OCR Text |
Show REPORT OH' THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 3 cipal men from each band, who shall, without delay, visit the Indian Territory, under the guidance and protection of suitable persons, to be appointed for that pur-pose by the Department of the Interior, rnth a view to selecting thereinapermanent home for the said Indians. If such delegation shall make a selection which shall be satisfactory to themselres, the people whom they represent, and to the United States, then the said Indians agree that they will remove to the country so selected within one year from this date. And the mid Indians do further agree that in all things to submit themselves to such beneficent plans as the Government may pmvide for them in the selection of a , country suitable for a permanent home, where they may live like white men. AETICI,E 5. In consideration of the foregoing cession of territory and rights, and upon full compliance with each and every obligation aasumed by the said Indians, the United States does agree to provide all necessary aid to assist the aaid Indians in the work of eivil~zation; to furnish them schools and instruction in mechanical and agricultural arb, a8 provided for by the treaty of 1868. Also to provide the mid Indians with subsistence consisting of a ration for each , individual of apound anda half of beef (or in lieu thereof, one-half pound of bacon), one-half pound of flour, and one-half pound of corn; and for every one hundrrd mtions, 4 pounds of coffee, 8 pounds of sugar, and 3 pouuds of beans, or in lieu of - said articles the equivalent thereof, in the discretion of the Commiseioner of Indian Maim. Such rations, or so much thereof as may be neceesary, shall be continued until the Indians are able to support themselves. Rations shall, in a11 cases, be issued to the headof eachsepamte family; zndruhen- ' ever schools shall have been provided by the Government for said Indians, no rations shall be issued far children between the ages of 6 and 14 years (the mck and infirm excepted) unless such children ah11 regulsrly attend school. - Whenever the mid Indians shall be located upon lands which are suitable for cul-tivation. rations shall be iasued onlv to the uersons and familles of those Dersons who labor (the aged, sick, and infirm excepted); and as an incentive to industrious habits the Commirnianer of Indian Affiirsma.y p. r ovide that such persons he furnished in payment for their labor such other necessary articles as are requisite for civilized life. P The Government will aid mid Indians as far as possible in finding a market for their mrpluspmductions, and in finding employment, and will purchase such surplus, as far as may he required for supplying food to those Indians, parties to this agree-ment, who are unable ta sustain themselves; and will also employ Indiana, so far as . practicable, in the performance of Government work upon their reservations. It was then shown that the rations provided for the Sioux at' the time , were sufficient, unless the Indians were improvident, to prevent want. The letter then went on to say that the Sioux rations, as well as the rations for d l other tribes, had been gradually reduced; that this was t in accordance with the policy of this office and the spirit of t,he Sioux . ' agreement of 1877, and that the true intent and meaning of that agree-ment was forcibly expressed by a former Commissioner of Indian Affairs nearly ten years before. In writing to the Secretary of the Interior at that time in relation to the subsistence supplies issued to the Siaux, Commissioner Morgan quoted articles 4 and 5 of the agree-ment as they have already been given here, and then said: This agreement is still in force, and the questions now raised are questions as ts how far the Government has kept its obligations. |