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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 9 RELINQUISHMENT 0P HUNTING PRIVILEGES IN NEBRASKA. It will be seen by the report of tlle commissioners appointed to nego. tiate at Red Cloud and S~)ottedT ail agencies for the relinouishmeut of the privilege secured to the Sioux bi the treaty of 1668 tb hunt iu Nebraska, and to find a suitable location for the Spotted Tail agency, that the n. urn.o se of the commission was not fully accomnlished: but i t is espected, as the result of their conference, thatthe ludiuns, i ~ ~ e u ~ ~ a i t l - erarion of 323,UUO offered in cxchar~ge,w, ill get eonsellt to the rrliruluish-mellt of tl14t t)rivile~'eo,f hunti~lrs uuth of the Siob~ar i~i i. ~N ebraska. Their righ't to roGn over wy;ning also still exists accordiug to treaty. Probably an inquiry as to the strict observance of treaty stipulations hy the Sioux would reveal the fact that, long since, by comu~ittingd epre-dations and refusing to point out or de1iver.u~t he depredators, they have violated some of the most important prov~sionso f their treaty, and that the Goverumeut, if so disposed, could find justification for declaring the treaty abrogated, and thus compel the Sioux to remain within their reservation. The object desired, however, can, in my judgment, be niore readily and econo~nicallya ttained by purchasing the, reliuquishmeut of this right of roaming. SPOTTED TAIL AGENOY LOCATED IN NEBRASKA. The attempt of the commission to find a suitable location for the epotted Tail agency confirms the opil~ionh eretofore entertained as to the general barrenness of this reservation. The site selected-and the only one found after long and wide searching at all desirable or practicable for locating tbe Indians with aview to their civilization-is in the State of Nebraska, ten miles from the southern line of Dakota. Both the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies are now without the limits of the res-ervation, being situated on a portion of Nebraska reserved by treaty for t,he exclusive use of the Indians. It will be largely for the advan-tage ,both of the Government and Indians if the southern divide of the Niobrara River can be made the bouudarr of their nermanent reserve-tiou in plare of the soutlrer~rl ine of ~ a k o t a . l%t.si(ir;sd %~nlil~a l:n at-ural boondor~,i nstead ol' an imaginar~li ne not easily disti~~guisl~LeI.?( l Iudians. thia woul~lt i~ruisal~ c ouutrr suileil to an es~~erimt!ui ut lutlinn agricnlhre and herdiug. If this country is not retained, the alternative is the entire and per-petoal support of a large number of the Sioux by the annual appropri-ations until under the slow but certain processof demoralization the tribe shall become extinct. This mill require several generations and millions of money. For this reason I regard the retentiou of this por-tion of Nebraska for Indian purposes as absolutely essential to auy humane or ecouomical plan for the care of the Sioux. THP WILD TRIBES IN THE INDUN TEEEITOEY. I Tho apprehension expressed in my last annual report, that \ritbolct ra11i11g ti)r vigorous operxtious b,y the military it \roold be impossible I to put a stop to the constant and murderous raiding by Indians belo~~g. ing in the xouthwesteru portior~ of tho Indinn Territory, have been t'ully re:~lized. For srreral \.e.irs uast the (.'oura!~clreu H I I ~C ~ C T ~ UhDilrCe H not for any length of t h e f dly ceased their raids. The ~ioiomasm ule a covenant never again to raid in Texas, and substantially observe11 it so loug as the question of the release of their chiefs; Satanta and Big |