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Show While Hayt's new instructions gave Hatch more flexibility, the attempt to gain the Southern Lite support for removal failed. The LItes refused to move to either the White River Agency or the Uncompahgre Agency. Their testimonies, recorded in the written testimony and presented as part of the commission's report to the Secretary of the Interior, indicated the Southern Lite feelings toward the proposed removal, the Government and its policies. Aiguillar and Ignacio, - All the principal men are here ready when the commissioners are. Genl. Hatch, - Aiguillar wants to go to Rio Navajo: what do the rest think of selling their land and moving elsewhere - not to go until the amount due them is paid? Ignacio, - We don't like it at White River, and we don't know it. Genl. Hatch, - If you go to the Heads of Rio Navajo, Chama, and Piedra, the great father finds you will be nearer, and it will be easier to get supplies to you. Don't you think it is better to get your money, and then sell your lands for other lands? Ignacio, - I want to know how we have injured the settlers? Genl. Hatch, - You haven't injured anybody, but isn't it better to sell your lands and take other lands than to stay here when the settlers are pressing? We don't ask you to go, but simply wouldn't it be better for you to go? Isn't it better hunting ground and grazing country there? Ignacio, - Ouray isn't here. The Utes have never sold any land. Genl. Hatch, - We are not talking to Ouray, he isn't here. Ignacio, - We never sold any of the land. We like this land and want to stay here. Genl. Hatch, - We want to do what is best for you; here is one party who says the Rio Navajo is better land. Ignacio, - We haven't sold any land; we recognize this land as ours; we have lived off the land by game and never saw any money. Genl. Hatch, - You are to get what has been promised you before you leave. Ignacio, - We have always recognized this as our land and have never sold any. Gen'l. Hatch, - They [ sic] isn't it better to sell this land now and move elsewhere? Tapoche, - Why do you want to run lines and take this land from us, and give us land somewhere else? Genl. Hatch, - The great father was told that you had sold the land, the people about here thought so and the settlers are on each side occupying the land. The great father wants to give you land where you will have plenty of room and not be crowded. The great father believed that the Indians had sold this land and had nothing left but this fifteen mile strip. Tapoche,- We want to know what Utes sold the land? Genl. Hatch, - This, - showing a copy of the treaty of 1868,- the great father's agents told him was made by the Indians. Genl. Hatch then read the names: Ignacio, - I don't know anything of the names of the Weeminuche bands. Col. Pfeiffer, old Indian agent, and Mr. T. D. Burns, said the names read were not familiar to them. Genl. Hatch, - To Ignacio, Did you ever sign this treaty? Ignacio, - No. Genl. Hatch, - Did you ever sign or agree to any treaty? Ignacio, - I never went to Los Pinos or to Tierra Amarilla to sign any treaty. Mr. T. D. Burns being asked what he knew of the treaty, said that the treaty was signed by Ignacio and others in his presence but that it was - 13- |