Year: 1875

pie often move away from their homes to
another place and are happier and more
prosperous. have told you how much
better the country in the South is than
that you have now. so that you will think
with me that it is the best for you to 60.


The commissioner then addressed the
Indians briefly, when


SPOTTED TAIL CAME. TO THE FRONT
with sardonic smile on his face, and shook
hands with Secretary DelaDo and Com
missioner Smith, with digni6ed Howl"
He spoke at length, interpreted by the
Rev. Mr.. Hindman.


He said: Yesterday [ shook hands
with the President, my father. and what
he said to me I have considered, and | am
come here to answer, When matter is
known to the people and considered, if
they consider it with their eyes open and
take into view ali the circumstances of the
case, their decision ought to be good one.
l made treaty with General Harney.
General Sherman, and Mr. SanborD. and
| am not the man to break a treaty. |
have no desire to break it. At that time
General Harvey told me to learn to eat the
white mans food. Now [ come to shake
hands with the President again and all of
you, and make friends with you. came
here this time to desire great deal of
food: ! came to ask for a great deal of
clothing, good clothing such as you both
wear"


"How, from the other chiefs.


wv hen L came here the President told
me that was my country, to look over it
and select place where l would live.
l looked it over and put down my stake,
and that is where l desire to remain.
selected good country because | have
been obliged to plant with my hands there
When put down seed with my hands ii
comes up and brings forth fruit. think
that it is a good country; knowing this,
have asked you for plows and all kinds OF
implements to cultivate the ground, foI
churches and schools; and if I could only
get them in this country which have
chosen my people would be bette'
o d happier than they are now.
respect the treaty which has been made
and do not like it at all because white
men are allowed to come and locate on oul
country, and if any trouble is made it is
the fault of the white men and not of In
dians. You have spoken to me about an
other country, but this does not conc.rr
me; that is south of the Republican
| was not born there and do not know any
thing about it. If that is such a nice
country you ought to put the white mer
there who invade our country.


How, from the other chiefs


''The President has asked me to con
slider various things there. When VT
came to Washington we came in a grea
hurry; we had no time to counsel with oul
people, and therefore we are not prepared
to give answers here. We wish you to ap
point a commission of four men to go out
to our country and we will counse
there and give an answer. | have another
reason for saying it; this is very warn
weather, and congress is not in session, ,ant
when it is in session, | would like to com,
with SO or 60 men and consider it witt
congress. They are the ones to conside
it; we would like to hold one more counci
and then go home, and have commission
er go home with us.


THE SECRETARY THEN TRIED TO CONVINC1


THE INDIANS


of the necessity of acting Immediately up
on the Black Hills matter, but Spotte
Tail declined to be convinced. He said
the white men went into the Black Hills
was not his fault, but the fault of the gov
ernment, and the government would brea
it's treaty.


The Indians were not in a hurry t
dissolve the treaty. This matter was n
called again and again by the Secretary
but each time Spotted Tail evaded it b
SINGULAR INGENUITY.
He said: My friends, what th
Dakotas consider together they try to fms
in way that will be possible to carry out
bnt what you have said to US to, da,
especially about bloodshed, displeases n
very much. You talk about matter tn;
is not under consideration. The countr
out there belongs to us and the white peop
, have no right to 60 there"


In this way the conference ended, ,Spotte
. Tail having shown himselfa diplomatist


no mean ability. Another council will
held tomorrow.