The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-07-12
CAMERoN,s CONTRIBUTION

TO THE STATE LITERATURE ON THE INDIAN
QUEsTIoN-HE SENDS PAPERS FOR THE
PRESIDENTS INFORMATION.
WASHINGTON, July S.-The secretary of
war to-day addressed the following letter
to the president:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGroN,
July 8, 1876.
To the President:
TO enable you to answer the enclosed
resolution of the Senate, of July Z,
have the honor to submit the
following brief statement of facts as
exhibited by the records of this depart
ment. The Sioux or Dakota nation OF
Indians, embracing various tribes, Yank-
tons, YsnktOnsis, Bruies, Ogsllales, Men
necO njous, Soussrcs, Two Kettles, etc.,
have long been known as the most brave
aud warlike ssvages OF this continent.
They have for centuries been
pushed westward by the ad-
vsncing tide of civilization till In
1867 An arrangement or treaty was made
with them by q special commission named
by Congress, whereby, for certain pay
ment or stipulation, they agreed to surTen-
der their claims to all that vast region
which lies west of the Missouri river and
north of the Platte; to live at peace with
their nejghbo TO restrict themselves
to sterritory bounded east by the Missouri
river, south by Nebraska, west by the
lO4th meridian and north by the 10th par
allel of latitude, territory as large as
Michigan. The terms of this treaty have
been literally performed on the part of the
United States,aDd have also been complied
with by the great mass OF the Sioux
Indians. Some of these Indians
however, have never recognized
the binding force of the treaty, but have
oil xxyffh M nd
have continued to roam at pleasure, at
lacking scattered setslemeu Is in Nebraska,
Wyoming, Montana and Dakota, stealing
horses and c,ttle and numbering peaceful
inhabitants and travellers. On the 9Th OF
November, 1875. an United States Indian
Insp ctor, E. G. Watkins, made an elab-
orate report to the commissioner OF
Indian affairs in which he uses this Ian
Vusge: 81 have the honor to address you
in relation to the attitude and condition
of certain wild and hostile bands of
Sioux II dams in Dakota and Montana
that came under my observation during
my r. cent tour through the country, and
what think shoald be the policy OF the
government towards them. 1 refer to
Sitting Bulls band and other bands of the
Sioux nation, under chic or head men of
less ote, but
NO LESS UNTAMABLE AND HOSTILE.
These Indians occupy a center, so to speak,
and roam over Yves ern Dakota and ,st-
ern Montana, including the rich valleys of
the Yellowstone and Powder rivers, and
make war on the ArickaveF, Mordsms,
GrOsveutres, ASSN biues, Black ieet, Pie
gans, Crows, and other friendly tribes on
the circumference. From their central
position they strike to east, north and
west, steal horses and plunder from all
surrounding tribes rs we'll rs from, IRON
tier settlers, any luckless white hun ters or
emigrsnts who are not in sufficient force
to resist tht m " AT er des cTibing at great
length their character and sup
posed numbers, given ct a few
hundred, he says: 1.-The true policy
in my ju 'gment is to send troops again st
them in the winter, the sooner the better,
and whip them into subjectiOn. They
richly merit punishment for their insessant
warfare and their numerous murders of
white settlers and their families, or white
n en- whenever found unsrmed." The force
estimated as necessary to whip them was
one thousand men. This communication
was submitted by the commissioners of
Inu1an affairs, the Hon. Edward p. Smith.
tn the honorable Secretary of the interior,
u Chandler, who In turn submitted 1t to
the then secretary of war, Gen. Belknsp,
for bis consideration and action. In a sub
sequeDt communication of the secretary of
secretary of war, occurs this language:
II have the honor to inform you that
have this day direct ed he commissioner of
Indian affairs to notify the said Indian,
Sitting Bull, and others outside their res
ervstiop, that they must remove to the
reserva i'm before the 1st of January,
1876. and Ii they neglected or refused so TO
move they will be reported tn the war de-
psHment as hostile Indians and
that mi itsry torce will be sent
20 compel th m TO obey ihs
order O. the Indian office. o.
the 1st day of February the Sec
rstary OF the interior iurther noti-
ied the secretary Of war, the time
given bim Sitting Bull, in which to return
to an agency naviog expired, and advices
received at the Indian flee being to the
effect that Sitting Bull still
REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH THE DIRECTION
of the commissioner. Said Indians are
herebv turned over to tho war deDart-