the United States Government keep way, fecding tlhe Indian in gross and reckless improvidence with one hand, plnndering him with the other, and holding him steadily down at the level of his own barbarism Nay, forcing him below it by the newly added vices of gambling and drunkenness, and yet all the while boasting of its desire to enlighten, instruct, and civilize him. It is as is infamous: a phenomenal thing in the history of the world.

In the summner of 1851 the desired treaties were made, the upper and lower bands of Sionx being treated with separately at Traverse de Sioux and at Mendota. The upper bands were disposed of, though "some few of them, having been taught to read," had become impressed with the idea that their country was of immense value, and at flrst demanded six nill- ion dollars for the lands to be ceded. The treaty with the on and on in its obstinate inexplicable as it SOon lower bands-the Medawakantons and Wahpacootas-was "ex- ceedingly diflicult of attaiument" on account of, firstly, " their proximity to the flourishing settlements on the east side of the Mississippi produciug necessarily frequent contact with the whites, whose ideas of the great value of the country had been imparted Indian diplomacy, being in the enjoyment already of liberal annuities under former stipulations"all these things ren dered them as "indifferent to the making of another treaty at to these Indians; sccondly, their great experience in present as the whites on their borders were anxions that their lands should he acquired." In consequenee of this indomita- ble common-sensc on the part of the Indians the sessions of the commissioners were tedious and long; not until a month had passed did they prevail on these Indians to sign away the cov eted lands, "the garden-spot of the Mississippi Valley," and they were obliged to more than treble the number of cents per acre which thoy had been instrueted to pay. For thirty-five mill ions of acres of land they agreed to pay nominally $3,075,000, which would be between eight and nine eents an acre. But as