Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-27
WASHINGTON.
A Big Indian POw-WOW at the
White-House,
Grant Makes the Longest Speech
of His Life,

Dy the IIeS!OenL IN his private Ofbce. As
each Indian entered he advanced 60 the
President, and On being presented by an
Interpreter, shook hands with him. The
Indians then arranged themselves in 4
seini-circle around the table, Spotted Tail
and Red Cloud having q prominent posi-
tiOn. a large number Of ladies and gen.
tlemen were present, including Gov. Pen
ningtOn, Of Dakota; Gov. Thayer, Of Wy
Oming; EX-Goy. Mccormick, of Arizona,
and Senator Hamilton. OF Texas.
The President, through VIM. Fielder, an
Interpreter, addressed the Indians as fol
lows: / want to say to the Indians to-day
something about the object of bringing
them here and a few words for them to
think about, but nothing for them to do at
present. have always been a friend to
the Indians, and am very anxious to do
what think best for their good. The
country where they now live, as they must
be well aware, is entirely incapable of sup
porting them should the Government cease
to give them aid. BY the treaty of 1853,
clothing was granted 10 them Tor thirty
years and provisions for only five years.
The food and provisions, therefore, which
have been given 10 them for the last two
years have been a grIUity on the part of
Congress. These may be taken from them
at any time without any violation Of the
treaty. Ny interest now is 10 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 sentiments, by eXclaim-
ing "Ugh."
The President resuming-As l said in
the beginning, it must be evident to them,
if the supplies of food should he withheld
by the Government, 1t would be entirely
impossible for the Indians to live where
they are. Another thing would call their
attention TO is this: They must see that
the white people Outnumber the Indians
about two hundred to one, taking all the
Indians within the Territories owned by
the United States. This number of whites
is increasing so very rapidly that before
many years It viii be impossible to fix any
point within the limit Of our Territory
where you can prevent them going. 1t will
become necessary that the white people
shall 60 from one place TO another, whether
occupied by Indians OF not, the same as
they 90 from one State 10 another. For
this reason it is very desirable 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 do not propose 20 ask
them, without their consent, 10 leave the
homes where they were born and raised,
but 1 want to point out to them the advan-
tages to themselves and their children, if
they will accept such arrangements as may
be proposed 10 them. There is 4 territory
south Of where they now live where the
climate is very much better, where the grass
is much Hetter and where game is more
abundant, including large game, such
as buffalo, where there is good
pastUrage for animals, and where
teachers can be sent among the Indians to
instruct them in the arts Of civilization, the
means Of self-pTeseryatiOn and support.
This year we have had great difficulty in
keeping the white people from going to the
Black Hills in search Of gold, but we have
so far prevented them going. Every year
this same difficulty will be encountered,
unless the right Of the white people to 60
10 that country is granted by the Indians,
aud ii NAV in the end lead TO hOstilities
between the whites and Indians without
any special fault on either side. If such
trouble should occur and become general,
it would necessarily lead to Withholding,
for the time being at least, the supplies
which the Government las been sending TO
them. All this trouble want to avoid. 1
want to see them well provided for in such
way that the arrangement will have to be
respected by my successor and other ad-
minisiratiOus for the future. l want the
Indians TO think Of what l have said. l
don't want them to say anything to-day. L
Il. H. .fr sD-DsH
be prepared TO hear from the Secretary of
the Interior and the Commissioner OF In
dian Affairs, WHO are authorized TO speak
for me and will be governed by my advice.
This is all ! want 20 say to them.
Alter a brief conversation between the
President and Rev. Alr. Hineman, the
President TUNED TO the Indians and said
through the Interpreter: l will say TO them
that what 1 have said viii be written out
and they will have the words repeated to
them by the Interpreters.
Spotted Tall RebuISes the Reporters.
Spotted Tail then advanced towards the
President and looking towards the repre-
sentaJives Of the press who were taking
notes, made a short explanation n relation
10 the published statements, TO the effect
that the Indians had stigmatiZed the Sec
rstarv of the Interior and the Comm IsSiOn-
er Of Indian Affairs as liars he said such
charges were not made by him, and who
ever put them in the papers made them up
themselves, as he did not call his strongest
friends liars. The Indians then withdrew,
evidently disappointed in not having had
an opportunity 10 reply TO the President.
They were In full costume with 4 plentiful
supply Of paint and feathers.
Confronting the Mails.
Id. Sine, through his attorneys, has sent
a letter to the Postotice Department de-
murring to its refusing to allow the use OF
the mails for lottery schemes. The attOr-
ueys ask for the law under which the ac-
tiOn is taken that they may bring the sub
ieCt before the courts and thoroughly test
the COnstilutiOnality of the law. They
claim the action Of the Department virtu-
ally cOnfscates the private property Of iRdi-
viduals which is directly in conflict with
the constitutional rights Of persons.
Interior Ports.
The Secretary Of the Treasury, in view
of the protest received from Chicago, Nil.
waukee. Cincinnati and st. Louis against
the decision Of the Department under the
revised statutes that a voyage OF ImpOrta-
ton terminates on arrival within the limits
Of port Of entry, has applied TO the At
tornev-General for his construction of the
law Of July Il, 1870, as affected by act oi
March ,, 1875.
That Express Job.
As soon as Congress convenes next De.
cember the Postmaster General intends to
use his efforts to have the present law gov
erning postage on third class matter OF
transient newspapers so modified as to be
more lust and equitable.
The Democratic House Will Back
BrfstOW.
Special 90 the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Prominent Democrats from all parts OF
the country who have recently visited
Washington express their qualification al
the war Of Secretary BTistOw upon the
whisky ring, and speak with much indig,
nation Of the attempt OF the ring and theil
allies to embarrass the SeCretaTy's opera.
tions by arraigniug his motives and other
wise. They say that, in his recent
proceedings, the Secretary is only carrying
ont IN one branch of the public service the
administrative reforms which they have
long been struggling to secure, and which
they will extend to every branch OF the
public service when they come into power
in 1877. 1t is beyond doubt that, so far a;
the next House Of Representatives. is con-
cerned, Gen. Bristow will have all need
fuI support in the legislation that may bt