The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-29

almost helpless people you will keep in
lnlnu the TACT that you represent them
ana their interests not less than those OF
the government, and are commissioned to
secure the best interests of both parties
so lar as practicable. Great care should
DC taken IN your interviews not only to
secure proper and exact INTERPRETATIONS
OF the communications passing between
YOU but also to- satisfy the Indians that
Their words are fairly conveyed in Enc.
lish. Rev. S. D. Human. a member Of
your commissioners entirely competent
70 g1vean exact rendering both of the
English and of the Sioux. 1t will be well,
a1so' IN every case to employ the services
o' sucn an interpreter as the Indians NAV
se'ec'' so as to secure between the SER
wees OF the two not only exactncss, but
the entire confidence of the Indians.
:. IN presenting this subject to the In.
dians tney should first of all be assured
OF the kindly Intentions Of the President
and the government toward them: they
should, If possible, be made to understand
that this effort on the part of the govern.
ment TO procure portion of their coun-
try originated solely in desire for the
continuation Of peace between them and
the whites; that since the opinion that
gold Is to be found in the Black Hills has
prevailed among the people, it has been
almost impossible to prevent white ner-
sons from entering their country, and
that there is no little danger that, spite
Of all efforts to the contrary, some evil
disposed persons will break through the
line. and that conflict and blood will
ensue.
You Will assure the Indians that it is
not the wish Of the government to take
from them any of their property Or
rights without returning fair equ;va-
lent therefor, and that you have come,
representing their Great Father, to fix
upon an equivalent which shall be Just,
both to them and to ihe white people.
I GU VIII be careful in your negotiations
TO keep constantly i,nple >sed upon the
MINDS OF the Indians that any agreement
entered into at the Council IS to be
brought back to the President, and by
| nm to be submitted to Congress fer con
slderatlon by that body. md that until
| the contract has received the approval of
Con gress 1t cannot be binding upon either
party: Respecting the RICH, OF way.
TINS should be left to the discretion Of
the President, as to the routes to be Sc.
| iected and as to any restrictions to be
imposed upon parties using the routes.
The attention OF the commission is in
vlted to the tenth article of the Treaty Of
1868, in which provision is made tor an
appropriation for clothing and other ben
eticial purposes for the Sioux for thirty
years from the date Of the treaty, and
also for subsistence Of meat and flour for
a period OF. four years. This hitter pro
vision has expired by treaty limitation,
leaving the sioux nation dependent for
the nccessaries Of life upon the annual
charity Of Congress. The approximation
the last few years for this purpose of sub.
sstence varies from 81 200, 900 to ST.. 500.
900 annually, and if it should be d MED
by Congress in any of the annual appro.
prlat1on bills these Indians must be left
to great hardships and to hunger, verging
upon starvation, unless they attempt to
supply their wants by marching upon the
settlers, which attempt would inevitable
lead to a conflict with military This dir-
'eri nee as t. the length of time in whic;.
provision is made IN their treaty for clotl.
ing and subsistence had not been well I'M
derstood by them until the late visits of
the delegations to this city, when they
were assured Of the facts by the President.
and seem to accf pit thc,n as such.
The best interests of these Indians will
require that any compensation made to
them shall include this provision for sub.
sistcncc in some form. and that in no case
should it take the form Of cash annuity.
out, 50 far as it shall be possible to gail.
their consent, shall be left in the discyc-
ton of the President to be used for their
conduct and civilizations and the educa
ton of their children; and they should
agree in accepting this provision to allow
their children to be educated. The safest
investment OF any funds for them will b,
IN United States coupon bonds. III
outlook for the tribe is by 70 means en-.
conraging. They cannot live by tn
chase; they cannot be supported il idle
ness ny the government. They must b..
gin at once to learn to live by herdinc
or by agriculture or both For this and
the education of their children they need
help, and whatever expenditures the GOV
eminent makes in their behalf in the fu
ture will be for their benefit lust in pro
portion as the mode of it's aDDlicatjon
corresponds with their actual necess;.
ties.
N'' H. conference Appointaasents.