OCR Text |
Show 60 Hawk War." • The most significant of the acts of 0. H. Irish was to gather the Indians together for treaty negotiations. After taking time enough to acquaint himself with the situation, he proceeded to quiet the main issues with the smaller bands. After a period of extremely vigorous administration, he called "the several bands of the Utah Indians" to meet him at the Spanish Fork Indian Farm on June 6, 1865. His attempts to represent all the interests shows a mature approach and an attempt to avoid the partisan bickering which had beset his predecessors. In his letter of June 29, 1865, he reported that he was following orders from Congress to "treat" with the Indians. The following shows, in part, how he operated: I therefore called the several bands of the Utah Indians to meet me at the Spanish Fork Indian farm on the 6th of June last. I invited the federal officers and the military commandant of the sub-district, and Ex-Governor Brigham Young, to accompany me, to render such information and assistance as they could. All of the federal and military officers declined going, because Brigham Young was invited, except the governor, the United States marshal, the collector and assessor. Secretary Reed was absent at the time and could not be consulted. Governor Doty acted cordially with me in making the preliminary arrangements, but was taken suddenly ill in the evening ten days thereafter, and I may here say that I am indebted to the late Governor Doty for the support he gave me in the discharge of my official duties. He took great interest in the Indian Service, and I feel that I have in that respect met with an irreparable loss. I submitted to him a draft of the treaty, which was afterwards accepted by the Indians; and his last assurance to me was, that he approved of my policy in every respect, |