The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-01
TEE INDIAN TROUBLES,

ARMS AND SUPPLIES FOR THE ISDIANS-A
STATEMENT FROM THE INDIAN OFFICE-SO
ARMS. OR AMMUSITIoN ISSUED, AND THE
HosTILEs TO BE DIsARNED.
WASHINGTON. July 31.-The Indian Office
desires the statement to be made that since
the beginning of the troubles with Sitting Bull
the office has been the subject Of sharp
criticism, which proceeds probably from
ignorance OH two points.
First. Because Sitting Bull has been found
to be we'll provided with arms and ammuni-
ton; and second, because while some Of
the agency Indians have undoubtedly
slipped away from their agencies, the issue
OF rations to those remaining has not been
entirely stopped on that account. Upon
neither OF these points do the facts warrant
the criticisms. The position and action OF
the Indian officer representing the "peace
policy" which contemplates the use OF the
military in classifying the defiant and hostile
Indians rs fully as the use Of the civil power
in protecting and aiding those who remain
friendly, in regard to. these subjects, is
shown in the following brief statement:
First. AS to the sales Of arms and ammll-
milton: On the 18th of January the Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs directed by tele-
graph the agents at Fort Belknap, Fort
Peck, Standing Rock, Cheyenne river, Crow
Creek, Red Cloud, and Spotted Tail agcn-
cies to stop all sales OF arms and ammuni-
ton to the Indians at those agencies, and to
seize all such articles liable to reach the IN
dams. No complaint by military officers or
others has yet reached the Indian Office
that any licensed trader or any person at
any OF the Sioux agencies has been permit
ted by the Indian agents to sell or barter to
the Indians any arms or ammunition what
ever; neither has any complaint been made
to the Indian Office that any Of their agents
have been rcmiss in attempting to prevent,
so far as lay in their power, the illicit and
concealed trade which has been UNI
doubtcdly carried on to 4 greater or less
extent since the above orders were
issued. The Sioux reservation, rs large as
the State OF Ohio, and bounded on its entire
eastern line OF four hundred miles by 4
navigable river, with its numerous landings
and innumerable other points where stores
of this kind could be landed surrepti-
tiously, and two most important agencies on
its southern border, within two hundred
miles OF Cheyenne, cannot be efficiently pa
trolled by the scant hundred employees OF
the Indian Office, scattered at the different
agencies within its limits, nor, as is well
known by none better than tho military
themselves, by such force rs the military
have been able to command for that pur-
pose. Such police work has yery'properly
therefore been left to the military, and while
the Indian Office has been in the main pow
erless to help, it has been very far from hin
dering the military in their endeayors to
prevent this traffic.
Second. AS to rationing the Indians now
at the agencies. The idea that the Sioux
agencies are to be, with the consent OF the
Indian Office, either the recruiting ground
or the refuge of Indians engaged in hostiii-
ties, is Il mistake. From time to time the
most urgent directions have been given to
the various Sioux agents to use their intlu-
ence and authority to its utmost extent to
keep their Indians ut their agencies. For
this purpose it has been thought wise to
furnish the agents, so far as it has been in
the power OF the office, with such supplies
OF the plainest and cheapest food as would
give the agency Indians no sufficient excuse
to Join Sitting BULBS band. Ii supplies
had not been furnished, there is every real
son to suppose that that chiefs force would
be larger than it is by thousands. The means
at the disposal of the office for this purpose
have been very limited, and twice witbin four
months the supplies at Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail have been almost entirely exhausted,
for the simple reason that Congress had
given the Commissioner the means OF pur-
chasing them only after long delay and
much urgent solicitation, the case at one
time being so serious that the President felt
justified in making it the subject OF special
message. The Indian Office is acting in the
present emergency in entire harmony with
the War Department, and propose to aid the
army in making complete work by disarm-
ing and arrcsting every hostile Indian who
makes his appearance at any OF the agen-
cies. For that purpose, on the Goth instant
the Commissioner issued the following tele-
graphic order to the several Sioux agents:
"Allow the military to so far control your
Indians rs to prevent any from Joining the
hostiles, and the latter and their families
from coming in except en- unconditional
surrender; aid in arresting, disarming, and
dismounting such. Issae no rations to such
except as prisoners. Assure all pcaceable
Indians OF full protection and kind treat