Year: 1875

spelaao Del speak. ana spot Talks Back.


WAs,1sGros, June 5.-Fmal coun-
ellis with the Indians were held o.daX,
and they will leave for the west to-
morrow. This morning they were as
positive in their refusal to sign the
treaty as at any time, and showed
more determination and eifrontry
thanAever before.


Secretary Dclano told them very
decidedly that whether they signed
the treaty or not they would be pro.
hibitcd from hunting in Nebraska be.
cause .heir trips down. there always
resulted in trouble with the white
settlers, but he said they might take
the S25,000in payment for the privi-
lege, and he would recommend con-
gress to appropriate s25,ooOs more
for them.


In answer to Secretary Dclano,
Spotted Tail said, with his usual
sharpness: "My friend, | wish to
tell you very few things in a very
short time. You say that the Great
Spirit made you and that youpray to
the Great Spirit; ] also can say
theesame thing. The Great Spirit
made me well and placed mcinst TINT
country and gave me the animals that
live in that country for food. j think
i listen to the words Of the Great
Spirit; He told me it was wrong to
steal, and never steal another mans
country. | remain in the country
which He gave me. The Great
Spirit never told me to take another
mans country without pay. If the
Great Spirit had given you the same
sense Of right that He has me, we
could get along very we'll side by side,
each people holding its own country.
When you have spoken to me about
the hunting on the Republican, you
have spoken about something that
concerns me, but when you speak
about the Big Horn country, that be-
longs to the Crows. You remember
that when the treaty was made by
Generals Sherman, Sanborn and Har-
ney, they gave me the country in
which ! now live. They fixed the
bounds for it. on have spoken
about the Black Hills. They are in
the center Of our country, and allthe
different tribes Of Sioux are surround
ing the Black Hills, and guarding
them zealously. Y On both sides Of this
discussion wc are men, and it is
we'll to consider well before we
talk about it Mt all. Let the mat
ter rest; let the president consider it
i'll his own house, and the Indians in
their own land; hut in the meanwhile
keep those people out who want to
go in there, As you have country
here in the centre Of which, is house
for the government of your people, in
the same way hold the Black Hills
in my country. Whenever you buy
something that belongs to another it
is your habit to pay great price for
tit, even though it is small thing.
We have the same regard for our
country, it is all the same everywhere,
whoever plants in the soil that which
grows up is his to eat. j have the
same regard for my country; it is a
good country. / have been here with
these people; we are very few, and
we could not come to /: conclusion
here, but we will take this matter
home and consider it, and bring back
an answer about the Black Hills. 1t
is not worth while mentioning that
for it will take heap ofmoney.''


The secretary replied to Spotted
Tail as follows: am very glad to
hear you say that you will take this
proposition home about hunting, and
and have your people consider it as
soon as possible. | believe you tell
me the truth about that, and l tell
you the truth about what [ will
do if you sign the agreement.
1 don't want you to think or say that
the Great Father wants to steal your
country. That is "a hard word.
have not accused you of stealing, and
! don't want you to accuse the Great
Father Of any such disposition. Itel
| you distinctly and truly that l want
Ito get rid Of this trouble about the
Black Hills on account Of the gold
and | expect the government to pay
you for it. WeSdon't expect to stca


the country from you or 10 take ou!
troops up there and<take it by force


We IRE trying now to keep men from


there, and we are doing our best Il


keep them out till We eau see, whether


you will agree to sell it for goot


fair price. If we waited to steal tn,


country, instead Of using the army I,


keep white people out, we would turr
the army upon the Indians and max,


war, but the Great Father won't d,


that, because he don't want to d.
/ what is WRONG. We think Snntfa,