Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-06-02
TELEGRAPHIC.
WASHINGTON.

WAsnINGToN, May 26.-The Sioux
Indians had Q conference with the
President in his private Office to-day
in the presence of large number Of
ladies and gentlemen. The President
said, Il want to say to the Indians TO-
day something about the object O
bringing them here, and . few word
for them to think about, but nothing
for them to reply to 1t present.
have always been friend to the In
dians and am very anxious to do wha
think best for their good. The coun
try where they now live, as they mus,
be well aware, IL entirely incapable Of
supporting them, should the Govern
ment cease to give them aid. By The
treaty Of 1868 clothing was granted te
them for thirty years and provisions
for five years. Tho food and provis
ions therefore, which have been giver
to them for the last two years have
been gratuity on the part OF Con-
gress. These may be taken from them
At any time without any violation OF
the treaty. My interest is now tC
make some arrangement with them by
which they and their children will BE-
secure for the future.
Several Indians expressed their sp-
proval Of tho Presidents sentiments
by exclaiming "UghW
The President resuming: GAS
said in the beginning it must be evi-
dent to them that II the supplies Of
food should be withheld by the Gov
ernment It would be entirely impossi-
Bile for the Indians to live where they
are. Another thing would call
their attention to, 10 this: They must
see that the white people outnumber
the Indians now about two hundred
to one, taking al the Indians within
the Territories owned by the United
States; the number of whites is in
creasing so rapidly that before many
years it will be impossible to fix any
point within the limit of our
Territory /, where you can pre-
vent them going. It will
become necessary that white people
ahall 60 from one place to another,
whether occupied by Indians or not,
the same 40 they 60 from one State to
another. For this reason it is very
desirable while they have friends
here to look after their interest, they
should be situated where they would be
able to get support beyond any con-
tingency. I do not propose to ask
them without their consent to leave
their homes where they were born
and raised but want to point out 10
them the advantages to themselve and
their children.
The President then said there was
land South Of where they now are
much better bv reason Of pastursge
and game. This year there had been
great trouble in keeping the whites
from that country, and this difficulty
would increase unless the indians
were willing TO admit them, and final
~ hostilities might result, and In that
case, the government would be, CON-
PEELED for time at least to withhold
rations. The President continued:
',All this trouble I want to avoid.
I want to see them all provided for.
and in such . way that the arrange
ments Will have to be executed by my
successor and other Administrations for
the future. l want tho Indians te
think Of what I have said. DOM
want to say anything more to-day.
want them to talk among themselves
and be prepared to hear from the Sec
retary Of the Interior and the commit
tee on Indian affairs, who are author
lied to speak for me and will be gov
erned by my advice. This is all
want to say to them"
Spotted Tail advanced toward the
President and denied the statements
published in the papers that the In.
dians stigmatized the Secretary of the
Interior and the commissioners of in
dian affairs as liarl. He didn't call
his strongest friends liars. The in
diAns then withdrew evidently disap-
pointed at not having an opportunity
to reply. They were inlfull costume
of paint and feathera.