OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE CO&IIIJIISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 3 band of these Indians who had come in to an appoint,ed rendezvous at tho call of the governor and were determined to keep the peace, and the murder of a large number of them and dispersion of the remainder. It mas felt that the government had been disgraced by this affair, and that the Indians had just cause for feeling aggrieved, and the commissioners were authorized to tender ample reparation for their losses. The Indians were unwilling to return to their reservation, in Colorado, and otber arrangement8 became necessary iin their behalf. By the treaty concluded with them they cede all light or claim to any lands formel.ly held by them, and accept a reservation bounded by the Arkan-sas river and Red creek, and a line drawn northwardly from the head of the latter Etveam to the Arkansas, agreeing to concentrate upon any part of that tract of land when required by the government to do so. I t may be remarked in regard to this locatiori that the commissioners evidently contemplated ar-rangements to be made with other tribes, since by far the largest portion of the reservation lies witl~inth e lands of the Osages and Cherokees; while the In-dians, in agreeing not to approach within ten miles of the route to Santa Fd, cut themselves off from a considerable portion of the remainder of the tract. The question of location is still further complicated by the nature of the amend-ment made by the Senate, which protides that their reservation shall not be in Kansas, and some difficnlt.~is apprehended in settling this very important point. The Indians agree to peace with the whites and with other tribes, and to ab-stain from all depredations. They are allowed,until a permanent reservation is set apart for them, to range the country between the Arkansas and Pli~tte,b ut are not to approach within ten miles of the travelled routes. The government agrees to expend tor their benefit, for forty years, twenty dollars per head until they go uypn a permanent reservation, and forty dollars per head after that time ; and that the arrears of their annuities under former treaties shall bo paid. It, is also provided, especially to heal the wounds caused by the Chivington affair, that donations of lrrnd shdl be secured to the widows and orphans of those who mere killed, and that the property taken from them shall be liberally paid for. Their numbera are e3tim;~ted at 2,800 until a census is taken. All other t~vatiesa re abrogated, and the reaervation in Colorado becomes the prop-erty of the United States. The Apachc~w, ho hare heretofore been allied to the ICiowas and Comanches, were, by treaty concluded October 17, 1865, separated from those tribes and confederated with the Arapahoes and Uheyennes, and accept the provis~ons of their treaty, their numbers being estimated at - until a census is taken. This treaty was 1.atified at the same time with that of their new allieu. As is generally the case with the Indian tribes who engage in treaty stipula-tions, there is a small portion of the Cheyennes, composed mostly of wild and reckless young men, whom the chiefs are unable to control, and who show a disposition to continue hostilities and depredations, but there is good reason to hope that they will be brought to reason and good behavior. I<iowaa and Comanches: Treaty concluded with these tribes by the same commissioners, October IS, 1865; ratification adr,ised Xay 22, 1866, and pro-claimed May 26, 1566. By the energetic efforts of their agent; Colonel Leav-enworth, these tribes had been influenced to avoid hostilities, and, with the ex-ception of a few outlying parties and bands ranging the great plains on the borders of Sew Xesico, had been peaceably disposed towards the whites. They were induced to come in to the appointed rendezvous on the Little Ar-kan, as, in October, 1SG5, and there agreed to the terms of a treaty, by which they were to yield all claim to occupancy of any land in Iiansas,liew Mexico, or Golorado, and assigned, as a range of country in which to obtain their sub-sistence by the chase until a permanent reservation sl~ould.b e given to them, a wide district lying in northwestern Texas and the Indiau country. They make the same pledges of peace and good behavior as the Arapal~oes an1 Cheyennes, |