The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-06-03
10, THE POOR INDIAN.

Preside mt Grants Big Talk With the Sioux
Chiefs-Spotted Tail Rises to a Personal
Explanation.
There was large number of visitors
at the White House this morning, says a
Washington dispatch, when the Indians
arrived. They were received in the
Presidents private Office. They ranged
themselves about him in half circle,
and remained standing during the speech.
Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Sartoris, and Mrs.
Fred. Grant were among the spectators
In the room. They seemed more in
terested in the savages than the savages
were in them. One Chief backed right
against Mrs. Fred Grant, and crowded
her back to make way for himself.
Others of the Indians showed as striking
ease in this little council. Some of them,
oppressed by the hot weather, kicked off
their moccasins and dug their toes into
the Brussels carpet. The President
spoke as follows:
O. want to say to-day, something about the
object for which you have been brought here.
I want to say few words for you to think
about, and do not wish you to say anything
now until you have had time to think about it.
| have always been a friend of the Indian, and
am very anxious to do what think is best for
them. The country where you now live, as you
must be well aware. is entirely incapable of
supporting you, if the government should cease
to support you. By the treaty of 1863 clothing
was guaranteed to you for thirty years. and
provisions only for five years. How'll The
food and provisions which have been given you
for the last two years have been a gratuity on
the part of Congress. 1t may be taken from
you at any time without any violation of the
treaty. My interest now is to make some ar
rangement with you by which you and your
children will be secure for the future. AS I
said in the beginning, it must be evident to you
that if supplies of food were withheld by the
white people, it would be entirely impossible
fol- you to live where you are. Another thing
/ would call your attention to is this: You must
see that the white people outnumber Indians
now about 200 to one taking all the Indians
within the United States. This number is in
creasing so rapidly that before many years it
will be impossible TO fix any limits in your ter
rltory where you can prevent their going. 1t
will become necessary for the white people to
be able to go from one place to another
whether occupied by Indians or not, just as
they now go from one State to another For
this reason it is very desirable that, while you
have friend here to look after your interests
you shall be situated where you will be able to
get support beyond any contingency. I do
not propose to ask you to leave the homes
where you were born and raised without your
consent. l want to point out the advantage to |
you and to your children, if you will make such (
arrangements as will be proposed to you /
There is a territory south Of where you now
live where the climate is much better, and the /
buffalo more plenty, where lands can be purchas-
ed, where grass is much better, and game is
more abundant, including large game, where /
there is good pasturage for animals, and where
you can have teachers sent among you to
teach the art of self-preservation and self
support Now this year we have had
H. IL In
going to the Black Hills in search of gold, but
we have SO far prevented their going, or pre-
vented their remaining. Every yea this same
difficulty increases, unless the right of the
white people to go to that country is granted by
you, and it may in the end lead to hostlities be-
tween the Indians and white people, without
any special fault on either side. If such trouble
should occur and become general, it would
necessarily withhold, for the time being, at
east the supplies which the government should
,e sending to you. All this trouble I want to
lvoid want to see you well provided for,
md | want to see the provision made in such
way that 1t Will have to be respected by my
successor, and by other administrations in the ]
uture. want the Indians to think of what
lave said. l DO not want you to say anything |
o-uay, out talk among yourselves and be pre- I
,ared to hear the Commissioner of Indian {
Affairs and the Secretary of the Interior who )
VII always speak for me, and will never speak
without advising me before they have spoken.
hat is all want to say to-day. What I have {
aid has been written down, and will be re- :
eated to you" :.
Spotted Tail having asked special per
mission to say few words, spoke as fol-
ows: What these men have published
n the papers that said about the Com
is lie. never said such !
hing. l never said the word. Whoever :
published that paper, he must do that Z
himself, because ] do not want to call
ny friends liars .
The Indians listened attentively, occa- i
ionally utteringa chow" Of surprise or a