at the earliest possible day, a delegation may come on the understanding that they defray their own expenses in the event that Congress shall fail to make an appropriation for the purpose. The letter from Senator Ross is herewith returned. Hon. N. G. TAYLOR, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. O. H. BROWNING, Secretary. No. 9. DEPARTMENT of the Interior, Office of INDIAN AFFAIRs, Washington, D. C., January 27, 1868. SIR: On the 11th instant an estimate of appropriation required to defray expenses of a delegation of Osage Indians to visit this city for the purpose of negotiating a treaty, was reported to you to be transmitted to Congress. I have the honor to enclose herewith a letter from Hon. E. G. Ross, dated the 24th instant, upon this subject. Senator Ross urges the necessity of early action in this matter, and states that the estimate referred to "is now in the hands of the House Appropriation Committee, where it is liable to rest until the general appropriation bill comes up, some weeks, probably some months, hence," and desires to be informed whether permission will be given to the Indians "to come on and run the risk of having to defray their own expenses in case no appropriation should be made by Congress hereafter," and thinks the "Indians would cheerfully incur the risk." In view of the facts presented I would respectfully recommend that permission be granted on the terms mentioned. You will please return the letter of Hon. Mr. Ross with your decision in the premises. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. O. H. BROWNING, Secretary of the Interior. N. G. TAYLOR, Commissioner. No. 10. HUMBOLDT, KANSAS, February 16, 1868. SIR: From what I can learn there are hundreds of persons in Kansas making arrangements to go down on the Osage lands to make claims as soon as the Osage delegation leaves for Washington. It has been published in the St. Louis papers that a delegation has been ordered on. Something must be done to stop this movement. If the Indians should make a treaty, their women and children will be driven from their camps before they return from Washington. I would therefore respectfully ask you to get an order at once on the commander of the post at Fort Leavenworth, for an officer and at least ten wellmounted men, to report as soon as possible, to Deputy Marshal S. S. Dickinson, Humboldt, Kansas. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel T. Murphy, G. C. SNOW, Superindendent Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. No. 11. HUMBOLDT, KANSAS, February 16, 1868: SIR: I have not yet succeeded in getting a delegation of Osage Indians to go to Washington. I have had great trouble in harmonizing the different factions. They are to meet the 21st instant to select their men to go. I now think they will agree. I may have to take eight men. They do not like the idea of paying their own expenses. I have given my word that I would do all I could to have the expense paid by the government. I hope you will do all you can to have this done. If I succeed, we cannot leave Lawrence before the 2d day of March; be in Washington about the 5th. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel THOMAS MURPHY, G. C. SNOW, U. S. Neosho Indian Agent. Superintendent Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. No. 12. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 25, 1868. SIR: I have the honor herewith to enclose a letter of the 16th instant from Agent Snow, relative to bringing a delegation of Osage Indians to this city. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. N. G. TAYLOR, Commissioner. No. 13. THOMAS MURPHY, Superintendent Indian Affairs. HUMBOLDT, KANSAS, February 25, 1868. SIR: I received a copy of the honorable Commissioner's letter to you of January 28 on the 12th instant, in the Indian country, the contents of which had been anticipated by telegrams and letters from you. I had been doing all I could for several days to harmonize the different factions. On the 12th instant the two parties agreed that they would come together at the Big Hill town on the 21st instant and decide what they would do. On the 20th I went to White Hair's town, and there learned that he was not going to the council, saying "that he would not be dragged down to Big Hill town to a council, and he had no land to sell." I staid there until noon the 21st, hired a team, and got the most of White Hair's leading men to go down. After counselling two days and one night they decided not to send a delegation to Washington. All the chiefs and most of the leading men are very anxious to visit the capital, but they do not want to run the risk of paying their own expenses, or make a treaty by which their title to lands in Kansas will be extinguished. I think a majority of the Indians would favor a treaty if they knew where the government would re-locate them. Some of them favor a treaty reserving the Arkansas river and Whitewater. A treaty can be made, I think, this spring, if the following plan can be pursued: 1. Send me an order (with maps) to take as many Osages as will go, to pro ceed to the Indian territory and select their future home. The maps must show all the lands from which we can select. 2. Have their payment ready by the 20th of May. 3. Have commissioners here ready, and fully authorized, by the 25th of May, to make a treaty. I believe they will take the Seminoles' lands if they can go down as far as the mouth of Little river. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel THOMAS MURPHY, G. C. SNOW, United States Neosho Indian Agent. Superintendent Indian Affairs, Atchison, Kansas. No. 14. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 25, 1868. SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit a letter of the 16th instant from Agent Snow, stating that when the delegation of Osage Indians left for Washington their reservation would be settled on by whites, their women and children be driven from their camps, and asking for an order for an officer and ten mounted men to protect the rights of the Indians. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, . Hon. N. G. TAYLOR, Commissioner. No. 15. THOMAS MURPHY, Superintendent Indian Affairs. OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, Atchison, March 5, 1868. SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit a letter from Agent Snow, of the 25th ultimo, reporting the determination of the Osage Indians not to send a delegation to Washington to dispose of their lands. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS MURPHY, Superintendent Indian Affairs. Hon. N. G. TAYLOR, Commissioner, Washington, D. C. No. 16. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTErior, Washington, D. C., March 26, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the Osage Indians have declined to visit Washington, for the reason that the Cheyennes and Arapahoes are at war with them, and the headmen of the Osages are unwilling to leave their people while this war exists. They are, however, anxious to make a treaty with the government for the sale of their trust lands and diminished reserve, and have agreed with their agent to meet commissioners of the government in council, on their reservation, on the 14th of next month, for the purpose of negotiating such a treaty. If it is the pleasure of the government to appoint commissioners to meet these Indians on the day designated, I respectfully recommend that the itemized estimate of goods submitted by Agent Snow to the Indian department, and amounting to $7,500, be purchased at once, and shipped to Lawrence, Kansas, so as to have them there in time to be distributed to the Indians at the time of holding said council. This will do away with the necessity of furnishing them with presents, which is always customary in negotiating treaties or holling councils with these Indians. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. O. H. BROWNING, Secretary of the Interior. THOS. MURPHY, Superintendent Indian Affairs. P. S.-The object in calling your attention to this matter is that the interest due these Indians shall be paid to them semi-annually, in money, clothing, provisions, or such articles of utility as the Secretary of the Interior may, from time to time, direct. (See Statutes at Large, volume 14, page 687.) THOS. MURPHY, Superintendent Indian Affairs. No. 17. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., NATHANIEL G. TAYLOR, Commissioner of Indian Affairs: April 3, 1868. Under authority conferred by the 3d section of the act of Congress approved February 27, 1851, relative to the negotiation of Indian treaties, you are hereby designated and appointed a commissioner, jointly with Thomas Murphy, superintendent of Indian affairs for Central superintendency, Albert G. Boone, special Indian commissioner to locate Indian lands, and George C. Snow, United States Indian agent, as commissioners, to negotiate a treaty with the Great and Little Osage tribes of Indians. O. H. BROWNING, ANDREW JOHNSON, President. Secretary of the Interior. |