The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-16
TEE REMOVAL OF TIE PONCAS
Investigation Thereof by Senator
KirkwOOd's special Com
mittee.
"A Witness Who ID Fully Acquainted
With all the Circumstances Why
tho Removal was Decided on
The Reason the Poncas FL
nally Refused to DO.

ep0eihl committee investigating the causes and
method Of the removal u the Ponoa indians
from their reservation In Dakota to the Indian
Territory, had before them yea ferday. e G. KEN
ble. OK army officer. snd late Indian inspector.
Kemble WAS the flrst inspe tor appoint. under
President arant's naturalization. and served
to the end o. his term Hs was the officer who
was entrusted with the execution OF the orders
issued by the Interior Department under the
act Of Congress providing for the Poncas' re-
moval. He was asked to state his knowledge OF
the circumstances which led to their removal
and the conneoti n he had with Il aud the tribe
previous TO that event. His testim ny de-
vsoped many facts not heretofore published.
He said he has known the Poncas sinoe 1852.
Hs nrst knew them whsn ne vas an army otfi-
or ~ du on ths -sourt liver aud after
wa ds visited them a. secretary OF The lndian
son mission OF tho EtfscOpai Church. witness
accom- panied the inte Wm. Welsh and other
fri, nds OF these Indians to their agency, aud
eano1 n sSe nss ds.ute ana s
or 'eperous during tn, period covered ~ his
acquaintance, At the time OF the Walt referred
and ans hs we breeds is' he former n
nu Ii bsrs and ibfl 1encs. The iull blo0ds wsrs
anxious 70 move from their reservation. The
White Eagle. Standing Beer and others OF the
full blnods, who subsequently, opposed removal
were then Tin 1879 anxious to 60, They wanted
Nebraska. % and NJ. wsish visited the Omahas
ann endeayored to Eject an arranRement by
which the Of Sh9 asrea
ipgton caused them to bs pl laced on tho feeding
list. for. they were starving. Th y, lived il
terror on tne bn 81 es SIOUX nr
doors BY night for fear IF them. They were
harasaed BY Spotted Tails Brule sioux: and
from imperfect tillage. drouth and other
causes.
As Indian inspector. 10 January, 1877, he was
aoi movai to the Indian Territory He was In
atructed to fret obtain. their .nseat and then
the Indian Territory and endraver to negoti
ate with the Osages for part OF their lands. He
arrived at the Ponca agency about January %.
and held three councils With all che head chiefs
aud the principal men Of the tribe. At the first
council they, were unitedly opposea TO any
q hs
to talk more favorabiy. and they finally agreed
To give up their, lands and 70 to the Indian
vsne ths Tssrery shona be en
invton to finish negotiations. ,Permisst n to
partment but 1t was added that the main iea-
lures OF negotiation must bs settled b fore they
could visit Washington. leaving only minor de-
It had been partly determined In conferences.
with the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs. and
subsequently, with the agent OF the GOncae. tnat
Il wouli be necessary TO give up their lands 10
negotiations for the selection OF another
tract It was feared they would do as othsr
Indian delegations had done VIZ: Practice de-
ception on the department. after putting 1t 70
considerable expense. and gratlfyin9 their GU
riosity to sse the Great Father: They were then
Dakota as a condition precedent to a deega,
ton being taken to the Indian Territory. and
| to this consent was formally given In eOuLoil.
| at whichtall the head chiefs and principal men
were present. on July a.
Atthis point the minutes OF this council was
! produced before the committee and shown TO
30 certified By one OF the chiefs present who had
| been the sgner Of two treaties between the
| United States and Ponces. By two Interpreters.
| by the agent and BY q dozen other witnesses
| Kemble then described his visit with the dele.
cation to the Indian Territory. Standing Bear
was one OF the chiefs who had consented to
give up the lands In Nebraska. When they ar.
rived at tho Usage agency the weather became
bad and the roads heavy. The strip OF country
| shey had seen along the route traversed wae
unprepossessing. and the Poncas became h ear'
stck and asked to be taken back to their homes
They refused to look at the Indian Territory OF
any part OF 1t. and we're taken to Arkansas City
| In Kansas,
From this place Kembel explained the situa;
tion to the Indian office BY teleRrams. ant
asked further instructions Nothing definite
was received In reply, and eight Of the del.ga
tion left him at night and started for thei
homes afoOt. Two OF the chiefs who remained
/ with him were tue surviving membsrs OF tn
| last two treaties wi th the Poncas. With thes
he went to Independence City. Kan. the neares
assured by the Commissioner OF Indian Affatre
| In a tel gram. that the removal OF the Ponca
| would be- insisted on.
| The committee then adjourned to MONDAY.