, 1876-07-09
THE [4SE IN \ NN1EIiEIi4.
Special DiSxQ&ch to Tie tribune,

6pEC7Qk 1F&pHtC2 ~ &Hc 4120HHE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 3.-The House to-
day unexpectedly entered upon debate On 1tle
Indian war. The question Incidentally arose
upon a bil relative to the occupation ot
tLe country north Of the Platte River and east
Of the Big Horn Mountains. The hill
vent over undisposel OF, but it fur
nisAed an opportunity Of definitely
fixing the causes Of the present Sioux outbreak.
This was made clear in the speech Of Gen. Hurl-
but, who denounced the peace policy in
q speech Of great earnestness and force.
It appcars that Sitting Bull, the leader Of the
hostile Sioux, has, since 1856, hecn in constant
aggressive hostility to all the United States.
Hc has never signed any of tue treaties which
some Of his own band have recognized, aud in
every case has resolutcly stood out against any
measure lending to recognize the power OF the
United States Government, aud to respect those
agerries which arc striving to ciyilize and feed
tie Indians. Sitting Bull was
TIE LRADER or THE MINNESOTA MASSACRE,
has been the author Of tho murder OF countless
fronticrsmen, and now is the head Of a large
band Of hostile Sioux who arc determined that
they will not stay upon their reservation, or
recognize the power Of the United States. A
good many Of the peace men hRvebeen denoune-
ing Custer and the War DEPARTMENT. on account of
this attack upon the Sioux. It appears, how
ever, that their criticisms are without knowl~
edge The Commissioner Of Indian Affairs and
the Secretary of the Interior, after having ex-
hausted al means to concliate Sitting Bull,
attrr having
SPENT NEARLY MILLION OF DOLLARS
II behalf OF his band, and after due notice to
Fitting Bull and his band that they must remain
upon their reservation, formally requested the
War Department in April last to force Sitting
Dull to obey the mandates OF the Indian Bn-
feau. The army, therefore, at present is simply
acting as an armed police for the Indian Bureau
= tue exercise of tile peace policy. There is no"
imply regular, lawful effort OF the army, at
le INSTANCE Of the civil authorities, to
trive the thicyery, numbering, and re
harkabl.y Intelligent and able vaga-
sSsig1ned to him. That is The entire question.
Ehv Black Hills question, as regards. Sitting
Aull and his land. docs not at all enter into this
Far, because Sitting Bull was not at all party
= the shcrnlan-Auger treaty Of 1865, in which
he treaty Sioux clain,ed title to the Black
e1used to sign that treaty, abandoned the con
!crence, put himself beyond the pale of the
treaty Sioux. has since been living as
;, PREDATORY, NUMBERING vAGABoND.
He so appears, moreover, to have been Joined By
the RED Cloud Agency.
The debate in the House to-day has cleared
Tile subject Of many difficulties, aud has certain
y shown that tho War Department is by no
renee, Of OHIO, sought to play the
EVANGELIST by criticising the war Tor unjust !
Violation Of the treaty, hut his criticisms, like
those Of most OF the speakers who defended !
shc Indians, originated in ignorance Of the sit
prophecy, and claimed that lie represented q
Christian community, Ta.nHauy Hall and Boss |
Kelly. sicGinnis, Of Montana, who spoke with |
iull knowledge and great feeling, showed the !
the latter q politic3l erithet likely ]
to take the place Of slloo-1ly. Aicinnis, in his !
Fcathing dcnunciatiop Of CoS's ignQratre char
pcterizel him as
THE FnoTnY PROPHET OF rA,1MAsY HALL.
Prof. seelyc, the most prominent representa-
i've Of the pcacc policy, really seemed t' think
That Sitting Bull had started upon thls RAID he,
Ruse af scanty Eatlons. ana a1so because he NAG !