Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-05-27
THE SIOUX.
Reception OF the Indian Delegation by
the President In Washington Yester-
ay-Distingulshed Pale.Faces
Present.
The Longest Speech Made by the Presi-
dent During his Six Years AdRinIs-
tratiOn-A Plucky Interpreter.
A Reply Expected from the Sioux Chiefs
TO-Day-SpOtted-Tail "DOn't Call
his Strongest Friends Liars"

WASHINGTON, May 26.-The Sioux
Indian delegation called on the Presi-
dent, 10y appointment to-day, sccompa-
MED by 6eEeEsi Cowan, scting secreta-
/ ry Of the interior, and Commissioner of
Indian Affairs Smith. They were re-
ceived by the President i'll his private
Office. As each Ihdian entered he ad-
vanced to the President and, being pre-
sentC / by an interpreter, shook hands
with him. The Indians then arranged
themselvt g in a semi-circle around the
table, Spotted-Tsil and Red-ClOud
having prominent positions. A large
number of lad es and gentlemen were
present, incld6 ng Governor Penning-
ton, of Dakotah; Governor Thayer, of
Wyoming; Ex-Governor Mccormick,
of Arizona, and Senator Hamlin, of
Texas. The President, through VIM.
Fielder, an interpreter, addressed the
Indians es follows:
81 want to say to the Indians to-day
something about the object in bringing
them here, and few words for them to
think about, but nothing for them to re-
ply to at present. have always been
friend to the Indians, and am very anx-
ious to do what / think best for their
good. The country where they now
live, as they must be well aware, is en-
tirely incapable of supporting them,
should the government cease to give
them aid. By the treaty of 1868, cloth
ing ives granted to them for thirty years,
and provisions for only five years. The
food and provisions, therefore, which
have been given them for the last two
10 hnan q mi 10 ~F
of congress. These may be taken from
them at any time without any violation
OF treaty. My interest was to make
some arrangement with them by which
they and their children will be secure
for the future" [Several Of the Indians
expressed their approval of these senti-
ments by exclaiming, "Ugh.nl The
Pre3ident resuming: "As said in the
beginning, it must &c evident to them
that if supplies Of food should be with
held by the government, it would be ut
teTly impossible for the Indians to live
where they are. Another thing l would
call their attention to is, they must see
that the white people outnumber the
Indians about two hundred to one, TAX
ing all the Indians within the territory
owned by the United States; that the
number Of the whites is increasing so
very rapidly that before many years 1t
will be impossible to fix any point
within the limit Of our territory where
you can prevent them going. It will
become necessary that the white peO-
pie shall go from one place to another,
whether occupied by Indians or not, the
same es they go from one State to an
other. For this reason it very desir-
able that, while they have friends here
to look after their interests, they should
be situated where they would be able to
get support beyond any contingency.
l don't propose to ask them without
their consent to leave their homes, but
want to point out to them the advan-
tags to themselves and children
il they will accept such ar
rangements as will be proposed to them.
There is a territory south Of where
they now live where the climate is very
much better, where the grass u much
better, and where game is abundant, in
cluding large game, such as buffalo;
where there is good pasturage for ami
mails, and where teachers can be sent
among the Indians to instruct them in
the arts Of civilization and the means Of
self-preservation and support. This year
we have had great difficulty in keeping
white people from going to the Black
Hills in search Of gold, but we have so
far prevented them from going. Every
year this same difficulty will be en-
countered unless the right OF the white
people to go to that country is granted
by the Indians, and may in the end lead
to hOstilities between the whites and
the Indians without any special fault on
either side. If such trouble should Oc-
cur and become general, it would ne
cessarily lead to withholding, for the
time being at least, Of the supplies which
tire government has been sending to
them. All this trouble / want to avoid.
l want to see them we'll provided for, in
such way that the arrangements will
have TO be respected by my successor
and other administrations for the future.
l want the Indi ans to think of what
l have said; ! don't want them 10 say
anything to-day; / want them
to to k among themselves, and be pre-
pared to hear from the secretary of the
interior and commissioner of Indian af-
fairs, who are authorized to speak for
me, and will be governed by my advice.
This is all want to say to them"
Aiver brief conversation between the
Pr Iident and Rev. Mr.. Herman, the
Pr 3ide1S turned to the Indians, and
said through an Interpreter: 81 will
say to them that what have said will
be written out and they will have the
words repeated to them by Interpreters"
Spotted-Tail then advanced toward
the President and, looking toward the
representatives of the press, who were
taking notes, made short explanation
in relation to published statements to the
effect that the Indians had stigmatized
the secretary of the interior and commits
sioner OF Indian affairs ss liars. He said
such charges were not made by him,
and whoever put them in the papers
made them up themselves, as he did not
call his strongest friends liars. The In
dians then withdrew, evidently dissp-
pointed in not having the opportunity
to reply to the President. They were in
full costume with a plentiful supply of
paint and feathers.