The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-05
Correspondence of New York Tribune.l
DEPREDATIONS BY THE SIOUX.
Settlement of the Black Hills---What to do
with the Indians.

LETTER FROM l.. w.RREDINGroN, ESQ.
In the spring of 1873 l spent few
months on a cattle-ranch in Northwestern
Nebraska, within few miles of the Sioux
reservation and in view of the discussion
at present going on regarding the Indian
question, feel prompted to add the result |
of my experience among the red men to |
the general fund of information vouch- |
safed to the public by your correspondents
throughout the country. And first of all
allow me to most cordially and emphati-
cally indorse the assertions and statements
of Prof. Marsh in regard to the Indians,
their characteristics and grievances. Nine
tenths of the western men, who can speak
from any knowledge of the matter, will
join me in asserting that Prof. Marsh is I'M
doubtedly correct in his averments and re-
marks concerning the Indians. will here
state that | am writing from the point of
| view of western meii--Of those living in
the immediate vicinity of the Indians, and
that | am expressing in this letter the
| opinions of those who from actual expert
ence among the savages have formed the
most correct ideas of their habits and ma
ture. 1t was my privilege while on the
plains TO reside at the ranch of Duncan,
Redington & Co. These gentlemen--Gen.
| Duncan, Gen. Perry, qnartermaster OF the
department of the Platte, and Henry
| Redington of Waddingtou, n. "
| although within only few miles of the
Sioux country have never lost more than
fifty horses and only few hundred cattle
| in the last three years, and yet the fact OF
their proximity to the Sioux country is
probably one reason of their immunity
from excessive thieving on the part of the
Sioux. The Indians are source of great
trouble and danger to the cattle dealers,
and the latter are obliged to keep con-
| tinual lookout for the savages. Woe to
the herdsman who is ever caught ont on
the plains by marauding bands of Sioux
Indians alone and unarmed Horses con-
stitute the Indians wealth, and they will
| frequently commit murder to get them.
1t is time for some decided action to be
taken in regard to the Indians. Either
every consideration of right by proposes
sion should be cast aside.and the mere con-
sideration of the public welfare and inter-
ests be accepted, and stringent and prompt
measures for the immediate subsection of
the Indians be taken, or else they should
be treated more leniently and allowed freer
scope to roam where they please. This
"half and half policy OF punishment after
the wrong is committed, and slight punish
ment at that, with free privilege to commit
the same misdemeanors again, is most fall
lacious. The bold western pioneers who
are developing our western states and the
public interests demand that the Indian
question shall be made more important
one in the national councils. The east, by
actual experience, knows nothing about
the Indians. And will here add that / dc
wish some eastern gentlemen-editors,m min
, listers, and others, who, seated in theiI
, comfortable eastern homes, are continually
, crying out, "Lo ! the poor Indian"-couid
!. experience life on the plains for awhile il
the vicinity of some friendly 90 tribe.
: think the columns of the eastern papers
, would abound for year with pathetic ant
graphic accounts of how these moralizing
philosophers fled from the savages as thu
beloved of the Lord fled from the ancien
g cities of the plain.
No one will deny that the Indians ar,
: frequently and continually abused, defraud
: ed, and cheated, especially by the agent
r of the government in the distribution o.
{ their supplies, rations, etc. In fact, it wa
D a common subject of remark in the coup
t try about our ranch, and l myself hear,
: one of the agents assert, that it required
only three or four years for one of their i'll
q to acquire an independent fortune, both b,
r trauins WIN 'hc inuians anu ny shrew'
: n,anipu'a.,on vi tne suppneS wnlcn passe'
through their hahus; ana aithough I'M
=, may DC iruc concerning the agents. ~
! also wei SHOWN tiiat inc reu men VIII nc
!, slea', niuIueI, anu commit ,he most fright
n iul depreualiohs proVidcd mat they cal
40 80 uhu,scoVereu by the govern
u lneht' Nothing put iear OF IN
: government resllalhs taem from crosse
C anu more open oulraBcs thah they are con
tlnualiy committing. iet they are rapidly
, overcoming all rear OF the government
u Judging from the many lhieving exploit
Il which they nave perPetfated upon the SCI
q tiers throughoqt tne west curing the las
10 year or Two. ~ IS true mere are miiltar
70 posts scattered throughout the west bu
e sucli poSls are generaiiy source OF ainust
d ment 10 tne Irontiersmen and settlers us Ia
n as RECOVERING stolen STOCK Is concerned, IN
= asmuch as ihe diIatory' unwilling, ioitel
" lng anu prlci movements OF inc miiitar
!, AVIAN no'h,mS III .hc pursuit OF pahd O
s snd Sestruc,;ou ha case Oh CONN.
ton of the government and East ia feare
if by the officers, as witness the outer
&c AGAINST SHERIDAN ana custer when they &C
D. mnnt 70 Several marand;nn handIp u" 60,
M ,,oar, o,,1 Il, ,,b;oh tho,, ,Io,,.L,I -