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Show 2i 8 . THE INDIANS OF THE if the Indian could have what he wanted they would smoke together, but if he could not, then they would fight. The terms of the fruitless treaty 1 have not learned ; but the Indians persisted in retaining the Powder River country as their hunting- ground, while an emigrant route had al ready been opened through it, and forts established. Ex tensive presents were made to conciliate the Indian, who would not treat satisfactorily. They recovered the blan kets, clothing, hatchets, etc., that were given to them, as evi dence that the white man was afraid of them ; and the butch er- knives which were included in the presents, were found very useful and efficient by slightly perverting their use, and scalping immigrants within a hundred miles of the post, two months after the adjournment of the council. By authority of the commission, the Indians were allowed to purchase or trade for powder of the sutler, whose stock was soon exhausted, but afterward replenished from the nearest point Denver City and that too disposed of. This was probably the new mode of fighting with u Christian love." It certainly fur nished the Indians with the means of fighting much more effectively. It is the purpose of the Government to protect the emi grant to the western territory ; but the temporizing policy of the Interior Department has so trammeled the War Office, as to defeat the ends which the Government desire to attain. A more decisive course will doubtless soon be inaugurated. At the date of this writing the House of Rep resentatives have passed a bill transfering the Indian Bureau to the War Department, and there is but little doubt of the concurrence of the Senate and the approval of the President. General Sherman in his annual report, which was writ ten before the Fort Phil. Kearney massacre, declared his intention to confine the several tribes to certain specified localities, and if an Indian is found outside his proper limits,, without a pass, he is to be " summarily punished," which I construe to mean he will be shot. And again : when refer- |
