Morris tribune., 1889-12-25
In the Indian Councils.


1t was my privileged duty as are
porter OF u ST. Paul daily to attend
the late Indian Councils for the open
ing of the Sisseton reservation, lying
just west OF us. There I had All OPP
pOrtunity of seeing Ell masse nearly
all the adult men on the reservation.
They assembled at the call of agent
McKusick to meet Messrs. Whittle-
sey. Maxwell and Diggs, commits
sioners sent out by the federal gov
ernment to negotiate lOr the sale of u
portion OF their land. 1t was found
after allotting to the 800 Indians l6O
acres each, there would be left 66O,0OO
for settlement by the whites. 1t was
soon apparent that some OF the oid
veteran Scouts, war SCARED and fast
rlpening for the spirit hunting
grounds, were bent upon defeating u
sale unless the terms gave them Il
special advantage on the annuity
claim due for certain contiscated
lands to the amount of $3.50, 900. The
Sioux Scouts were organized rs SOL
diers under Gen. Sibley subsequent to
the massacre Of 1852. Most OF them
were Christian Indians. They were
the leading men Of the WahpetOn
and Sisseton bands which, rs u
whole, with few exceptions, opposed
the massacre, and were instrumental
in protecting the white prisoners,
taken by Little Grow, aud delivering
them into the hands of Gen. Sibl"y.
together with the main body uf the
de redators. After the cut-throats
were punished, the Scouts. duly Or
ganized and equipped, subdued the
hostiles over the entire new north
west - paving the way for settle
ments. About ninety of them are
now living, AS Il testimonial OF APP
probation, these two loyal tribes were
assigned the reservation on which
they have peacefully resided, engaged
In agricultural industry and develop
ing themselves in civilization to u
very credilable degree. Having per-
formed so valuable services to the
country, and III accord with their
pledges to Gen. ]. b. Sanborn, Of ST.
Paul, attorney TO secure the claim
from Congress, All influential number
of the Scouts, headed by Chief
Gabriel Renville, demanded at tire
late councils, that the annuities should
be paid to them and not to the peO-
pile indiscriminately. For oyer twen-
ty years these Indians had tried 10
get their indemnity but failed. About
two years ago bill to pay the
annuities to the Scouts was favorably
introduced into Congress, but it did
not pass. These leading Scouts
maintained that, had they not made
special effort through their at.
torney, nothing would have been
done either for payment or the open
ing of the reservation. Crediting all
the weight OF the argument of these
Scouts, 1t did seem, under the condi-
tions, that, as the reservation was
now to be opened, they should con-
sent to an equal distribution, for
there would be enough for each and
all, and so crown their last treaty
with another patriotic benefaction.
The Commissioners so ruled - no
partiality,-aud stipulated in the
agreement, as instructed by the Sec
retary of the Interior, that there
should be no sale of land unless the
claim was paid to the pc ople; that,
therefore, the bill for the payment of
the claim shall include and necessit-
ate the passage of the bill for the sale
Of the surplus land. This arrange
ment, would, of course, neutralize the
pet speculation. If they could stave
off sale. these Scouts saw a possible
chance to win. So they clogged the
wheels, as any syndicate of white
men would do under like circum-
stances. It was easy to manipulate
public sentiment, and thus forstall q
sale, by putting the land price 20
high Congress would not ratif,.
Could white politicians have con.
cocted a shrewder policy? In a
special Indian Council the vote was
unanimous-$5 90 per acre and 5 per
cent. interest in cash and nothing
less. Of course Congress would not
ratlfy such O proposition. Five dol
| lars an acre, after the Indians had
made their choice selection of $40, 900
acres, leaving with good land moi Sc
lected the Coteau strip, worthless to
agriculture, of sixty miles long and
four wide!-it was preposterou-.
Then these arch Scouts spiked the
guns, or SD Intended, by having q
select committee of ten leading men
irrespective Of party lines, appoint d
to "voice the Will ot the people" to
lhe commissioners. But the commits
sioners could not be so caught. They
I sd" bilIOuSH IL dIbs tHdb IL "dS
scheme to postpone negotiations anC
gain time to defeat sale. They ig
nored the committee. Those not IN
the secret felt hurt 1t was VII hou
Of gloomy suspense. For awhile /
did seem as though nothing furtih
could be done. The commissioners
made their own ternls-$2.50 per acr
and per cent. interest ~ defined II
law, and clearly demonstrated tla
, any higher rates would defeat th
object. Finding the commissioner
legally and imlnovabiy emtrenched,
feeling OF despair was pictureu OH tn
!. faces OF the friends who wanted til
+ reservation opened. AT length all II
e telligent Indian, Swift Bear. seein
the peril hanging over the people,
for they were ali destitute, havn