The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-01-31

the obligation OF that which commands
peace and respect? Among civilized
nations a treaty is a most solemn, bind
ing. and venerated document. 1t en-
bodies the very highest and most pow
erful form of international intercourse.
The very existence Of many nations de-
ponds to-day upon treaties. Townsend
says: ga treaty is an agreement or
contract between two or more nations,
entered into with proper Formally and
solemnity, defining the rights OF the
respective parties thereto with regard
to trade, commerce, boundaries, or
with reference to the protection of their
mutual interests against invasion from
other powers" 1t will be observed
then, that a treaty is a most solemn
and important matter.
1t is easy to understand why treaties
were first entered into by our govern
ment with the Indians. Their power
was feared, for one thing, and then
they drove a large traffic in furs, which
gave much profit, Sc that there was
some method in an amicaLle under
standing. Besides, the government did
not in the early days establish poor
farms for lazy, mendicant savages, for
this is just what reservations amount
to. However, it was principally the
desire of the government to get the
Indian trade that induced the making
Of treaties. In section 8, article i. of
the constitution congress Is given pow
or ''to regulate commerce with foreign
nations, and among the several states,
and with the Indian tribes" But
there is no constitutional command
that congress must make such treaties.
So, with the disappearance Of Indian
trade, treaties should have ceased, wen
admitting, for argument, that treaties
were at first a necessity.
But VIC must deal with the present.
The governments purposes and meth
DDS are now different, and these can be
changed at will, for there is no consti-
~tutional obligation concerning them.
1t is therefore the more wonderful that
common sense has not ruled the man
agement of the Indians. Let us then,
inquire ~ why the savages are depend
ent upon the government; t2) their re-
lations to the government in that con
dition Of dependency; and, (3) the
proper and true course of management
by the government.
Briefly stated, it is the spreading CIV
ilization of our people that occasions
the obligation to support Indians. Set
tiers press forward and forward, mar
rowing down the scope of country for
the red man. until a war of extermina-
tion must result or the Indians be re-
moved. The latter being the most hui
name course Is generally followed.
Then reservations are established, and,
rs the Indians no longer hunt for food,
the government supplies them with all
the n~ecessaries Of life. This is a fair
equivalent for being crowded off their
hunting grounds. As Indians are nat
urally lazy, they generally prefer fat
ness on a reservation to doubtful fare
on tne plains.
ns s'" s.o,e, .""s .ne
INV 'eSs s'''D'e nae"i' Vi sup
the government, they may be fairly
classed as the nations poor. Hence,
49, -" s
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wo uy
~ 80
ms 'pon 'n' eose'
sn' nave ,,uu lisn'sgsach
: i's"' W
w.,
~. S.sS"Aa,n ~ 80.
$50
~ ~" pio
ne "
nesn "o'' pois
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~" '.sn' =. uepeuen. ihuiais 70
'o :" s'@"'y WIZ" .ho soseln-
-" ~ 'uoy suos'''.
49, e"'.ein pop,
"ss 49,. -.
.a.risa-. - 'ne gu
rna,ams 49, n "n e
sucb thev sbould be tbanlfu, neacsfni
and obedient
We have alreadv indicated tho s,c,
thai the government IL Tho crord;,n 90