OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMHISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIBS. 5 The nine treaties above referred to are all of the same tenor, and establish peace with the various tribes of Sionx of Dakota, with whom h ~ ~ t i l i t iheasd con-tinued for two or three ye;!rs, at great cost to tho government. The Indians agree to abstain from all hostilities with tlhe whites and with other tribes, and in ease of differences with other tribes to submit them to the arbitration of the governmrnt ; to allow the establibhment of' routes of travel through their country, and to place no obstacles in the way of any of their people who may be dis-posed to turn to the pursuit of agricnlture for a living. The gorernment, iu vier of the fact that the buffalo and other game, by means of which these no-madic tribes subsist, are being driven from the country by the whites who trarerse it, agrees to pay the Indians, at different points, in goods adapted for their use, at the rate of about fifteen dollars per head per annum, and whenever any of them will settle down to the cultivation of the soil, to increase tbie amount to twenty-five dollars per head; and when one hundred lodges shall eoncentrate for that purpose, an agency to be established for them and a farmer employed to instruct them. These treaties were made in the fall of 1865, and the Indians, in spite of the great suffering from cold and want of food, endured during the very seoore winter of 1865-'66, and consequent temptation to plunder to procure the absolute necessaries of life, faithfully kept the peace. I n several of the bands, some of the chief8 stated their intention to plant corn at variona olaces. and nortions of two or three bands have come in at Crow creek, (abau- ; IOI ,P~ by t h t .<rlntw iot~.x.)o n~l~ t I ~ I T. nltrton ~.rii~rvi~tiaunnd, Reem d i ? j , o ~ ~ d 11, wake s fttir altl ntpt to ill;>n(Iuu iht>il.n .;tulle~.iq,gr oodo of' lifv. I t lnny pmp-erlr 111. J P J ~ P ~hI vrv that, on llle ~ r r n c i ~otn't hr visit of tllc r ommi ~ ~ i o ntrur ~th e upper Missou~.i during the last summer, they were met by several chiefs of the Yanctonnais who were not present at the treaty of the previous year, and who affixed their signatures to a copy of the treaty, in testimony of their satisfaction with its provisions. I t may reasonably be hoped that, by careful and judicious management of these tribes, and a S C I . U ~ ~ O UfuSl film~nto f the stipulations of the treaties made with them, no further occasion will arise for expensive mili-tary expeditions to be employed in compelling them to keep the peace. Nes Percis: Concluded Juno 9, 1863 ; rat,ification advised by the Senate, with an amendment, rhich an;?its the action of the Indians. The ratification of this treaty has been delayed for several years for various reasons, partly aris-ing from succe~sive changes in the superintende~lt of Indian affatcs in Idaho, whose varying opinions upon the subject of the treaty have caused doubts in the minds of senators. A later treaty had been made, huton careful co~lsideration of the subject it was deemed advisable to carry illto effect that of 1863. The Nes Percds claimed title to a very large district of country comprised in what are now organized as Oregon; Washington, and Idaho, but principally witbin the latter territory, and already a large white population is pressing upon them in the search for gold. They are peaceable, industrious and friendly, and, alto-gether, one of the most promising of the tribes west of the Rocky mountains, having profited largely by t11e labors of miesionnries among them. l3j the treaty now ratified, they cede all their lands except a reservation defined by certain natural boundaries, and agree to remove to this reservation within one year. Where t h r j hare impmrrmc.nts upon hinds outside of it, such improvemeuts are to be app~tiseda nd paid for. The tillable lauds are to he surveyed iuto tracts of tweut. acres, nod nllotte4 to such Indians as desire to hold lands in severalty. The government is to continue the annuities due under former treaties, and in addition, pay the tribe, or expend for them, for certain specific purposes having thpir improrement in view, the sum of $262,500, and a moderate sum is devoted to hnuses and salaries for chiefs. The right of way is secured furroads through the reservation, aud the government undertakes to reserve ail important springs .and watering plnces for public ase. Klamalhs and Nudocs and Yahooskin Snakes: Concluded October 14, |