CHAPTER X. TREATY IN 1875 FOR THE CESSION OF THE BLACK HILLS. The experience of the Government in the matter of keeping trespassers from the Black Hills was not encouraging, and it soon became evident that some arrangement would have to be made whereby the country could be opened for mining operation. This had been believed from the time of General Custer's return, in the fall of 1874; and on the 18th of June, 1875, the Secretary of the Interior appointed a commission to treat with the Indians for a cession of the Hills, or a permit to occupy that region for mining purpose. The commission consisted of the following gentlemen: Hon. William B. Allison, of Iowa, Chairman; Bishop E. R. Ames, Maryland; Judge F. W. Palmer, Illinois; Brigadier-General A. H. Terry, U. S. A.; Hon. A. Comings, Missouri; Rev. S. D. Hinman, Santee Agency; G. P. Beauvais, Esq., St. Louis; W. H. Ashly, Esq., Beatrice, Neb.; A. G. Laurence, Esq., Rhode Island. Bishop Ames and Hon. F. W. Palmer declined to serve, and Hon. T. O. Howe of Wisconsin, was substituted; but he was obliged to leave a few days subsequently on account of a press of other duties. John S. Collins, Esq., was appointed secretary. The The grand council assembled on the 20th of September, at a point on the White river of Dakota, about eight miles from the Red Cloud Agency, north of Crow Butte. members of the commission present were Allison, General Terry, Comings, Hinman, Beauvais, Ashly and Laurence. Of the Indian nations, mostly Sioux, representatives were present from the following tribes: Brules, Ogalallas, Minneconjous, Uncpapas, Blackfeet, Two-Kettle's Band, Sans Arcs, Lower Brules, Yanktons, Santees and Northern Cheyennes and Arapahoes. The first proposition was to pur 342 chase the mining right, the right to revert to the Indians when the minerals were exhausted, or the country abandoned for mining purpose. CARLO AND SPITZ, The Indians, according to their usual custom, asked time to consider the proposition. Under the influence of the and half breeds they were induced to set so exorbitant a value upon the country that negotiation became useless. At first they demanded $30,000,000 to $50,000,000, and later a still more exorbitant price. Among the noted chiefs present were: Red Cloud, Red Dog, Little Bear, Spotted Tail, Spotted Bear (Sioux); Black Cloud (Arapahoe); Little Wolf (Cheyenne); Fast Bear, Dead Eyes, Crow Feather, and Flying Bird. They finally demanded $70,000,000, and in addition support for seven generations of Indians, with plenty of cattle, horses, agricultural implements, guns, ammunition, etc. One chief said he had seen a white man's house nicely furnished with black walnut furniture, and he demanded the same kind. The council finally broke up without accomplishing anything. The commission in its report recommended Congress to take up the matter and try again to open the Hills, as the demands of the miners and settlers were becoming imperative, and it was certain that the Indians would either be obliged to make some satisfactory arrangement, or to see the whole region, within a very short period, in the hands of a hardy and determined class of settlers, who would defend what they deemed their right, not only against the red man, but, if necessary, against the Government itself. In 1876, a second commission was appointed by Secretary Chandler to negotiate once more with the savages, who began to realize that they must prepare to cede their lands, or see them taken possession of without further reference to the original owners. The new commission consisted of the following gentlemen: George Manypenny, Ohio; Henry B. Whipple, Minn.; Jared W. Daniels, Albert G. Boone, Colorado; C. Ball, Iowa; Newton Edmonds, Dakota; S. D. Hinman, and Augustine S. Gaylord. Under date of August the 24th, the Department of the Interior sent the following instruction to these commissioners: 1st. The Indians to relinquish all right and claim to any |