The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-10

tou. tsSN 4ne UuIQeu OI WINE swan
speech seemed to be an epdeayor to hare
regarded "a equals in whatevef; distsibu-
ton Of presents should be made, but he
was far from being intelligiblces to any
matter that he spoke about Notwith-
standing his great apparent gravity, he
became confused, got his subjects mixed
up, and finally wound up by saying:
''Well, I'd like to know what you all
| want with us, anyhow" Many of the
Indians seemed to appreciate the fact
that he was making nm ass Of himself,
and told him to stop; but he didn't heed
| them. The report Of his speech in the
papers is very much embellished. Hav-
your correspondent WAS impressed with
the idea that White Swan WAS court
that didn't know itself, and that his talk
simply amounted to nothing.
AS soon AS White Swan had finished,
| Little Wound n chief of no mean quail
fcations, belonging to the Red Cloud
agency, arose, md, in very decided
manner, told the Secretary and Com
missioner that he and his band would
not accept their propositions. That
while he had counseled his young men,
since the establishment of the agency, to
| peace, and would do so still, yet if tho
a.
year for 100 years, they would not yield
the rights, or any of them, they now had.
Little Wound WAS demonstrated with by
| several of the chiefs of his agency for hiH
course, but he remained unmoved.
Mark the word! That Indian will give
the white people trouble before he dies.
He is yet young man.
When Little Wound had concluded,
Mr. Delano said he wanted to hear from
Spotted Tail. The latter did not hesi-
tate to arise, but before speaking very
solemnly went through with u hand
| shaking NIL around, saying show" to
| each person. After calling on the Great
Spirit to hear what he said, he imme-
diately announced that he and the bands
of his agency would be entitled to $40, 600
| of the money offered by Congress, nnd
| that they accepted the offer Here was
| long pause. The Secretary and Com
| missioner seemed pleased, and expected
that this speech would make pleasant
| finale to the council, but the next SEN
| tencc told on them very differently.
''But, snid the chief, ''I want the cash
in my hands before sign the paper" It
was here explained to him, as it had in
the outset been explained to Red Cloud
that the North line of Nebraska included
the South part of the Sioux reservation,
which extended to the North fork of the
Platte; that it was absolutely necessary
for the Sioux to give up their hunting
privileges South of the Niobrara River,
! because this privilege. resulted in an
endless collision between the Indians
and whites, in murders, robbery and
other crimes, and that Congress had,
last year, authorized the payment of
S25, 900 for presents, to be distributed
among the Sioux, if they would give up
the privilege mentioned; that if tho de-
putatlon present, or q majority of them,
would sign treaty for thnt purpose now,
the probabilities were that more would
be given them by the next Congress.
Spotted Tail said that the matter was of
80 grave nature that he would rather,
before signing the treaty, submit it to
the whole Sioux nation in grand council :;
but he was reminded that the Act of
Congress expired by limitation on the
3Oth day OF June, 1975-about one
| moon-nnd that he would not have suf-
ficient time to call this grand council,
| and that if the treaty was signed now,
the Indians present might nominate
| their own agent to make the distribution
of their presents. Spotted Tail insisted
on the cash, and said That if the presents
were bought here and distributed out in
his country Gffe'' the treaty was signed,
LILO ChiiulcA (IiichuluS HIS peOplc) WOulu
| get very few Of them. He further sug-
gested that the money be drawn now, SO
as to bring the matter within the limita-
ton of the Act Of Congress-; let the pre-
sents be bought and distributed, and
/ then the treaty would be signed. The
Secretary and Commissioner now became
impatient, and told him that his sug-
! gcstions were entirely impracticable, as
the treaty must be signed, and presents
bought afterwards, before the vouchers
for the money would be cashed by the
disbursing officers of the treasury. The
council came abruptly to close, Spotted
Tail saying that he would go and have
another talk with the Great Father be-
fore he signed the paper, and at once,
without further ceremony, getting up
with all his people and stnlked out OF
the room.
The dcputation had their proposed
talk with the Great Father, this morning,
but they were told just what Mr.. Dclann
and the Commissioners Ind snid to them,
and still thcv refuse to accent the ferns