Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-20

MIR. HASKELL reassert what I asserted
before that miners are on that reservation
today. The trouble there has arisen from
violations by citizens Of the United States
OF the treaty made within eleven years and
the government, it seems, has taken no
pains whatever to enforce that treaty and
keep out OF this Indian reservation those
who have no right to 60 there. The very
battle to which ~allusion has so often been
made-the very fight with our troops was
caused by sending an armed force into that
reservation, contrary TO treaty stipulations
and without motive.
Mr.. ~Belford-They were sent at the re.
quest Of the agent.
Mr.. Conger-That may be-. 1t was be.
cause individual miners went over the
bounds of the reservation and violated the
treaty that all trouble has arisen. ven.
ture 10 assert that a fair investigation will
show that more han nineteen TWEEN.
tieths of our Indian troubles from
the commencement of the government
till now have been o%ccasioned by violations
Ut treaty obligations on the part of our cit:.
zens. l assert that the provisions of thi.
DILL are In violation of the treaty itself
which provides hat there shall be no cessa.
ton OF q territory except with the consent
ct three.fourths of the male Indians. Icon.
demn the bill because congress has no righ,
10 resolve that an agreement shall be made
to break another treaty made with any pow.
er. loppose it because it is Unjust to the
Indians. l oppose it because its very advo.
Gates say that the Indians must bs removed
because they are in the way of the white
men. l oppose it because it provides that
these Indians shall be located in some other
part OF Colorado. l oppose it because
think it the duty of the United States, with
The strong arm OF Its power, to protect the
lndians in their reservation. This Is not
the first time a measure has been hurried
through congress at the instigation of the
senator's and members from that state ia or
der to satisfy the greed OF those who want
Indian lands. Let this matter remain over
until we come together again and until it,
shall be known what is right, and what is
and how this government may honora-
oily and finally fulfill its treaty stipulations,
II we have DO power to protect the Indians,
then let US increase that power by %increas-
ing the army. We sent a little band of 14O
without any object in view, and with no
prospect of avoiding a collision, and We left
them there TO be ambushed and massacred.
The only redeeming thing about this massa.
ere is the desperate aud heroic courage of
officers and NEE and the glory which
they added to our arms. even in the fsr-off
where they fought and fell; and
that other additional thing, that the surviv-
ors were rescued from their peril by the
sallantry of colored troops.
The debate was continued at much len 9Th
was further participated in BY Mr. Cad,
who commended William PENIS
Indian policy; by MI: Haskell of Kansas,
who asserted the right of the president to
the entire abrogation of the Ute
by Mr.. Bedford, who reminded Nj.
that the bill denounced by him as q
had been prepared by the secretary of
he interior. and by MI. Keifer and others.
including Mr.. Frye, who suggested that the
''ll be made to apply not to the Ute tribe Of
indians, but 10 the fusionist rascals OF his
state.
The committee rose without action and
be house adjourned.