Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-11-01

More About tho Mile Lac,
Indians. 4. 81;
lGonclndei from ISSUE Of Oct. IS 80
The Indians requested that 800 acres
be Get apart for &cneral purposes, on
(which the Government buildings silal
be built, and where parties living
around them for any purpose can reside
This request will no doubt be granted
and the most central point be selected
II was . tedious task to wait about for
nearlys = week while the Indians Jelib-
Grated upon the proposition submitted,
20 them by the commission, not only to
decide whether or not they would &c
cept it, but to decideas to what ques5
tons to ask and requests to make i
would seem that when We comic to
consider the great interest they hail al
stake they. did not take an unreasonable
length Of time. In the place Of organic
ing two houses, IS is the practice when
any legislating is done by state or the
general government, they organized
three houses to consider the important
message they had received from their
Great Father at Washington, brought,to
them by the commissioners. One com
posed of the chiefs only: which might
he appropriately designated as their
House of Lords; another composed 0,
the braves, which might be designated
as their Star Chamber; the third house
comprising all Of the young men, which
| might he called the House of Commons
Each body after holding a protracted
session for two or three hours around a
camp Ere; delegates from each house
would meet together and compare
notes. After their second meeting with
the commission large number, con-
sistin2 of chiefs, braves and young men,
assembled together, and called on me
to give them my views and such advice
as thought would be for their benefit
to follow. Mrs. Fred Peak ofhciated
as interpreter on this occasion, and she
proved herself to be master of both
Chippewa and English. I could but ad-
wise them, after considering the prop
osition made to them in all it's bearings,
to accept it and sign the treaty. Incl
dentally said to them that under this
law they would become voters, and that
the attitude towards them of the news
papers, men and politicians to the south
and east of them would likely undergo
a great change. That in the place OF
calling them low drunken scalawags
and vagabonds, they would hereafter
speak of them as gentlemen. That their
old enemy, Bob Dunn: editor of the
Princeton Union, would likely make
them friendly visit just before each
election and have with him a few No. !
cigars and ask them to try them, and it
might be that his Temperance proclivi
ties on such occasions would not have
full control of his generous soul. Bob
will look after them and see that they
vote right, US they are in his county"
After this meeting was frequently con-
suited upon various points Of interest to
them. On Saturday night. after most of
them had signed the treaty, 1 said to
them that as they were virtually
through I should ask to be excused
from remaining longer. Shortly Shaw
bosh-kung sent for me to come to his
wigwam. He said he had had con.
sultation with several Of their heal
men, that they would be glad to have
me stop over another day with them
but if it was not convenient for roe to
stay, they had authorized him to say to
me that they were all we'll pleased will,
my services so far, and that they de.
sired me to continue to act for them az
their attorney, as they regarded me us
a true friend OF theirs. While there
noted down what was said by both the
commissioners and Indians. What
have written so far is only general out.
line of what was said, as there was toe
much of it to insert in a newspaper.
will, however, give the closing part in
detail as took It down:
Shaw-bosh-kung said:, You may be
surprised at my getting up. I have
spoken but once. never stood in fear
and don't get excited. I wish to talk
about the matter you have laid before
US. understand all yon have said. we
are old men. am pleased at what you
are going to give us. l accept of what
Iyou have said. Where do you take these
words and who sent you here? Mr.
Rice said: I came directly from you,
Great Father: he sent me here. Shaw.
bosh-kung said: These words are rivet'
ed in our hearts. We understand that
there is money due US. We know oul
Great Father has piles Of money, I and
Mo-se-ma-na have been to Washington
and seen it. an, fearful if you had
not come here we could not have got
our money. I:hope we will get it.. Look
ut my age, I may never see it. 1 speak
for those who are here. these women
and ch ildren. I wish you to see that
my words are verified. have no more
to say now.
Mr.. Rice said: have known you fol
over 40 years and have very often heard
from you and known about your condi-
ton. I should never have come if I
could not bring you words of comfort.
We have not come to tell you u fine
story, and 90 away and do nothing. We
have treated you AS men and ask moth
ing of you. You may decide for your
selves what you will do. We have held
no secret council; the Master of Life has
seen all we have done. We think You
will never be sorry if you accept our
proposition. We have excluded: none
from these councils. Our lives are not
in our own hands We are liable to be
cut of at any time.
Min goncs said: The people inside
the reservation want to know how il
will be with them: we want them to be
removed at once.
Mr. Rice said he could not decide this
matter. it must be referred to Washing.