small portions on which to colonize and domesticate them.

This proceeding was deemed necessary in order to obtain such control over these Indiaus as to prevent their interference with our settlements, which are These treaties were rapidly cxtending in that dircection duly laid beforc the Senate at its last reg- ular session, but were not, it is understood, finally acted on by that body

"Relying of timely measures to carry out its provisions in their favor, the Poncas proceeded in good faith to comply with its stip- ulatious by abandoning their scttlements and hunting-grounds, and withdrawing home. Being without a crop to rely upon, and having been unsuceessful in their usual summer hunt, they were rediced to a state of despcration and destitution. As nothing had been done for them under the treaty, they concluded it was void, and threatened to fall back upon their former scttlements, some of the most important of which had, in the mean time, bcen taken possession of by numerous white persons." The Poncas never heard of Grotins or Vattel; bnt, in assum ing that the treaty was void because it was not fulfilled, they only acted on the natural principlos of the law of nations and of treaties, as laid down by all authorities. Thucydides said: They are not the first breakers of a league who, being desert- ed, seek for aid to others, but they that perform not by their deeds what they have promised to do upon their oaths." In consequence of this delay to fulfil the treaty provisions, the Governmcnt was forced to step in at the last moment and incur a on the ratifieation of their treaty, and the adoption to the small tract reserved for their future heavy cxpense " in furnishing the Poncas with food enough to keep thein from starving; and in 1859, under this pressure, the Senate ratified the treaty. By it the Poncas ceded and relinquished to the United States all the lands they had ever owned or claimed, wherever situate," except a small tract between the Ponca and Niobrara rivers. In consideration