Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-07-19

w. L. LINCOLN, U. S. Indian Agent.
FULL TENT OF THE LETTER TO DELEGATE
MAGINNIs.
FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, NJ. T.
December 23d, 1882.
Hon. Martin Maginnis, Washington, D.. c.
SIR A few days since had the pleasure
Of meeting your friend Col. G. A. Broad
water, at which time he handed me a COM
munication from you relating to bill No
4159, introduced by you on the 9Th of Feb
ruary, 1881, and asking my views in regard
to the same.
| desire to premise my views by stating
my osition and by assuring you that in all
my actions in this matter | shall only be
governed by what in my opinion is for the
best interest of these Indians under my
charge. | also desire to state that | am
fully aware that there is great pressure be-
ing brought to bear to influence the opening
to settlement of the major portion of this re-
serve. | am also aware that it is but q
question Of time, and that but short, before
that end will be accomplished, and am not
fully certain but that an early accomplish
rent will inure to the benefit of the Indians
occupying the lands in question. Game is
nearly extinct, and year or two more will
see it wholly so, but while this fact is patent
to the eyes of intelligent white men the In
dians cannot be made to see or realize it,
and will consequently oppose and stubborn
ly resist the carrying out of the bill in ques-
tion, or any encrOachments on what they are
pleased to call their country.
am, however, of the opinion that the
matter can be accomplished and fair
treaty made by the appointment of COM
missioners to treat with the Indians hold
ing these lands, and on the basis of the
provisions of your bill. l desire here to
state that l feel it my duty, as it is my
pleasure, to use my best endeavors towards
securing for the Indians under my charge
the best terms that can be had, and think
rightly and properly SO, for you will bear
in mind that they are ceding away almost
an empire, the country in which they have
lived and over which they roved and hunted
for many years the country wherein their
dead lie buried and which they have been
led to believe was theirs, and of which the
white man should never deprive them; and
although they are but Indians and of an
inferior race, still their affection for the
graves of their kindred and the lands of
their fathers is just as strong as exists in the
breasts of their pale faced brethren. l shall
therefore, with a view to make the bill
what think it ought to be, make some sug-
gestions looking toward amendments to
the bill, which, should it become law,
would more fully carry out my views as to
what would be right and just towards my
Indians And desire to reiterate my for
mer statement that in my opinion these
Indians should be met in formal council by
authorized parties first, and any treaty that
might be entered into should be acted upon
by Congress later. | know this plan would
cause delay and disappoint many friends Of
the measure, and know also that if have
any interest (personaD in the matter it lies
in the direction of immediate action. But
my sense of right and justice compels me to
say that in my opinion the commissioner"
plan should be adopted. can wait, and
am of the opinion that year or two will
make no material difference with those who |
expect to reap material benefits from the
desired legislation.
My first objection to the bill is in that it
does not cut down the military reservation
of Fort Assinnab0ine, which contains in |
round numbers, approximately $500 square
miles of territory right in the heart Of the
Indian reservation, or what was at one time
a part of the Indian reservation. fail to see
any good reason why the Indian part of the
should be cut down, and the
military reserve remain intact, and if such
is TO be the fact, it can only be for the benefit
and in the interest of a few private individu-
ais. .ssss-s..
/ would under no circumstances or for any