Year: 1870

81 WASHINGTON, June T. 1870.


The great council between the Indian delegations,
the Secretary OF the Interior and Commissioner Par.
ker was held at the Indian ONCE this morning. Sev.
eral gentlemen holding Official positions under the
government having relations with Indian tribes were
present, including General Smith, Messrs. Colyer
and Brunot, OF the Peace Commission and others.
The red men took their seats in the coun-
Gil chamber about eleven O'Clock and the con-
ference lasted until one. They were arrayed
in all the fnery they possessed and were evidently
much impressed with the importance OF the occa-
sion. After the usual formalities OF handshaking
the Commi soner announced TO the chiefs that what
Red Cloud had spoken to them had been thought over
and the Secretary OF the Interior would now give our
reply His words were the words OF the President
on the subject of Red Clouds speech.


The Secretary then addressed the Indians at con.
siderable iengh in relation to the requests they had
made and the feeling OF the government concerning
them. He explained TO them that when our people
grew 80 fast to crowd upon the plains we wanted
to dnd place for the Sioux 70 1--we where they
soldier. General Sherman, made the treaty
to give them the country which they now have,
and to take our own people ont OF it, SO they might
wanted go there again to look for the god in
the hiIs but the President refused to let them 10,
sss Keep ss' RsHsP'fa Say e sssS s 'ns ss s
fore tnat the President win do what he
WSe sey ea eey e not disturbed
We have asked Congress to give us plenty OF money
to continue feeding them, SO that their ratons may
we feel that that part OF their request will be granted
We shall send them also the goods which we have
promised, SO that they and their wives and children
shall have clothing to wear. They asked for powder
and lead. want to tell them just what we feel
about that. The white people VINO live on the
Red Cloud and his people have been threateninu
Them. They are afraid they VIII burt the people
his people to say to us here, before they go
away. that they will never co so, and
that they Will keep peace with all our people who
are there. When they have said that, and we can
tell the people so, we think they will be no longer
afraid to let them have arms to hunt with. There
have been people killed near the Union Pacific Rail-
road, ana we do not know WHO did it; some say 1t
was the Sioux, others that 1t was the Cheyennes,
and still Others lay 1t upon the Arrapahoes.


At this point Red Cloud, who was very attentive
listener to what the Secretary was saying, remarked
that ne had heard TINS reported before he LEFT his
country. There were no Sioux south of the rail.
roau they were across the Platte.


Secretary Cox, resuming said:-We will believe
what Red Cloud says; but as our people are fright
ened we cannot say that we VIII give them guns.
we must wait TIL there Is peace with all the Indians
before we can do IT, Our people are not to come on
the Indian reservations, but they will come out along
the line Of the railroads, and be them In that
way. The government will send Mr.. Brunot (whose
presence at the council indicated the Indlans)
this summer TO see them, and to see that they get
the rations which will be sent to them When he
goes he will ask which is the best thing we can do
for them. He viii ask If anybody has done them
back. We Will try to do what he says they need to
have done. The great thing we want to say 10 them
Is that If they will keep peace we Will try to do
everything they ask that IS right.


This concluded the Secretary's speech to the
indians, and after few moments during which
Red Cloud seemed to be in very deliberative mood
that distinguished chief and to the table
where sat the officials He shook hands with those
at the table in the council room and delivered the
following oration:-


came from where the sun sets. You were raised
on chairs: want to sit where the sun sets. Here
the Indian warrior sat upon the floor in Ind an
fasmon and proceeded.l The Great Spirit has
raised me in this way He raised me naked. run
no opposition to the Great Father who sits In the
White House don't want TO night; have offered
here sale and well. What have to say to you and
to these men and to my Great Father Is this:-Look
at me-. | was raised where the sun rises and
come frOm where he sets. Whose voice was
first heard in this landp 1t was the red people who
used the bow. The Great Father may be good and
white people and have given my lands and have
now come from where the sun sets to see you. The
Great Father has sent his people out there anu left
away like The snow on the side OF the hills where
the sun is warm. while your people are like
is coming. don't want to see the white people
making roads IN our country. Now, that have come
uato my Great Fathers and, see i'll have any blood
sprnkled blood on the blades of grass about the line
OF Fort Feterman. 7 Il the Great Father to remove
that fort theu we will be peaceful and there viii be
no more trouble. have got two mountains in that
c3untry-Black Hill ana Big Horn-l want no roads
there. There have been stakes driven In that country
and want them removed. l have told these things
three times, and now have come here to tell them
Tor for the fourh time; me, hay nave made up my mind to
Missouri. Some oi6hese people here are from there
and know what say: What hear is that my
children and Old men are dying off like sheep. The
country MT suit them. was born at the Forks of
me Platte: my father and mother told me that the
land there belonged to me. From the North and the
West the red nation has into the Great Fathers
house. We are the last Of the Ogala.as. We have
come to know The facts from our Father.
TO us have not been kept ! want two
or three traders that we ask Tor. At the
made and the man who made that treaty (audlng
to General MITCHELL who performed that service for
have been sent out to me have been stolen all along
the road, and only handful would reach me to go
among my nation. Look at me. Here l am, poor
and naked. i was not raised with arms. always
want TO be peaceable The Great Spirit has raised
you to read and write, and has put papers before
you; but he has not raised me in that style.
The men whom the President sends u.s.
soldiers and AL, have no sense ana no heart. know
1t to-day. didn't ask that the whites should 80
through my country Killing game, and it is the Great
Fathers tault You are the people who should keep
peace For the railroads you are passing through
brass ring for the land they occupy. l wish you to
tell that to my Great Father, You whites make
All tuc dUlIUuIlltlOus NHdt Is tuc reason you
don't give 1t to mel Are you afraid |
am gong to wars You are great
and powerful and I am only a handful. do not
want 1t for that purpose, but to XIII game with.
suppose must, in time, go to farming, but can't
do II right away.


Each sentence OF this speech was received with
loud grunts, denoting hearty applause from the H.
dians present.


Afer Red Cloud concluded Little Bear made
short speech, complaining Of bad treatment by
ov1o
operations Several Of his young men, he said, were
shot while out hunting, and that ended his corn
raising. He reiterated the main features and com.
plants OF Red Clouds speech.


Secretary Cox promised to report all that had been
said 10 tne President and arrange time Tor meet
ing with him.


The present conference practically ends the busl-
ness ol hearing complaints and determining action
on them. as was evidenced by the speech
OF the Secretary. Both Red Cloud and Spot
fed TAI made strong appeals to-day for the
pardon of John Richard, the half.breed, who re.
Gently killed a soldier az Fort Fetterman and who
IS here with Red Clouds party as interpreter. This
they have been informed by the Commissioner, Is