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Show 16 REPORT OF THE BOARD OP INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. cept in one thing, for which I am sorry. He told me to tell the Great Father that be-fore the winter was over they would select a place for the agency. I told tho Great Father that Red Cloud wanted the agency by the Old House on the river, and the Great Father said it could not be placed there; all of you heard me tell Red Cloud so. The Great Father knows if you stay along the river bad white men will go among you with whisky, and trouble will come; but if you are in your own country, General Smith will stay here and keep any from going into your country except those who go for your good. You. will protect the agency, and all of you will say this is our agency, and we must not let any but our friends go to it. I said Beaver Creek, because I saw it on the map and thought it a good place ; but I do not care where it is, so that it is a good place, and one the bad white men dare not go to. RED CLOUD. Did you tell the Great Father that he should not send soldiers over the river? and will he be mad if I punish white men if they come ? Mr. BRUNOT. The Great Father wants them to be brought in and punished by the wuite man's laws. General SMITH. Red Cloud will remember I told him when my soldiers did wrong to his people to point them out, and I would punish them, and when his people did wrong I would send them to him. When he locates his agency, some white men must go and take care of the provisions. It will take many wagons to carry them, and you must have your soldiers to protect them, and bring them back safely. You must have your soldiers take care of the agency and the farmer, teacher, carpenter, and blacksmith. We do not want our soldiers to do it. If anybody goes, except these the Great Father s? nds, you must drive them away, or bring them to nie; and in the same way I will keep your young men on your side of the river, and keep bad men from going over. RED CLOUD. Who told you I wanted to put my agency over the river ? Mr. BRUNOT. You said you would select the place over the river before the winter was over. RED CLOUD. I do not remember to have said it. If any of my people said so, I do not know anything about it. The other council was the same way ; a paper was signed by my chiefs, and I did not know anything about it. When I was in Washington I asked to have a trader appointed. I selected Colonal Bullock for it. I told you to wait until I had seen the Cheyennes and the Arapahoes, that I wanted to divide the goods with them. I want to do so again. Mr. BRUNOT. The Great Father will not send the goods until you select a place for them. I bear the Great Father's message. I come with much trouble, because I am a friend, and wish to see that done which is for your good; and I say again, if trouble corne, the war houses will go into your country. RED CLOUD. The Great Father told me he would give me the country for thirty- five years. * Mr. BRUNOT. When the paper was signed that gave the country to the white man, and your country to the Indian, there were two sides to it. If the Great Father does his part, the Indian must do his. Then all will go well, and the Indian will grow rich instead of poor. We cannot name the trader until the agency is located, but Itlvnk the Great Father will send the man the Indians want. You were allowed to come here and trade, and get food, because you were hungry; and General Smith and your friends, asked the Great Father to permit it ; but now you must do your part, and select the place, and do what we think is for your good. RED CLOUD. I have given my friends a good deal. I have only a little of my coun-try left ; and I gave the railroad to uiy friends, and I want to be paid for it. Mr. BRUNOT. It is true you have not much ground, but we Avant you to keep what you have. RKD CLOUD. I am afraid if I open an agency some of my friends will jump over me. Mr. BRUNOT. I know you have cause to fear it; but we ' will do right if you do what we wish. RED CLOUD. When I went to the Great Father I spoke only good. Mr. BRUNOT. It is so now, as far as it goes. We want our hearts all one in this thing, and I would like to have something to send over the wires to the Great Father. It is three years since the treaty was made, and it is time you had decided where your agency should be. General SMITH. I want all to know that I expect, before next moon, to have orders to give no more rations here, and but little time is left in which to put up your build-ings. We will meet you again, if you wish, to- morrow or the next day, to hear your answer. RED CLOUD. If you are going to stop the rations say so, and tell the truth. General SMITH. I do tell the truth. I expect the order. There is plenty on the way to go to the place you select, but the Great Father will not send it here. RED CLOUD. Before the houses are built the provisions will be spoiled. General SMITH. We want you to decide now, and the houses will be built at once. I would like to know if you want another council, and when. |
