Treaty with The Mandan Tribe
July 30, 1825
WHEREAS acts of hostility have been committed by some restless
men of the Mandan Tribe of Indians, upon some of the citizens
of the United States: Therefore, to put a stop to any further
outrages of the sort; and to establish a more friendly understanding
between the United States and the said Mandan Tribe, the President
of the United States, by Henry Atkinson, Brigadier General
of the United States, Army, and Major Benjamin O'Fallon,
Indian Agent, Commissioners duly appointed and commissioned
to treat with the Indian Tribes beyond the Mississippi river,
forgive the offences which have been committed; the Chiefs
and Warriors having first made satisfactory explanations touching
the same. And, for the purpose of removing all future cause
of misunderstanding as respects trade and friendly intercourse
between the parties, the above named Commissioners on the
part of the United States, and the undersigned Chiefs and
Warriors of the Mandan Tribe of Indians on the part of said
Tribe, have made and entered into the following articles and
conditions, which, when ratified by the President of the United
States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
shall be binding on both parties - to wit:
Article 1.
Henceforth there shall be a firm and lasting peace between
the United States and the Mandan tribe of Indians; and a friendly
intercourse shall immediately take place between the parties.
Article 2.
It is admitted by the Mandan tribe of Indians, that they
reside within the territorial limits of the United States,
acknowledge their supremacy, and claim their protection. - The
said tribe also admit the right of the United States to regulate
all trade and intercourse with them.
Article 3.
The United States agree to receive the Mandan tribe of Indians
into their friendship, and under their protection, and to
extend to them, from time to time, such benefits and acts
of kindness as may be convenient, and seem just and proper
to the President of the United States.
Article 4.
All trade and intercourse with the Mandan tribe shall be
transacted at such place or places as may be designated and
pointed out by the President of the United States, through
his agents; and none but American citizens, duly authorized
by the United States, shall be admitted to trade or hold intercourse
with said tribe of Indians.
Article 5.
That the Mandan tribe may be accommodated with such articles
of merchandise, ., as their necessities may demand,
the United States agree to admit and license traders to hold
intercourse with said tribe, under mild and equitable regulations:
in consideration of which, the Mandan tribe bind themselves
to extend protection to the persons and the property of the
traders, and the persons legally employed under them, whilst
they remain within the limits of their district of country.
And the said Mandan tribe further agree, that if any foreigner
or other person, not legally authorized by the United States,
shall come into their district of country, for the purposes
of trade or other views, they will apprehend such person or
persons, and deliver him or them to some United States'
superintendent or agent of Indian Affairs, or to the commandant
of the nearest military post, to be dealt with according to
law. And they further agree to give safe conduct to all persons
who may be legally authorized by the United States to pass
through their country, and to protect in their persons and
property all agents or other persons sent by the United States
to reside temporarily among them.
Article 6.
That the friendship which is now established between the
United States and the Mandan tribe, shall not be interrupted
by the misconduct of individuals, it is hereby agreed, that
for injuries done by individuals, no private revenge or retaliation
shall take place, but instead thereof, complaints shall be
made, by the party injured, to the superintendent or agent
of Indian affairs, or other person appointed by the President;
and it shall be the duty of the said Chiefs, upon complaint
being made as aforesaid, to deliver up the person or persons
against whom the complaint is made, to the end that he or
they may be punished, agreeably to the laws of the United
States. And, in like manner, if any robbery, violence, or
murder, shall be committed on any Indian or Indians belonging
to said tribe, the person or persons so offending shall be
tried, and if found guilty, shall be punished in like manner
as if the injury had been done to a white man. And it is agreed,
that the Chiefs of the said Mandan tribe shall, to the utmost
of their power, exert themselves to recover horses or other
property, which may be stolen or taken from any citizen or
citizens of the United States, by any individual or individuals
of said tribe; and the property so recovered shall be forthwith
delivered to the agents or other person authorized to receive
it, that it may be restored to the proper owner. And the United
States hereby guarranty to any Indian or Indians of said tribe,
a full indemnification for any horses or other property which
may be stolen from them by any of their citizens: Provided,
That the property so stolen cannot be recovered, and that
sufficient proof is produced that it was actually stolen by
a citizen of the United States. And the said Mandan tribe
engage, on the requisition or demand of the President of the
United States, or of the agents, to deliver up any white man
resident among them.
Article 7.
And the Chiefs and Warriors as aforesaid, promise and engage
that their tribe will never, by sale, exchange, or as presents,
supply any nation, tribe, or band of Indians, not in amity
with the United States, with guns, ammunition, or other implements
of war.
Done at the Mandan Village, this thirtieth day of July, A.
D. 1825, and of the independence of the United States the
fiftieth.
In testimony whereof, the commissioners, Henry Atkinson and
Benjamin O'Fallon, and the chiefs and warriors of the
Mandan tribe of Indians, have hereunto set their hands and
affixed their seals.
- H. Atkinson, brigadier-general U. S. Army, [L. S.]
- Benj. O'Fallon, United States agent Indian affairs, [L. S.]
Chiefs:
- Mat-sa-to-pas-lah-hah-pah, the chiefs of four men, his x mark, [L. S.]
- San-jah-mat-sa-eta, the wolf chiefs, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ah-ra-na-shis, the one that has no arm, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Bot-sa-a-pa, the color of the wolf, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Con-ke-sheesse, the good child, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Lah-pa-see-ta-re-tah, the bear that does not walk, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Par-res-kah-cah-rush-ta, the little crow, his x mark, [L. S.]
Warriors - First village:
- Obah-chash, the broken leg, his x mark, [L. S.]
- La-pet-see-to-a-pus, the four bears, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Sah-cou-ga-rah-lah-pet-see, the bird of the bears, his x mark, [L. S.]
- She-ca-aga-mat-sa-et-see, the little young man that is a chief, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Kee-re-pee-ah-pa-rush, the neck of the buffalo, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Bo-si-e-ree-bees, the little wolf that sleeps, his x mark, [L. S.]
Second village:
- San-jah-ca-ho-ka, the wolf that lies, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ede-shu-bee, the fat of the paunch, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Pa-res-ca-a-huss, the band of crows, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Ba-rah-rah-ca-tah, the broken pot, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Me-ra-pa-sha-po, the five beavers, his x mark, [L. S.]
- Bout-sa-ca-ho-ka, the crouching prairie wolf, his x mark, [L. S.]
In the presence of -
- A. L. Langham, secretary to the commission,
- H. Leavenworth, colonel U. S. Army,
- S. W. Kearny, brevet major First Infantry,
- D. Ketchum, major, U. S. Army,
- B. Riley, captain, Sixth Infantry,
- P. Wilson, United States S. Indian agent,
- S. Mac Ree, lieutenant, aid-de-camp,
- R. B. Mason, captain, First Infantry,
- G. C. Spencer, captain, First Infantry,
- John Gantt, captain, Sixth Infantry,
- Thomas Noel, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- R. Holmes, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- J. Rogers, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- Jas. W. Kingsbury, lieutenant, First Regiment Infantry.
- Levi Nute, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry.
- S. Wragg, adjutant First Regiment Infantry,
- M. W. Batman, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- Thomas P. Gwynne, lieutenant, First Infantry,
- George C. Hutter, lieutenant, Sixth Infantry,
- William Day, lieutenant, First Infantry,
- John Gale, surgeon, U. S. Army,
- R. M. Coleman, assistant surgeon, U. S. Army,
- W. S. Harney, lieutenant, First Infantry,
- J. C. Culbertson,
- G. H. Kennerly, United States S. Indian agent,
- A. S. Miller, lieutenant, First Infantry,
- Colin Campbell,
- Touissant Chaboneau, his x mark, interpreter.
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