The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-26

An Interesting Account of the Council al
Fort Walsh.
From the Chicago Times
Gen. Terry rose and addressed the In.
dams, through the interpreter, as fol-
lows:
We are sent as a commission by the Presi-
dent of the United States, at the request Of the
Government Of the Dominion Of Canada. to
meet you. The President has instructed us to
say to you that he desires us to make lasting
peace with YOU and your people, He desires
that all hostilities shall cease and that all the
people OF the United States shall live together
i'll harmony. He wishes this, not for the sake
of whites alone, but for your sake as well. He
has instructed us to say that if you will return
to your country aud hereafter refrain from acts
Of hostility against the United States Govern
ment and people, a free pardon will be given
you for all acts committed in the past. no mat
ter what those acts have been. No attempt
will be made to punish you or any man among
you; what is past shall be forgotten, and that
you shall be received in the friendly spirit
Ill which the other Indians who have been en-
gagged in hostiities against the United States,
and have surrendered to its military forces
have been received [Smile by Sitting Bull !
We will now explain to you what the
President intends TO say when he promises that
in case you accept these terms YOU will be
treated in as friendly spirit as the Indians
who have surrendered. These same terms are
now offered you. The President cannot and
will not consent that you should return TO your
country armed, mounted and prepared for war;
He cannot consent that you should return pre-
pared to infllct injuries similar to those which
you have inflicted in the past but he invites
You to come to the boundary of his and your
country, and there give up your arms and am
munition. [Spotted Eagle and other Indians
laughed outright Thence to go to the agency
xVh ha will ar1 erf,
your horses, except those required for peaceful
pursuits. We ask you to take these PROPOSE
tons into consideration, to take time, to con-
suit together, and to weigh them carefully.
When you have done so we shall be glad to
meet and receive your answer.
Sitting Bull rose slowly to his feet,
threw the robe off his shoulders, and
displayed blue calico shirt which was
worn over his leggings. His leggings
were made of dark blue cloth. with a
dark stripe extending down the side. and
around his neck was tied red-banded
handkerchief. His first sentences were
uttered in she vindictive manner.
and his sentinel were re-echoed by
his followers. IL close of each SEN
tence was folloyC by "How D." from
all the Indians IL The room, showing
how closely they sympathized with him.
AS | watched the swaying body of the
Indian and saw his mobile face light
up as he spoke of the great
wrongs of his people, and ut
tered his contempt and hatred
for the American nation, 1 could not but
admire the natural oratory which ena-
bled him to speak 80 strongly. Every
thought was expressed in gesture more
powerful than his words could possibly
be framed to read. When he cried,
:" You came here to tell us lies" he ad-
vanced to the commission, and shook his
forefpger at them with force and fury.
and stood there until the translation had
been made. When he told the commits
sion to take it easy going back home, he
essayed the only smile during his speech,
and the irony was undoubtedly very fine.
He spoke as follows:
For sixty-four years you have kept me and
my people, and treated us bad. What have we
lone that you should want us? We have done
nothing. IL is all the people Of your side that |
have started us to do all these depredations. |