent doors and play with
their papOOses in the sunshine. Their horses
browse around the camps in the summer in tho
rich prairie grass, and In the winter to secure
their ood 1t is only neediul to add little red will
low.
There is a tract of land sixty or eighty miles
wide which would recommend for their serre-
CATION 1t IS situated south of Red Cloud Agency
including the valleys OF Running wafer and White
River, extending easJwardly toward the Missouri
River. The Ogallalas, ArapahOes, Cheyennes and
other tribes are located in this vicinity and as the
Uncapas and Uncapapas who claim the smoky
Hill reRi0n-have become more docile lately the
Ogallalas have already sent their young warriors
with presents to invite them to that agency
| REPORTER-When will the report OF the Commits
siOners be presentedY
| COMMISSIONER-We meet in Washington in n te "
! days to make our final reports and as we belong
/ to no 'rings" IL will be perfectly Independent
one.