The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-26
Advocating Robbery.

Ia tue UDiteu states senate, on w sdnes-
day, II remarkable declaration was made
by Mr.. WINDOW, a Republican Senator
from Minnesota. A bill regarding juris-
diction over Indian reservations being
under consideration, Mr.. WINDOW re-
marked that there are 1900 or 1900 per-
sons now In the section known as the
Black Hills; that he believed that the re-
ports OF gold existing there were well
founded, and that those persons should
not be compelled 10 leave that reservation.
In answer to an inquiry from Senator 3D.
MUNDs, Mr.. WINDOW admitted that techni-
cally these persons had no right to intrude
upon the reservation, but insisted that the
Government had tactly given its consent
TO miners going there, and said that he was
determined that the people OF the United
States should have the right to 20 into the
Black Hills aud develop the wealth Of that
region.
The inmornlity Of this declaration will
be seen upon a very brief examination of
the facts. In 1868 treaty was made with
various Sioux bands, by the terms of
which, In return for concessions made by
them, they were guaranteed by the L nited
States Government the exclusive posses
sion of the territory in question. This was
nota gift OF the land TO them from tho Gov
ernmeut, for the land already belonged to
the Indians, being uuceded territory, to
which the Indians had an original pos
sessory title, or title of occupancy, reoog-
nized as valid i'm the Supreme Court of tn g
United States; while the Government was
not only without a shadow OF claim TO
any proprietary interest in the lands. but
in the treaty formally acknowledged the
validity OF the Indian title. The treaty,
therefore, was simply an agreement, in the
nature OF contract, to protect the In-
dians in the occupancy OF their own lands
In return for their REIMBURSEMENT Of GER
tain other rights or claims.
At the time this treaty was signed il was
not suspected that gold existed in the req
| ervation, aud II was believed that tho
United states had in all respects got the
best Of the bargain. Now, however, since
IL has been learned that gold has been
found in the country belonin to tho In
dams, the Senator from Minnesota avows
his determination that tho people of tn e
United States" In defiance of the most
solemn treaty stipulations. shall take pos
session OF property Dtlpn.liiH TO the lnil-
ans ana that with no other than robbers
right they shall wrest from the original
proprietors Of the soil lauds which our
Government has solenuly coveuanted To
protect from spoliltiOn. To be sure Mr.
WINDOW declares that tho Sioux have re-
pcatedly violated the treaty Of 1883, but
he fails to sustain his allegations by any
proof; and everybody can see that this Il "A
mere pretence.
There is no doubt that IL there are large
deposits of gold in the Black Hills country
the whites would develop them more of =
| fectively than the Indians, aud il is equally
true that white adventures would rather
have these lands In their own possession
| than in that of the real owners. But tho
| policy advocated by Mr.. WINDOW, though
II Is nothing more than the realization OF
| President GRANTS warning to the Sioux
chiefs in Washington, that if they would
| not sell their lands on terms satisfactory
to him he would be unable to prevent
! their occupancy by the whites. Is a policy
which we might expect to hear avowed by
professional highway robbcr, but not by
n Senator of the United States