The New York herald., 1875-11-19

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE
WITH THE sIoUx-THE PROPOSITIONS SUB
MITTED AND THEIR SUMMARY REJEcTIoN-A
MILD EXPERIENCE OF FORCE RECON-
MENDED.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Is, 1875.
General A. G. Lawrence. of Rhode Island and A. II.
Ashby, Of Nebraska, arrived in Washington and pre-
sented to the Secretary OF the Interior the report
signed by themselves and associates Commissioners
to negotiate with the Sioux in reference the Black
Hills country The following interesting points the
report have not hitherto been telegraphed:-
REPORT
IL appears that the Commissioners were instructed
to particularly impress upon the Sioux the fact that
they dependent upon the annual charity OF Con-
gross for the necessares Of life while the same time
the Indians TO be made to understand that the
government did not wish to take from them any Of
their property rights without returning q fair
equivalent Acting under these general instructions,
the Commissioners submitted to the Indian council the
following alternative propositions:-
FSrst-That the United States should purchase
license to mine, and also, as incidental thereto to
grow stock and cultivate the soil In the Black Hills
country, for $400 900 per annum thrco-fourths be
expended for their subsistence and the remainder for
objects beneficial for their civilization, the government
reservng the right terminate the agreement on two
years notice.
Second-That the United States should pay them
So 600 000 in fifteen annual instalments, be ap-
piled for their subsistence and civilization.
Accompanying these offers also proposition to
purchase the Big Horn country, Wyoming Territory
for $500 ooo payable $4,000 per year 1.-Two stock and
agricultural Implements All these propositions were
suMxARrLY REJECTED
by the Indians BECAUSE Spotted Tail pointed out the
for hair
less than one-na the amount Of money that they
now receiving in the shape Of supplies annually as q
grauity The Commissioners therefore say that these
Indians must be made feel the power we'll as tho
magnanimty of the government, and are unanimously
Of the opinion that Congress should BY law settle for
itself what shall be DONE and then notify the Sioux
ton OF It's conclusions II they assent 10 the terms
proposed let them be carried out by the government
II they do not the government should withhold
all supplies required by the treaty OF 1868 They
never can be civilized except by mild experience, at
least, OF force in the beginning This generation will
not voluntarily sustain themselves and the govern
ment has only the alternative Of perpotuay support
Ing them
OILERS ASn vAaApoSns
or using such power may be necessary to enforce
education In English In manual labor or other indus
trai pursuits upon the youths Of the tribe and thus
prepare the coming generation to support themselves
and finally become citizens Of the United States
The Commissioners in this report intimate that the
government need not itself too strictly to keep
white men out OF the Black Hills unless the Indians
themselves keep good faith respect to Keeping the
peace and remaining on their reservations &c They
say
The measure OF force TO be employed BY the United
States IN keeping people out depends upon the good
faith Of the sioux nation with reference their obra
tons The obligations Of tho treaty Of 1865 are mutual
and reciprocal and the Indians the past have not so
acted as 10 require the utmost vigilance the part
the United States.
In supplementary paper submitted with the report,
General Lawrence shows that these Indians so far from
dying out, are steadily increasing in number