St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-01
WANT TIME TO CONSIDER.
The Sissetons Hold Their First
Council With the Commission.

The Sissetons Hold Their First
Council With the Commission.
Special to the Globe
Browns VALLEY, Mimi, Nov. 3d.
The initial council for the opening of the
,Wahpeton and SissetoH Lake Traverse
reservation was held at the Sisseton
agency this afternoon at o'clock. The
entire board of commissioners, Gen. e.
Whittlesey, Hon. G. A. Maxwell and D.
NJ. Diggs, were present, together with
$50 Sioux, including Chief Gabriel Rem
vile, S. J. Brown, superintendent of
the government school; Michael Rem
vile, A. K. Epa, Two Stars, Rev. Charles
Crawford, Little Thunder Star, Pretty
Boy, Big Amos, Red Eagle, Spirit Blue,
Red Feather, Swift Grizzly Bear, Rum
ning-OverLi ght, ht,Shine-On-Faith. These
Indians were members of the famous ex-
reditlon under Gen. Sibley. Several
business men of Browns Valley, Will
mot, Dak., and other near cities were
present. The
COUNCIL SAT IN SILENCE
for full fifteen minutes. Henry Camp
bell was interpreter, and proved HIM
self a very efficient one. Agent Me-
Cusick stated briefly the object of the
council. After aIIuding to the in
structiOnS he had received from the
Federal government relative to the sale
of such lands as they believed 1t
would be willing to sell. he commented
in a very practical way upon the quail
ficatiOnS of tine commissioners and con-
graduated them upon the wise selection
of the government. Gen. WhittleSey
proved that he is thoroughly posted as
to Indian characteristics and in every
way competent to do the work assigned
him as chairman. He said: 1--WE greet
you as friends: we come as your friends;
we know you are our friends; we do not
forget your good conduct during the
troublesome days of 1862; we know how
well you have done at farming and the
support and education of your chill
dren," These happy allnsions plainly
enlisted the hearts of the Sioux. ''You
have received your patents Justly due
you," Gen. Whittlesey continued, land
now stand In different position from
what you ever did before. You are now
of us. Citizens now of common gov
ernment, entitled to all the rights and
privileges of citizens. You are citizens,
too, of the new state of South Dakota"
Chairman Whittlesey then stated the
authority of the commission to nego-
tiate for the
PURCHASE OF SUCH SURPLUS LANDS
as the Indians were willing to sell and
desired to know at what price; asked
for facts relative to the indemnity claim
to be included in their report to be sub
mitted to congress for ratification. A
majority vote of the Indians was neces-
Sary, he said. He desired them to de-
liberate together and in a future coun-
Gil report their conclusions. Chief Rem
vile replied for the Indians. 1.-The
instructions you have read are very
long," ne SAID. I'VE want them trans
lated into Dakota language for our
careful inspection. We have all become
citizens and are your friends. We want
a fair understanding" Gen. Whittlesey
replied that the request should be
complied with. Chief Rem
vile said that on Monday the Indians
would hold their own council and meet
the commission in mutual council next
Tuesday. A bountiful supply of rations
was then issued to the Indians. The
of success seem to be good.