St. Paul daily globe., 1886-07-08
THE RED MANS RIGHTS
A Declaration From the President That
the Country Must Keep Faith With
the Indians.
For That Reason He Vetoes Railroad
Bill Affecting the Reservation in
Montana.
New Rich1and, Mimi, the Scene of a
Most Shocking Murder and
Suicide.
The Liquor War at Sioux City--Log-
ging stopped by Low
Water.
THE RED MANS RIGHTS
Amontana Veto Criticised.

WASHINGTON, July THE char laid
before the senate the message of the presi-
dent vetoing the bill authorizing the con-
struction of railroads through the Indian
territory in Northern Montana. The mes
sage was read.
Mr.. Dawes moved to refer the bill and mes
sage to the committee on Indian affairs, and
he desired to go with this remarkable mes
sage the section of the treaty which had al
fected the president so sensibly. Inc com
mittee, which had reported the Dill, had (ne
sad) thought that it was regarding the flghls
OF the Indians. That article was IN these
words: For the purpose of establishing traV-
cling thoronghfares through this county. and
the better to enable. the president TO execute
the provisions of this treaty, the al oresald
nations and tribes do hereby consent and
agree that the United States may, in the coun-
tries respectiyely occupied and claimed by
them construct roads of every description,
establish lines of telegraph and military posts,
use the materials of every kind found IN lhe
Indian country, build houses for agencies,
missions, schools. FARMS shops, mills, stations
and for every other purpose for which they
be required, and permanently occupy as much
land as may be necessary for the various pur-
poses above enumerated. 1ncluulng the use OF
wood for fuel and land for grazing, and that
the navigation of all lakes and streams snail
be forever free TO the citizens of the United
States" The motion was agreed to and the
bill and message were referred.
CLEvELAND's REASONS.
The president says in his veto of the bill
granting to railroads the right OF way
through the Indian reservation IN North
ern Montana:
ssThe reservation referred to stretches
across the extreme northern part Of Montana
territory with British America for its north
ern boundary. It contains an area of over
$4,000 square miles. 1t is dedicated to Indian
occupancy by the treaty of Oct. II, 1853, and
the act of congress of April Is, 1874. No
railroads are within immediate approach to
its boundaries, and only one. as shown on re-
cent maps is under construction in the neigh
borhood leading in its direction. The sur
rounding country is sparselY settled and
have been unable to ascertain that the neces-
sIties of commerce or any public eXlgencles
demand this legislation which would affect so
seriously the rights and interests Oh the
Iudians occupying the reservation. The bill
is in the nature of general right of way for
railroads through this Indian reservation.
The Indian occupants have not given their
consent to it, nor is there any provision IN 1t
for securing their consent or agreement to the
location or construction of railroads upon
their lands. If the United States must exer-
else its
RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN
over the Indian territories for the general
welfare of the whole countryit should be done
of the Indian and to no greater extent than
the exigencies of the public require. The
president then states that bills tending some
: what in the direction OF this general charac-
ter of legislation affecting the rights or the
. Indians reserved to them by treaty stipula-
tions have been presented to him during the
present session of congress which
have received his reluctant approval, though
he is by no means certain that
mistake has not been made in passing such
laws without providing for the consent to
such grants by the Indian occupants and
otherwise more closely guarding their rights
and interests. 81 hope the president says,
THAT each of these bills as it received my
approval would be the last Of the kind pre-
sented.' He says in conclusion, 1.-The bill
now before me is much more general in its
terms than those which have preceded it
l. ignores the right of the Indians to
+ be consulted as to the disposition of their
1 lands. It invites general in
! vasion of the Indian country. L
! am impressed with the belief that the bill un-
! der consideration does not sufficiently guard
J against an invasion of the rights and a dis
turbance of the peace and quiet of the In
! dians on the reservation mentioned. Nor am
satisfied that the legislation proposed is de-
manded by any exigency of the public well
fare"