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Show ~ ~- REPORT OF THE ACTING COMMISSIONER. plaints were made against them last spring of committing depred but they do not appear to have been sustaiued. They are peacea and it is believed that it is only necessary to give them a per secure their prosperity. A delegationof t,he Santees, under Agent Stone, visited this city last February for the purpose of making a treaty, or obtaining some- %hing definite as to what course the government would pursue towards them hereafter; but they received no satisfaction. The chiefs and a few others are willing to plant a ~ l dim prove the land while waiting the tardy action of the government, but the great majority of the tribe are not inclined to give much attention to sueh things until they have some guarantee, by treaty or other-wise, that. the laud they cultivate is to be their permanent home. Afull history of this people for the past five or 'six years, and of others known as tbe Sisse-ton, Wabpeton, Mcdawakanton, and Wapakrota bands, is embraced in the annual report of this office for 1866. Brul.4 and Ogallalla Simcz, Cheyennes and Arapahoes, are tribes belonging to the Upper Platte agency, and more or less, with theexception of a few friendly disposed, have ':en engaged in hostilities against thegovernment for more than a year past. The friendly portion of them, chiefly of the Brult! and Ogallalla bands, have manifestad a willingness to keep aloof from their hostile relatives and remain peaceable. They bave been supplied with subsistence, and the efforts of the deoartment have been directed to encouraze their friendl"v dis~.oui-tion. Until thidiffieultira arc set~lrila, nd dl fillire arranyemmti ia rcfrr~~nctoe tlw future rrlntions Q V pojition ol ' t l~r ietr ibra, ir i a tlrougl~tl ~ irltm t tlwy ihould LC:l oratvd null cared for at a ~ o i nnt o rth of thct 1'1,irte riv6.r near i'orr >lcT'l.rr~on, to which place a large numb& have removed. At latest advices most of these Indiana, under Spotted Tail, Two Strikes, Swift Bear, and Big Mouth, were, by permiasion of the peace commissioners, south of the Platte hunting buffalo. They had promised to return by the middle of September to meet in council the commissioners at Fort Laramie. Agent Patrick reports that they are anxious to cultivate the soil, and recommends that they he supplied with agricultural implements. Big Mouth's people (Ogallalllea) greatly need material for tents, as they are very destitute in therespect of shelter. This chief has been a stead-fast friend to the whites, and has used all his influence to induce the northern Iudians to be peaceable The agent also recommends that a school be estab-lished at the new camp, the one at Fort Laramie, under contract with the chap-lain of the post, 31r. Wright, being discontinued. Under direction of the peace commissioners. Superintendent Denman visited the camp of these Indians on the North.Platte, to inform them that permission had been given them to go OIL ithunt, and that it was expected that Spotted Tail and his feilow chiefs would place themselvesin communication with the hostile bands in the region of coun-try they proposed to hunt, the head waters of the Republicon, and endeavor to persuade them to abandon the war-path aud meet the commissioners at Fort Laramie. Terj of their most trustworthy young men were selected as inessen-gers, and fully equipped with offerings of peace and eent to the hu.stilee. The superintendent confidently states that Spotted Tail and hi3 followers sill act in good faith, and will prove powerful instruments in consummating peace. For full information in regard to the transactions of the present Indian war and its origin, I respectfully refer to thevoluminous documentaceompanying the report of your department, of 12th July ultimo, to the President of the United States Senate, and which will be found printed in Executive Uocumeni No. 13, 40th Congress, 1st session. ( SOUTHBRN SUPERINTENOEN~Y. 1 Within the bounds of tl.is superittte~~de~n~rrc yt he Chzrokws, i~urnhering about 13,566 ; Choctews, 12,500 ; Vlticknua\rr, 1,500; Sem~nults2, ,000; Crrekr, |