The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-31
THE SIOUX COMMISSION.

Il
What the Sioux Indians Must Agree To-
| Nature of the Instructions to the Com
1nissiOners.
The instructions to the Sioux Com
missioners appointed under the recent
act of Congress have been completed,
and are substantially as follows:
! The provisions of the act are given,
after which it will be seen from the above
that Congress has expressed its deter
mination to appropriate nothing further
| for the subsistence of the Indians above
named unless they shall agree, first, to
relinquish all right and claim to any
country outside the boundaries of the
permanent reservation established by the
treaty of 1868.
.Second-To relinquish all right and
claim to SO much of their said perma-
nent reservation as lies west of the 103d
meridian of longitude.
| Ihird-To grant right Of way over
the permanent reservation to that part
thereof which lies west of the 103d me-
ridian of longitude for wagon and other
roads from convenient and accessible
points on the Missouri river, not exceed
| ing three in number.
FOurth-To receive all such supplies
as are provided for by said act and by
said treaty of 1868 at such points and
places on their said reservation, and in
the vicinity of the Missouri river, as the
President may designate.
FIftb-To enter into such agreement
or arrangement with the President of the
United States as shall be calculated and
designated to enable said Indians to be-
come self-supporting. If, in order to
carry into effect the provisions of this
act, the commission find it necessary to
visit the agencies on the Missouri river,
in addition to those of Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail, they are authorized to do
SO.
The subjects for negotiation are SO
clearly defined by the act as to render
further elaboration unnecessary, except
the last one mentioned, of which the in
structions say further IT any agree
ment shall be concluded you will I'M
press upon the Indians the fact that it
will not be binding upon either party
until it shall have received the approval
of the President of the United States
and of Congress. It is not expected that
you will define any line of right of way
for roads through the reservations. That
should be left to the agreement to be
designated by the President. One of
the most important subjects of the ne
gotiation is that represented by the fifth
clause above mentioned, that the Presl-
dent is strongl y impressed with the be-
| lief that the agreement which shall be
best calculated to enable the Indians to
become self-supporting is one which
shall provide for their removal at as early
day as possible to the Indian Terri
tory. They must depend for their sup
port mainly upon the cultivation of the
soil, and their own country is quite I'M
fit for that purpose. The superior eli
mate and soil Of the Indian Territory,
and the fact that that territory is for
ever secured to the Indian people, should
afford strong inducements for the In
dams to enter into such an agreement.
! The Indians cannot now live upon their
reservation without the aid of the Gov
eminent, and it is under no obligation
to continue its supplies of food. While
no money considerations should be
offered them as an in ucement for any
undertaking on their part it is believed
that the Government will willingly fur
nish them subsistence, medical assist
ance and schools, until they can care for
themselves, III case of their removal to
the Indian Territory. If, however, they
decline to agree to such removal they
should DO informed that they will be OBJ
liged to go to the Missouri river to re-
ceive such supplies as shall be provided
under any future act of Congress and
the treaties with them now in force.