Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-10-25
The Council at Fort Walsh with
the Indians.


herents:
| Cen Terry's principal duty was to lay before
the chiefs of all the tribes represented al the coun-
Gil the message from the Great Father at w ashlng-
ton. lie said TIE President desired to make a
lasting peace; that this was for their own sakes,
and that If they would consent to return to their
own country and hereafter refrain from all acts OF
hostility against the government of the United
States a full pardon would be given them
all their past acts that matter what those acts
had been would be punished; that they
should be forgiven IN the same spirit that other
| tribes who surrendered had been that the Indians
who had surrendered had simply been required to
give up their and horses, except such horses
as had been shown to be necessary to them, and
that the guns and animals sold for the benefit
OF those from whom they had been taken that al
ready some six hundred and fifty cows had been
distributed among the agencies on the Missouri
River, as the government believed the future well
fare OF the Sioux was in the abandonment of the il
present rambling mode of life aud the adoption OF
the occupation OF cattle raising.
The President, they were informed would not
consent to their return armed and mounted and
prepared for war, TO inc injuries similar to those
inflicted during the past two years. They were
invited TO return, give up their arms aud 90 on to
agencies assigned them. Whatever horses were
found requisite tor peace purposes would be al
lowed them, their property would be sold and cows
boug ght for them with the proceeds.
Continuing, Gen. Terry said -
"From these cows you will be able TO raise
herds, which will support you and your children
after the game on which you now depend for sub
sistence shall have disappeared, and in the mean
time you will receive the clothing and food which
the other bands OF your nation are now receiving.
We have come many hundred miles to bring you
this message from the President, who, as We have
told you before, desires TO live in peace with all
hs people; for much white and Indian blood has
already been shed. 1t is time that bloodshed should
cease. OF one thing, however, 1t is our duty TO
assure you, you cannot return TO your own coun-
try and your friends unless you accept these prop
ostons. Should you attempt to return with arms
in your hands, you must be viewed as enemies of
the United States.
1--WE ask you to take these propositions into con-
sideration and to take time to consult together
and weigh them carefully. When you have done
so we shall be glad to meet you and receive your
answer"
The faces of the assembled Indians during the
delivery Of this address were as impenetraee as
granite. There were two exceptions. Once
smile of more than ordinary significance curled
the lips of Sitting Bull, and once the right eye of
Spotted Eagle actually winked dersion toward
| Colonel Mcleod.
| But until the finish all the Indians continued to
smoke, smoke, smoke. Then, while Colonel Nc
Leod sat in his chair and Major Walsh rested on
the corner OF the table, Sitting Bull, Spotted Ea-
gle and the rest continued TO smoke. They smoked.
| They smoked until the room reeked. They smok ed
| as If they were smoking for their lives. Yet while
they smoked their visages were as Unreliable
that OF the Sphinx, and, although everybody felt
something unpropitious in the air, no one would
have ventured prophecy until Sitting Bull arose,
in his bal baric grandeur, aud said; =
For sixty -four years you have kept me and my
people and treated me bad. What have we done
that you should want usi We have done nothing.
1t is the people your side that have started us
TO do all these depredatoas. We could not go
anywhere else, SO we took refuge in this country
of the British. 1t was on this side of the country
that we learned to shoot and this is the reason why
I came back to it again. | would like to know why
| you came here in the first place l did not give
you the country, but you followed me from one
place to another SO had to leave and come over
| to this country.
| 81 did not give you my country, but you took it
away from (llere the speakers eyes glanced
defance). was horn and raised in this country
with the Red River half breeds, and | intend to
stop with them. | was raised hand in hand with
the Red River half breeds, and we are going to
that part Of the country, and that is the reason
why have come over here Shaking hands with
the English ofiicers.) That is the way was raised
in the hands of these people here. and that is the
way intend to be with them. You have got ears
to hear and you have got eyes to see,
and you see how l live with these people.
you are bigger fools than l am. This is
medicine house. You come here to tell us lies,
but we don't want to hear them. Idon't wish any
such language nsed to me- that is, to tell me such
lies in my Great Mothers house (alluding to
Queen Vctofia). Don't you say two more words
Go back home where you came from. This coun-
try is mine and intend to stay here and to raise
this country full of grown people. See these peo-
pie here. We were raised with them" (again
shaking hands ith the English officers). THAT
is enough so no more. You see me shak ing
hands with these people The part of the country
you gave me you ran me out of. have now come
here to stay with these people, and intend to
stay here. | wish you to 90 back and to take it
easy going back"
"By taking it easy" Sitting Bull meant that the
commission should take such a long time in going
that it would never get back. The show, hows"
of the Indians interruptiDg this address showed
the perfect sympathy between them and Sitting
Bull. His note the keynote. 1t convinced
the commission at once of the policy which had
been unaterably decided on by Sitting Bull and
his braves. Several other Sioux took their oppor-
tunities to speak. The one that runs the Rec, a
Ssntee Indian speaking next. said -
Look at me. was born and raised in this
country. These people away North was raised
with, my hand in their own. have lived in peace
with them for the last sixty-four years. We were
over in your country and you treated us badly,
| and we have come over here now, and you want
to try and get us back there again. You didn't
| treat us we'll and don't like you at ALL" Shaking
hands with the English officers. he continued -
| 81 have been up and down these roads we have
| been running up and down this country. | have
| been up and down them as often as these people
| nave. Will be AT peace with these people as long
| AS live. You come over here to tell us lies /
will shake hands here. have been in peace w ith
them have come this far into this country
These are the people that learned me how to shoot
| for the first time.
| "Ths country is ours. We lid not give il to
you You stole II away from us. You have come
| here to our country TO tells lies and don pro
pose to talk much, and that is all have to say |
want you to take it easy going back home. Don't
| 20 in a rush"
Generals Terry and Lawrence exhibited little
concern during the progress Of the proceedings.
| The Indians who seemed TO be a little chagrined
at the non-etfect of their tactics on the commls-
sion impertusbably arose and were about to leave
the room, but the interpreter arrested them for a
moment, and was desired by General Terry to ask
the following questions -
shall we say to the Presi lent that you refuse
the offers he has made to you"
| "Are We to understand from what you have
said that You refuse those offers -
long pause followed All the redskins pres
en,, including Sitting Bull himself, felt the occa
sion WAS important. They cast inquiring glances
toward Colonel Mcleod and Major Walsh, who
gave them no responsive sign. They looked sus-
lpiciousy toward the interpreters. The nterpre-
tiers were uninterpretabe. They delbersted
with some trepidaton on an issue which concern
cd SO greatly the future veal or woe of them
selves, their families and their people
Sitting Bull again stood up and said -
| al could tell more. but that ia bava