The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-11-19
The Report Of the Commissioner Of In.
& .s dian Affairs.
The Black Hills Question.

The Black HIS. .Vnestlon.
Commissioner Smith, in his report,
laments the failure of this commits
TO obtain from the Sioux a relin-
uuishment of their title to the Black
Hills, Ms he is aware that one thou
sand or more miners have made their
way into the Sioux country In the
face of the most stringent prohibitory
orders by the military authorities.
A large number of miuers have or
ganized into an association for mu-
tual protection, and have adopted
laws and regulations; have staked out
and reserved their claims in the right
to which they expect hereafter to be
protected. In this complication of af-
fairs Commissioner Smith considers
that there is but one alternative for
the government Eeither to increase
the military force so as TO compel n
strict observance of the treaty rights
ofthe Sioux, by preventing all intru-
sion. Or to put such restrictions upon
the exercise of the lhrge bounty now
granted to the Sioux as to form an ar
gument that will be likely to procure
their assent to the cesSion of this
country. However unwilling he may
be to confess it, Commissioned Smith
thinks that the experience of the past
summer proves the utter impractical
bility of keeping American citizens
out of n country where gold exists, by
any fear of a cavalry patrol or by any
consideration OF the rights of Indiaus'
In his report it is said that he will
admit that the occupation and poss-
ession of-the Black Hills by white
men Is inevitable, but no reason ex-
lists for the making for this inevita-
biHty an occasion of wrong or injury
TO the Sioux. If the Sioux were al
independent and self.supporting peo-
pie, able to claim that hereafter the
United States Government should
leave them alone in possession of
their own country, and in yearly re-
ceipt until 1893 of such annuities rs
the treaty Of 1858 guarantees TEEN,
there would be a show of wrong
which IL not now so clear in persist
emily asking for n portion Of their
country. AS original proprietors of
the land, and as occupants in perpe-
tuam by formal contract on the part
of the United States, the Sioux would
be entitled to be let alone, but unfor-
tunately for the Indians the facts are
otherwise. They are by no near
capable of any support. Tho with
drawal OF government rations for a
single season would reduce them to
starvation or to n life by marauding.
While they are pensioners upon the
bounty oithe government in the sum
of one and a quarter millions annually
above all amounts specified by treaty
stipuIations, the Sioux are not in a
position TO be let alone. If the gov
eminent is obliged from considera-
tions of humanity and the protection
of the frontier, to supply the necessi-
ties of these Indians ty r~ations, ii
may properly be asked if they shall
have an equivalent in gold fields. A
cession produced in this manner
Commissioner Smith thinks would
be far preferable to a continuation of
the present disturbed condition of
affairs. Therefore, AS all attempts at
negotiation with the Sioux have fail
ed, it is certain that the Commits
sioner will recommend that legisla-
ton be sought from Congress offering
a fair and full equivalent for the oun
try lying between the north and south
forks of the Cheyenne River, in Da.
kota, and for the extinguishment of
whatever rights the Sioux may have
10 the Big Horn Mountain in Wyo-
ming. and that any continuation of
the bounty of the government in
feeding these Indians be a part of the
consideration offered; and that they
may be made fully aware that any
further receipt of rations will be held
10 be an acceptance on their part of
the terms of cession offered by the
government.