Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-03-14
OFFICE INDIAN AGEST.
Me- PIERCE INDIANS,


Sin: have the honor TO report the fol-
lowing: On the 2stt utimo held coun-
Gil with these Indians, as per Instructions
contained in circular letter dated July Is,
1878, pertaining to the transfer Of the ln-
dian bureau to the War Department..
james Lawyer present head chief opened
the council on the part of the Indians and
spoke in favor Of the transfer, and was
followed as per ipcosed memoranda. In
answer to question from myself he said
that ho represented the wishes of the
Kamiab people, although only fifty KAN
iahs were present.
There were in attendance at the council
only l2G out of 34S adult male Neg Perce
Indians, and out of l4S men at Kamal,
only so were present
| The council was opened about 10 A. II.
and adjourned at noon. The Indinns had
had three weeks notice, but failed to come
| in
After the council had been adjourned
and the better class of Indians had time to
realize what had been done, Archie Law
yer, brother of the head, chief and several
kaniah Indians called at my Office and
requested me to call another couocil. that
they might undo that which had been
done. refused to comply with the re-
quest, saving that if did SO it would be
said | Influenced them to change their
minds, but th,t IL they desired 10 forward
a different wish than the one expressed 10
the council the better plan would be 10
draw up "a remonsirsnce and have such us
desire to sign the same do so.
Of those who spoke in council a majority
i was in favor of the transfer. One Of the
causes of this action was the establishment
Of the snhch,efrainsbip at KaminL and Lap
wal. The Indians know that am opposed
to any one claiming to be a chief because
his father claimed SO to he. have given
my reasons many times for opposing thu
same. which in substance is that it has .
tendency to keep back the younger poruor
of he tribe from being elevated and civil
, lied From the time | placed all Indian
O. the same level and recognized one Il,
soon as the other mp 10 the present time
the Younger portion as we'll as the olie
portion of the tribes have made encoua-g
. ing progress.
was thoroughly surprised at the ex
preston made in the conncil. | did no
expec, it 10 be so strong. They know tha
the military talk to and recognize only tn
chiefs. ar d look nTnn the members OF th
trihe outside the circle of chiefs as private
in the army The would-be chiefs hav
= an idea that in case the transfer take
: place it would elevate them to their forme
position ~ the tribe. and when favor
desired by the common people from thel
: agent they would have TO come TO thel
first, and through them secure that favol
:. / know this to be the view of James Law
'. yer. Those who spoke in favor Of th
;, ;, transfer look upon the common people a
= y slaves. and often apply that term 10 sue
: as employ abont the agency. The acts
" the military will keep up. or rather reil
state. their old ideas of tribal affairs. an
r win be the means of their falling back iu
IS their former habits. Hence am oppose
'" to military being stationed on the reserv
The reason the signatures do not appe'
= to the inclosed is that they ('be speaker
III left the agency, returning home before
was able to get the paper ip proper shap
Very respectfully,
JNo B. MoNrElTH,
U. s. Indian Agent.
Hon Con-. or IsDiAS AFFAIRS.
Mr.. FEM. That is agent Mo
~ =, teith's report of the Nez Perce counc
(. He reports twenty eight hundred l
er dians of all ages. men, women a
On children, when there are less tn
eleven hundred and fifty in and abe
or the reservation. He maxes no rept
ns ne of any vote tor or against the transit
=. ~ but this immaculate agent by false
r. o esentations attempts to break the fol
ht of the action of the Indians 10 count
OF A MEMBER. What is his name !
'es Mr.. FEM. j. b. Montsith, ags
~ for the Nez Perces.
,.r Mr.. RICE, Of Ohio, obtained