OCR Text |
Show signed in Washington on March 6 had constituted a binding document and were uneasy about the long period of inaction while the bill received official sanction. 39 The Indians began to feel they were being cheated out of their lands without consideration by the Government's officials. They became upset and let it be known to the Indian agents that they did not approve of the Government's inaction. The urgency of the problem was well stated in a letter by Charles Adams, an interested citizen of Colorado, to the Secretary of the Interior. He wrote: The Indians themselves consider that they have virtually given up their lands, and in case they derive no benefit thereby it will be only a question for them whether to accept the peaceable or retaliate by the only mode known to them- war in the most cruel and barbarous manner. They do not understand why a solemn agreement urged upon them and entered into with them by one branch of the government may be rejected by another branch, but much less do they understand why a matter which seemed so urgent and was considered as preventing a war two months ago has not been acted upon, and this delay and uncertainty suggests to their minds the idea that the government is using this delay to allow its soldiers and all the others who wish to gain a firm foothold on the reservation, and then declare the agreement not approved, but hold the lands; and while still their chief Ouray and their agent can and do control them a very few days may change the present status of affairs. 40 The President responded to Adam's plea by naming a commission of five people to negotiate with the Indians. 41 The people named to this commission included George W. Manypenny, Alfred B. Meacham, John B. Bowman, John J. Russell and Otto Mears. 42 Because Congress had placed a four month limit on the amount of time that could be spent in gaining the support of three- quarters of the male Utes for ratification of the agreement, the Commission was ordered to meet with the Secretary of the Interior immediately for final instructions before leaving for the Confederated Ute Reservation. Consultation was held on June 19 and 21. The Commission then left for Colorado. 4.3 The group met at the Grand Central Hotel in Denver on June 28 where the Commission was called to order by George Manypenny, the designated chairman. 44 The agreement had called for negotiations with all the bands of Utes in Colorado. The first of these councils was held at the Los Pinos site, near Gunnison, Colorado, with the Uncompahgre Utes. While in council with these people, the White River Utes were summoned to the same location thereby eliminating the necessity of a council at the White River Agency. Both groups agreed to the new agreement on September 18. From the Los Pinos location the Commission then traveled on to the Southern Ute Agency. Part of the Commission left the Los Pinos Agency prior to the end of negotiations to begin the work among the Southern Utes and arrived at their agency headquarters on August 15. Because a large number of Southern Utes were already at the headquarters awaiting the arrival of the Commission, the negotiations were able to begin immediately^ 39. Ute Agreement, 1880, op. cit., S. E. D. No. 114, pp. 1- 2. 40. Ibid., p. 2. 41. New York Times, June 22, 1880, pp. 1- 2. 42. Report of the Secretary of the Interior, 1880, op. cit., p. 101. 43. Report of the Secretary of the Interior, 1881, op. cit., p. 259. 44. Ibid. 45. Ibid., pp. 259- 260. - 24r- |