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

1t was my privileged duty rs re-
porter Of u St. Paul daily to attend
the late Indian Councils for the open
ing of the Sisseton reservation, lying
lust west OF us. There / had an OPP
portunity of seeing Ell masse nearly
all the adult men on the reservation.
They assembled ut the call of agent
McKusick to meet Messrs. Whittle-
sey. Maxwell and DIgss, commits
sioners sent out by the federal gov
ernment to negotiate lor the sale of Il
portion OF their land. 1t was found
after ;,llotting to the 800 Indians lou
acres each, there would be left G6O, 900
for settlement by the whites. 1t was
soon apparent tAat some OF the o'u
veteran Scouts, war Scared anu fast
rlpening for the spirit hunting
grounds, were bent upon defeating u
sale unless the terms gave them IL
special advantage on the annuity
lands to the amount of $500, 1000. The
Sioux Scouts were organized as sol
diers under Gen. Sibley subsequent to
the massacre Of 1862. Most Of them
were Christian Indians. They were
the leading men Of the WahDetOn
and Sisseton bands which, rs II
whole, with few exceptions, opposed
the massacre, and were instrumental
in protecting the white prisoners,
taken by Little Crow, and delivering
them into the hands of Gen. Sibl'y,
together with the main body uf the
de redutOrs. 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
preciation, these two loyal tribes were
assigned the reservation on which
they have peacefully resided, enga Led
In agricultural industry and develop
ing themselves in ciYiiiz ttion to Il
very creditahIe degree. Having per-
formed so valuable services to the
country, and III accord with their
pledges to Gen. J. B. SAnhorn, Of St.
Paul, attorney to secure the claim
from Congress, an Influential uulIlher
of the Scouts, headed 10y Chiet
Gabriel Renville, demanded at the
late councils, that the annuitieS should
be paid to them and not to the pep
pie iudiscrinlinately. For oyer twen-
ty years these Indians had tried to
get their indemnity but failed. About
two years ago bill to pay the
annuitles 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 o! the argument of these
Scouts, it 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,-and 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 people; 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 arran-e-
ment, would, of course, neutralize the
pet speculation. II they could stave
off sale. these Scouts saw possible
chance to win. SO they clogged the
wheels, as any syndicate of VIII to
men would do under like circum-
stances. It was easy to manipulate
public sentiment, and thus forstall a
sale, by putting the land price %
high Congress would not ratif'
Could white politicians have con.
cocted shrewder policy? In a
special Indian Council the vote was
unanlmous-$5 90 per acre and 5 pei
| cent interest in cash and nothing
less. OF course COnyress would nOl
rat!fy such q proposition. Five dol
iars all acre, after the Indians had
made their choice selection OF $40, 900
acres, leaving with good land not Sc
lected the Cuteuu strip, worthless t
agriculture, of sixty miles long anC
Then these arch Scouts spiked thu
guns, or SO Intended, by having 1
select committee OF ten leading men
irrespective of party lines, appoint' {
to "voice the Will OF the people" t.
lhe commissioners. But the commits
sioners could not l,e so caught. The,
saw through it all, that it was
scheme to postpone negotiations am
gain time to defeat sale. They ig
nOred the committee. Those not il
the secret felt hurt Ii was MI holI
Of gloomy suspense. For awhile
did seem as though nothing furth,
could be done. The commissioners
made their own ternIs-$2. so per acr
and 3 per cent. interest rs defined i
law, and clearly demonstrated til,
, any higher rates would defeat til
2 object. Finding the commissioner
legally and immOvabiy entrenched,
feeling of despair was pictured Oh IL
faces of the friends who wanted IL
+ reservation opened. At length all II
. telligent Indian, Swift Bear, seeir
the peril hanging over the people,
for they were ali destitute, havil