The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-15
THE BLACK HILLS.

ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTERs-No TREssPAss-
no To BE ALLowED-A LETTER TO THE GOV
ERNoR OF DAKOTA.
| WASHINGTON, Sept. S.-Since the declara-
| ton of Gen. Sheridan that no one would be
allowed to visitthe Black Hills country with
out authority from the interior department,
meaning its authorized agents, that depart
ment has been in receipt of a large number
of letters asking permission to 90 there, and
| for the benefit of large class the following
letter is made public:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, Sept. s, 1874.
SIR acknowledge the receipt OF your
letter ofthe 9TH inst referring to the asso-
Citations that are forming for the invasion of
that part of the territory embracing the
Black Hills, notwithstanding the existin 2
treaties with the Sioux Indians, and request
ing such suggestions for the guidance and
benefit of the citizens of the territory as
| may be considered appropriate by the de-
partment. and in reply would say that in
the second article of the treaty between the
United States and the different tribes of
Sioux Indians, concluded April 10Th, 1868.
vol. Is Up. 36-15, p. 636, the United 81 atss
agree that the following district of country,
to-wit: commencing on the east bank of
| the Missouri river, where the 10th parallel
along the low water mark down the said
| last bank to the point opposite where the
northern line of the State of Nebraska
strikes the river, thence west across the said
| river and along the northern line of Nebras-
ka to the 10th degree of longitude west of
| Greenwich, thence north on the said NERD.
| ian to a point where the 10th parallel of
| north latitude intercepts the same, thence
due east along the said parallel to the place
of beginning, and in addition all along
reservations on the east bank of the said
river shall be and the same is set apart for
the absolute and undisturbed use and occu-
patton of the Indians herein named, and
\ for such other friendly tribes or individual
Indians, as from time to time they may be
willing, with the consent of the United
States, to admit amongst them, and the
United States now solemnly agree that no
persons, except those herein designated and
| authorized so to do, and such officers,
| agents and employees of the govern
ment as may be authorized to enter upon
THE INDIAN RESERVATIONS
in the discharge of duties enioined by law,
shall ever be permitted to pass over, settle
upon or reside in the territory described in
this article, or in such territory as may be
4 added to this reservation for the use of the
| said Indians, and henceforth they will and
do hereby relinquish all claims or right in
and to any portion of the United States and
| within the limits aforesaid, and except as
hereinafter provided. The foregoing section
prescribes who shall be allowed to enter this
territory so set apart for the Indians, and
expressly states that none others shall be
permitted to pass over, settle upon, or reside
thereon. The only power to alter this pro-
vision is that which made the treaty, and
then it must be done with the consent of the
Indians. What is known as the late
exploring expedition of Gen. Custer is
merely military reconnaissance of the
country, for the purpose of ascertaining
the best location if in future il should be-
come necessary to establish there a military
post. On the I'D of June last. in a letter to
this department., the honorable secretary OF
war wrote on the subject as follows: cit is
well known to the department that at vari-
Gus times settlers in the adjacent country
have contemplated expeditions to the Black
Hills, and the department has uni
formly discountenanced such movements
but it has now almost become
military necessity that accurate knowledg,
should be Possessed by the army as to thi,
: portion of our territory, and for this pur
, pose only is the present expedition under
taken. The question of opening up tfi
country for settlement rests with Congress
and until action has been taken by tha
body, this department has no discretion il
} the matter, but is required ant
/ will endeavor to prev ent any violation of tn
provisions of the treaty before mentioned
For the reasons herein set forth all applica
tions for permission to visit the Black Hill
country will be denied. Very respectful.
/, your obedient servant,
!, b. r. CowAN, Acting Secretary.
To Gov. j. l.. Pennington, Yankton, Da.