The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-05

tribes of the Sioux nation. represented 10y
their chiefs and head men, which was after
ward ratified by the Senate, and signed and
/ proclaimed by President ANDREW JOHNSON.
Tho purpose Of this treaty was explained in
Article l., which begins as follows:
From this day forward all war between the rartost
ti' & M .h.li e'',e re Doysrnp,tm
nIid ~, I ~ Ih fni,,o,s, w, i.re n ,eas s,d ,Sn
now pledge their honor to mintainit'
Among the provisions Of this treaty was
one setting apart a large extent Of territory,
including the Black Hills, for the absolute
and undisturhed use and occupation of the
Indians herein named, and for such other
friendly tribes or individual Indians as from
time to time they may be willing, with the
consent Of the United States to admit among
thcm;' and not only confirming the claim of
the Indians to tho undsturbcd possession of
the territory in question, but pledgiug our
Government TO prevent it from being invaded
10y any persons, except such officers, agents,
on employees of the Government rs may bc
authorized TO enter upon Indian reservations
in discharge of duties cnjoincd 10y law. An
other provision Of this treaty, contained in
Article XVI, stipulated that the country
north of the Platte river and east of the
SUBMITS of the Big Horn Mountains should
Toe considered to bc unccdcd Indian territory.
and that no white person or persons should
bo permitted 90 settle upon or occupy any
portion Of the same. or even pass through it
without the consent OK the Indians. The In
dams who signed the agreement made with
r'sCommissioncrs in 1876 acquicsccd In
q change of the northern and western bouu-
darcs Of the reservation defined 10y the
treaty Of 1865. thus relinquishing to the
United States the Black Hills. and consented
To the nbrogation of Article XVI of the same
treaty which recognized their right to the
possession OF tine territory north of the
Platte river and east OF tho Big Horn
Mountains.
Tho treaty ~ isGs. which was NEGOTIATED
/ on the part oi the United Statcs, as a settle
! mont of difficulties which had cost our Gov
eminent great embarrassment, remained
unquostionod, and virtually undisturhcd,
until 1871, when the CUSTER expedition was
organized for an exploration of the Black
| HIS country. This expedition was the rc-
suit Of the ntfigucs Of a ring Of spectators
/ having close relations with the White
I.lIouac, who. having heard rumors that
I gold existed Ia the Black Hills region. do
sirod To opon the country for white settle
! mont with the expectation Of making money
/ ly getting carly possession OF valuable min
/ oral claims anl town sites. Tho expedition
/ wds unauthorized 10y llw wa- a plain viula-
/ tiOn az the troatv 81 1-is. and eventually led
to tine mtloiicu- Sioux war of last summon.
/ Tho reports Of gold discoveries sent from
that expedition induced an influx of miners
and other Adventures into the Indian coun-
| try. and active hostiltics followed rs a
matter Of course.
| Another causc Of the Sioux war was tho
! systematic plunlcring OF the Indians by
/ di-h,ne-t agents Of the Indian Bureau, who
wcrc charged with the distribution Of the
suppl'o1 appropriated by Congress to var-
GUS tribes This created di-aflrction among
bands who were disposed TO Toe friendly
to the whites. and lei to repeated COM
paiut- a. tine Government. which received
no. satisfactory response. In the moan time
q clamur had been raised in the Northwest
for the occupation by the Government Of the
territory which. by the treaty IL l~i,. had
boon aoNnovi 'l-ad g. belong 10 the indians;
and President GEASr carly gave Indications
Of his purpose to accomplish such an occu-
patton ID possible. I'm tine summer col 1875
RED CLoCp, SPOTTED rNIL. ANA othor Sioux
chiefs wcrn tal,-n to Washington in order
as they supposed. to have an opportunity of
prcern ing io person their grievances 10 the
President. Whom They met that fnc'ionary,
however. instead pf hcnling their complaint.
he refused to discuss the subject Of thoir
wrongs Int plainly told them that they
must make up their minds to leave their
country and make room for the whites who