The Helena independent., 1893-08-22
CAN DO NOTHING FOR US.
The Secretary of State Says the
Government Can't Remove
the Crees
They Are Not Under the Jurisdic-
ton of the Interior De-
phrtment.
Neither Has tho Com M igsIoner Of Indian
Affairs Any Authority to Act In
the Matter,

The executive office is in receipt of a lot.
ter from Secretary Gresham OF the state
department. at Washington. in regard to
the Cree indians from Canada. who were
located In Silver Bow county. and whom
the authorities there wanted the govern
ment 10 remove beyo ond the line OF Mon
tana and into the dominion. Secretary
Gresham says: II have tho honor to en-
close herewith in further reply TO your let
ter of June 2G last. q copy Of a letter from
the acting secretary Of the interior of the
7th inst, saying that the Canadian Cree
Indians At present in Silver Bow county,
Montana. are not under the Jurisdiction Of
that department., and that IL therefore has
no authority OF Law 10 order or compel
their removal" Acting Secretary Sims, of
the interior department.. in his letter to
Secretary Gresham ON the subject. dated
Aug. Z. SAYS: Tho matter was referred to
the commissioner of Indian affairs for
report and transmit herewith a
copy of such report. It will
be seen that the Indians in question are
not under the jurisdiction OF this depart
ment and therefore that there 10 no author
ity here 80 order or compel their removal"
The report of the acting commissioners of
Indian affairs. Ffnnk @. Armstrong, re-
fsrred 10 above. is as follows:
II am in receipt, BY reference of the de-
pattment of July 27. 1893. for report. OF =
comm unieation from She acting seoretas0
of the state. dated July rs, 1898. enclosing
Il copy OF letter from the acting governor
of Montana, dated June 26. 1893, in regard
to the annoyance caused to the citizens Of
that state by the presence of band of
Canadian Indians who have established
the mselves in Silver Bow county, anG su2-
gestina that the United States shall take
| snch action in the premises as the ciHcum-
stances may justify. In bis letter Acting
Governor Botkin. referring TO the su9ges-
tion of the honorable privy counsel OF Can
ada, communicated to Gov. Toole under
date of March 10. 1882. that the maraudinQ
Indians be delivered at the boundary line.
submits that the state Of Montana is not
the p oper authority TO undertake seoh de-
Lively.
In reporting upon this matter have the
| honor to state that these Indians appear to
be the ones referred to in a latter from the
secretary of state. dated April 19, 1892 upon
which report was made April 26. 1892. hv
offioe knows nothing In regard 10 sheso
Canadian Cree Indians said TO be now
located in Silver Bow county. Montana.
other than as appears In the coSrespon-
| deuce received from the state department
unless they are the same Indians that have
been roaming about the country In Mon
tana ever since the Risl rebellion Of 1886.
and as said Indians are not located on any
Indian reservation, and are not under the
iurlsdiction of any Indian agent of this
government do not SEQ In just what man
neT this Office can cooperate with the
executive Of Montana and the war depart
ment looking to their removal 70 the
Canadian border. But II the governor OF
Montana will cooperate with him in the
matter this office will be pleased to do any
thing through its agents In Montana look
ing to the return Of said Indians to the
| British possessions.
"These Indians. as I understand IL, are
nos located upon any Indian reservation.
but arc many miles therefrom. do not
know of any authority of law which would
autho ize me 10 direct any Indian agent TO
gather up these Indians and deport them to
the Canadian border, even il such Indian
agent had a sufficient force a. his command
for the purpose. The Indian police can
not be used except On the reservation for
which they are appointed. am therefore
at a loss to know In what way this office
can cooperate in the removal OF these In
dians."