The Coolidge examiner., 1935-08-02

Wo- Boun- See
suaslon by the agents and traders one after an
other Of the chiefs agreed to sign the treaty and
II was concluded on September 26 IL provided
for the ceSslon of the Indian lands west OF Lake
Michigan. also their remaining reservation ln
southwestern Michigan. tract OF about 5000 600
acres, and their removal within three years
beyond the Mississippi river.
In return the Poiiawatomles were 10 receive
100000 acres OF land In the West, the United
States was TO transport them TO their new hoHse
and pay the cost OF theIr support for one year
and various sums OF money. totalling almost 81.
cpooco. were to be expended in their behalf. on
the face OF IL these terms were very liberal But.
often the case In the white mans deal.
inrs with the Indian for his lands there was
Joker" concealed somewhere In the proposed
deal
Oi the 100000 appropriation. $4,000 was
set aside for the payment OF a $4,000 annolty
for period OF % years: $4,000 was 10 be
expended for the erection Of mills. blacksmith
shops and houses and the employment Of physl.
clans. blacksmithS and mechanics and $4,000
was TO be devoted 10 educational purposes aud
the encouragement OF the domestic arts All OF
these were enterprises with which no fault can
be found
Considerably different. however, were certain
other clauses In the treaty. One OF them was
that goods and provisions 10 the value Of Si25..
90 should be distributed TO the Indians. one
portion when the treaty signed and the re-
malnder during the coming year Another was
setting aside the sum Of $4,000 for "sundry
individuals IN behalf OF whom reservations were
asked, which the commissioners refused TO
grant" Among these individuals were white
traders and half-breeds who had married into
st e~4f.s
proprteIy OF their being paid money which be-
louged 10 the Indians was dubious. 10 say the
least.
But more astounding than that was another
clause which provided for the payment of SiT5.-
90 10 various individuals TO satisfy claims made
By them against the tribes concerned In the
treaty. which they have admitted TO be justly
due" OF this provision Andreas. the Chicago
historian. has said. ~It was apportionment OF
the ready money OF the tribes among all the
whites who could bring a claim against any
Indian. The honest debtor and the unjust and
dishonest claimant absorbed the fund. How large
a portion OF IL represented robbery. theft and
perjury win never be known until the great book
Is opened on the last day Certainly II was one
OF the most shameless instances OF greed fraud
and dishonesty In the history OF dealings
with the Indian common though those things
have been from beginning TO end.
Shortly after the treaty was signed $4,000 worth
OF the $4,000 worth OF the goods which the
Indians were TO receive were distributed 10 them
In addition TO the FIRST years annuity of $4,000
In cash. "The Indians profted little by the
wealth bestowed upon them" says Quaife. The
greater part Of II quickly passed from their hands
10 the Golfers OF the traders, much OF Ii In ex-
change for bad whiskey: and the red man was
probably more injured than benefited by the mess
OF pottage for which he had surrendered his
birthright."
No doubt during the next two years the Potta-
waiomles realized that fact and a sulen resent
ment must have burned In their hearts at the
thought, especially as the time drew near for
them to journey. both fguratively and literally,
toward the setting sun. Such was their feeling
as they assembled In Chicago In the summer OF
1885 TO receive the last payment OF their annuity
la their native land and TO prepare for that
journey.
Chicago had long been favorite resort with
the Pottawatomies. Here they had come TO hold
their councils and 10 receive their annulties
Here almost quarter OF a century before they
had gained thesr most signal triumph the
race that was crowding them ever westward
Since the last great gathering two years before.
the sprawling village had developed into what
must have seemed to the unsophisticated red
man yeritable metropolis. The signs Of civiliza-
ton which 1t presented to their wondering gaze,
although crude enough from the point of view OF
the Twentieth century, must have brought home
TO them the realization that their birthright had