Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-03
Visit to the Interior Depart.
ment.
POW WOW WITH SECRE.
TARY SEIZURE.
COMPLAINTS OF POVERTY.
The Indians Want TO Remain Where
They Are this Winter.
THE DELEGATION WILL RETURN HOME
TO DAY.

WASHINGTON, October 2. The Sioux and Ar.
rapahoe Indian delegation had their last pow WOW
at the interior department, to-day. Secretary
Schuiz addressed them IS follows:
My Friends-I am glad to see you, and l am
now ready to hear what YOU have to say.
Alter brief silence, Red Cloud arose and said
My Dear Father-I am going 10 speak briefly
to you. Great father, have spoken to you be-
lore OF the poor condition in which we come here.
Our people are poor. Ny people are opposed to
our stock will die. want to obey you, and 80 do
all my people, and am talking for them as well
as for myself. am speaking to you easy and
quietly, Great Father. know when go back,
all my young men and people will feel very badly
because we have got to go to the Missouri river.
Al the northern Indians that have been brought
into the reservation have been brought in by Spot
ted Tail and myself. That is III have to say.
Spotted Tail was the next speaker. He said :
We cannot go near the Missouri river this winter
OF my delegation here altogether, we have decid-
ed that We cannot 60 to the Missouri river. If
should tell my people bad been ordered to go
there, and had sanctioned the order, they would
scatter all over the country. This delegation here
with me has told you our opinion and has decided
what to do, but it seems my plans are not enter
tanned. We have picked out good place and
are willing to 90 to it in the spring, but cannot
move this fall We would like to be at peace and
keep the peace with the whites, bat il is impossi
BILE for us to move away this fall. We came here
to-day TO do business for ourselves and our people
and for no other purpose. You told me to pick
out place for my reservation, and have done
so. Your people try to increase their property
and that is what want to do My Great Father
has plenty Of money and can help us.
We want our agency ct Wounded Knee Creek,
where we are at present. We are all prepared for
tue winter, and do not want to throw our labor
away. Ii you want us to throw that properly
away you should pay us for it. If you pay US for
it probably we can move away. otherwise we can
not Whatever you have that belongs to YOU is
worth being paid for If compelled to part with it.
Let me stay where am this winter, aud in the
spring put US on our reservation. We will 90
anywhere you want Us to in the spring
Secretary Schurs then replied, saying:
Your great father has spoken to you kindly.
When he became your great father he found in
the books certain treaties. These treaties were
law to him as well as they ought to be . law TO
you. These treaties made 1t his duty to carry
provisions for you and TO feed you on place near
the Missouri river.
Your supplies are on the Missouri river, now
carried there in accordance with the law, SO that
we might give you food when you were hungry,
and 1t IS now too late to carry them to any other
place.
Your great father will help you when you need
it. lie will not desire YOU to remain on the Mis-
souri, river longer than the winter. He will be
glad to see you settle down on your permanent
places. and will aid you 10 every way and give
you oil that the nation permits.
At 800 o'clock this afternoon the Sioux delega-
ton return, aod Sharp Nose, Friday, and Black
Coal OF the Arrspshoes remained to confer with
They leave here TO- morrow'evening for home,
via New York.
President Hayes was present during the latter
part of the conference.