Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-11
THE INDIANS VIEWS.
As Expressed in Councilin Resavd to thei,
Transfeir'to the War Department.

The Indian department, several months
ago. directed the Indian agents throughout
the country to call councils of the Indians
under their charge, and obtain an express
sion of their views in regard to the pro-
posed transfer of their management to the
war department. The wishes expressed by
the head men of the principal tribes of the
northwest, are given below
The Winnebagoes in Nebraska say they
desire to become citizens of the United
to remain under the interior department.
past some of their men were abused by the
military and their tribe became very much
diseased through the intercourse Of soldiers
with their women, and their condition has
been made worse by contact with the army.
The S,sselon and Wahpeton Sioux VI
Devils Lake agency say: "The troops
torment US in many ways, aud do not try
to encourage a frail man, as is done under
U present system. To attain civilization
is hard for us, but we can reach 1t through
our present teaching, and our children will
be benefited thereby. Our present pros.
perity certainly shows considerable ad-
vancement."
Mantaucarka. a chief of the siseeton and
Wahpeton Sioux, says: "Tbe change
scares me. I fear the g%uard-house and the
strong iron rule Of the military. I do not
want 10 be forced { leave this agency and
civilized life to 60 north among the rene.
gade Indians"
Sun Ramona, another chief, says: II
am prospecting. The present system has
been the means of many buildings, wagons,
and cattle being owned by the Indians. l
that ] am steadily improving. I do not
want an officer Of the army to be my agent.
do not wish to take off my white mans
clothes and let my hair grow long, to be.
come an Indian again, and abandon my
children to the chance of being q wanderer
as / was once"
The Indians at Santee agency, Nebraska,
say: "Our children are being educated
under the present system, and they are in a
reasonably prosperous condition. We are
trying to get land and pay for it. We have
a blacksmith, carpenter, and miller. We
can pillow and plant. We wish to build sta.
bles and fences, and 10 raise all we can.
The Santees have churches and pray aud 20
to church. That is a good, quiet way to
live, l think. If We keep this way, in a
few years the boys will grow up and have
large farms to work. l think a citizen 10
better to be with us than soldier, Is
think his way Of treating US is more mild
and as much to the purpose. Soldiers are
more harsh to Indians than civilians"
The Yanktonnais and Assinsboine Indi.
ans at Fort Peck agency, say: sour past
and experience teach US that
the presence Of q military post in the imme.
date vicinity of our Indian camp is always
with the decentralization of Indian
and is followed BY diseases among
Them unknown before the presence of sol. .
and the disease thus brought into our .
are always attended with terrible
md fatal results to our women and children.
Dur young men are imprudent and often
'iolent and reckless, and the presence Of
always results in violence and broils
lmong our young men, for which they are
reated or punished harshly by the military
luthority, leaving = feeling Of bitterness
Which frequently results years afterward in
ONE violent transaction on their part in
evenge of the real or fancied wrong infict-
d on them. In this way the presence Of a :
camp in our midst always makes
mong orr people a feeling of distrust and
ncertainty-a feeling that we are constant.
; watched for the purpose Of giving US a
ad name, whereas, with an agent not con-
ected v III the army, VI feel that our fail.
,gs will be chsritably dealt with"
White Cloud, q Chippewa CHIEF, of White
agency says: II am very fearful Of
,e consequences which might result from
avine men educated In the science of war
ut 10 charge of %. The military man has a
cen taught to fght. FiRhting and cult .
Riipg the soil are two different things, and /,
lille q military man may be able to do !
9th. there is a possibility Of his preferriDe
fight when there 10 no necessity for il. I
is in our midst. Our children
re being educated. Their minds Gro lDis6
improved. l hold the pillow and am getting
ute expert The hoe is also In my hand.
he reservation has had some experience Z
military men 40 agents. Their con.
uct did not impress Us %favorably. The
of the Indians wss the iesst OIL
heir troubles, for they had . personal dig.
lily to maintain. They had no time 70
,ok aftsr the welfare Of the Indians