The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1883-01-05
SISSETON RESERVATION
When Will The Lands Como Into
Market.

This question is almost every where
asked by people seeking new homes.
1t is believed by many that the treaty
with the Indians there expires next
July leaving that vast tract OF rich
lands to come into the market for pre-
emptions, when duly surveyed. This
is a mistake. The treaty does not ex-
pire, neither will any Of those lands
be open for pre-emption by virtue of
any suspension or annulment of annu-
ity to those Indians. The treaty Sc
cures the reservation to them as Il
permanent possession without respect
| to time or contingencies. In 1872
the Sioux sold to the government a
vast tract of land in Dakota, compris'
ing all the region through which runs
the Northern Pacific railroad and
the jim River valley, extend ing over
not less than 100000 of acres. The
sum agreed upon was S800,o00, to be
in annual enstallments for a term Of
| ten years, to be about equally divided
! between the Devils Lake Indians and
the Sissetons. The time expires next
July. The fnltillment of this con-
tract on the part of the government by
no IN meansYtransters the Sisseton reser-
yation to the government. Prior to
this sale, these very Indians the Siss-
etons), had, in 1857, by virtue of the
treaty, reserved SO much for them
selves-about million acres, constitut-
pet,lal residence for themselves and
children, and children's children from
| generation to generation. Hence the
land IS tneils after next July, the
same as before, and cannot be legally
nor rightfully occupied and possess
ea by the whites except by purchase
from the legitimate owners. 1t Will
be remembered that the Sissetons
were our defenders during the terrible
massacre of 1882; which favor the
government recognized in the wording
| OF the treaty. They have made rapid
| progress in civilization, and are fast
yergng into self-sustalnlng citizen
ship. Dut! there is neglect some
where III respect to securing patents
for farms. But very few have them.
They aver that poor encouragement
has been given them; that the general
government has not promptly attended
to their applications; that they are
put Of, and put of under pretentious
excuses; that their rights are not re-
Spected. Hence the witnesses III re-
gard to this all important matter.
i l>1 {al
| and the Indians encouraged secure
| faams and homes for themselves
which no trespasser can invade or
steal away. If they do not avail them
selves of the chances and speedily,
too, nothing is palmer than that their
wild and idle lands will, by some con-
struction or change Ill law, be SWal-
lowed up by the whites. The very
| destiny of American civilization de-
! crees thateye acre of land in our con-
/ tlrental country will and must be oc-
| cupied and cultivated. If such lands
remain lnfurrowed a few years long
er. powerful pressure will be
| brought TO bear upon the government at
/ Washington. demanding the opening
/ up Of that territory to occupancy by
the whites. Cannot our Indian breth-
ren sense this fact; and sensing it,
Will they not hasten to avert calam-
! ity impending over them? Already 4
proposition is on foot to remove the
Indians scattered on different raser-
vatiens to one reservation. Any one
can see this is not benevolence but
a covert plot OH the part Of land spec
| ulators to seize those lands and grow
fat in speculation. This would be
most cruel and unjust to our Indian
!, friends who are very much attached
to their Coteau home and are strug-
Cling to do their very best to hold and
improve them. The prevailing senti.
ment among the whites who sympath-
ize with the Indians and are helping
them forward, is, to occupy and culti-
! vate their wild lands and become COM
ponent parts of our citizenship by
such possession. and find their rights
III a common law and common consti-
tuition. Our Indian friends however,
begin to realize the situation more
studiolHly than ever. They are not
numerous enough to occupy the whole
were each to secure patent. Under
the circumstances they are already
discussing the feasibility and necessi.
ty Of selling off an unoccupied stripof
land to the whites, the better to MAIN
tain themselves. This arrangement
would obviously contribute mutual
advantage, socially fortify them a.
gainst the encroachment of specula-
tors and more rapidly advance them
in the industrial arts.---St. Paul
Globe.
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