Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-05-05
THE SIOUX INDIAN RESERVATION.
A Movement Toward the Extinguishmen,
0f the Indian Title.
Rapid City Journal.

Rapid City Journal.
The committee appointed at the public
meeting held in Library hall, Rapid
City, April 25th, for the purpose of con.
sidering and discussing matters pertain
ing to the opening of the Sioux reserva-
tion, beg leave to offer the following
preamble aud resolutions as the express.
sion of such meeting. for the consilera.
tion of the people of the Black Hills and
Dakota territory:
WHRREAs, Over one-third of the great
territory Of Dakota is rendered valueless
an6 non.productlve by reason of the
existence Of the great Sioux reservation,
covering nearly 10000 square miles OF
the fairest portion Of said territory; and.
WHEREAS, That vast area is set apart
for the exclusive use and enjoyment of o
comparatively small number of Indians
numbering but very few thousands,
constituting what is known as the great
Sioux nation; and,
WHEREAS, All the Sioux tribes OF In
dians composing the said Sioux nation,
at the present time, and for years past
have been clothed and fed, and fully pro-
vided for by the general government,
and for said purpose have been collected
by governmental authority around few
agencies, situated within the boundaries
Of the Vast reservation, thus reducing
the area of land actually occupied and
used by said Sioux Indians, to very
compared with the unoccupied portion
the land within the reservation is of nc
practical benefit to said Indians aud sci.
dom ever traversed by them, is of nc
value to them. and could therefore be
surrendered by them without real loss
and without Inconvenience: and believ
ing it to be only question Of time wher
tho Indian title will be extinguished *
q greater portion OF the reservation
which serves no useful purpose in it.
present condition either to the Indians OF
the country at large, but on the contra
~ is clog in the wheel OF progress
and,
WHRRRAs, An effort is now beine
made to secure monopoly Of the reser
vatlon for grazing purposes, and asking
for authority to create leasehold priv
leges for grazing purposes only, to til,
exclusion of every other interes
and every other use, and thu
leaving the reservation Of a. little prac
tical importance to the country at larg,
as it is in it's present state. and tendin,
perpetuate the existence OF the reser
vatiOn, for the reason that the owners o
the lsasehold estates would unite Will
the reversioners. the Indiana. in resisting
any and all attempts to extingulsh tn,
Indian title.
Now, therefore, believing that it is t.
the best interests of the country at larg
that the great Sioux reservation, whel
opened for any purpose should be open
ed for all purposes, and that until it j
opened for all purposes railroads will no
build into or through it. And furthe
believing that any effort. to favor an,
particular industry to the exclusion o
others or any effort establishing pri,
legged class, is opposed both to spirit an,
letter OF our laws; therefore be it
Resolced, 1st-Yhst it is the duty Of al
good citizens and all true Dakotalans t
unite in asking aud demanding that th
Indian title to the great Sioux reserva
ton be extinguished BY governments
authority and that vast and fertile n
Rion be opened to homestead and pre-
emption settlement, and thus be opene
for all and every purpose.
2nd-That it is the duty of ever
good citizen and true Dakotaian to OF
pose by all honorable means all eforl
and measures to create leasetold priv
leges within the reservation in the inte
eats OF ono class of men, and of one indu
try TO tho exclusion Of all others.
3d-That the creation Of leasehold e
tates within the reservation would dels
the building of railroads across the re
ervation to the Black Hills; would pos
pons- indefinitely the opening Of Il
same for homestead and pre.emptit
Rettlement, and would organize and bui
up powerful monopoly that would
prompted BY interest to resist by orga
lied effort any attempt to divest the l
dams of their present title.
4th-That We believe it to be matt
Of justice, not only to the people Of
kota, but to the people of the wht
United States, that the Indian III
should be cxtinguished and the roser,
tien opened for every purpose, a.
public domain should Be.
5th-ThAt since no great object '
ever attained except by due and proI
concert Of action. We therefore iavoi
oonter snce between the proper conn
toss of the Black Hills counties wt
early day - can be agreed upon,
the end that an mi ted effort bc mi
IN bringing this sub ject Of 70 much
Postenoe TO ~. and al Of IA, 10 the
ssneion oi ths proper aathontssA