January 11, 1875. — Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be printed.

Your memorialists, the legislative assembly of the Territory of Dakota, most respectfully beg leave to petition your honorable bodies to take immediate action in the matter of opening the Black Hills of Dakota for settlement, because of its great mineral wealth, and its being so well adapted for agricultural pursuits, and respectfully call your attention to the following reasons:

1. That General Custer has explored the Black Hills, and reports the finding of gold in every locality where the miners prospected.
2. That no section of country in the West has more beautiful valleys than this hitherto unknown county, all being well watered, and so favorably adapted to farming and stock-raising.
3. That gold, silver, platinum, and inexhaustible pine forests were found.
4. That the most favorable reports published in the press throughout the country will scarcely convey an idea of the actual and enormous wealth of the region when developed by the diggers of our "national specie basis."
5. That Professor Hayden and General Warren in their several explorations and surveys of exterior portions of the Black Hills report "officially" that they found gold, silver, iron, and forests of unknown limits within 130 miles of steamboat-navigation on the Missouri River.
6. That the Sioux Indian treaty, still respected by the Government, but numberless times violated by the Sioux Indians, prevents white men from acquiring homesteads, pre-emptions, or mining rights within the great Sioux reservation.

The legislative assembly of Dakota Territory most earnestly petition Congress to abrogate the treaty now in force, or, if such action be deemed unjust to the Indians, in lieu thereof extinguish the Indian title to that portion of the reservation known as the Black Hills of Dakota, so that the nation may receive the benefit of its great wealth. And we further pray that Congress, during the present session, will make due and ample provision to buy the right of way or treat for the same with said Indians, so that all men may pass through said reservation in pursuit of peace, happiness, and prosperity.

Your memorialists would further represent that some legislation as prayed for in this memorial is absolutely needed at the earliest possible day, if the Government wishes to prevent a repetition of the bloody scenes in California between the miners and the Indians, which resulted in the almost total destruction of the latter.

Humanity, justice, and the rights of a free and enlightened people respectfully ask for speedy action on this important question. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

Be it resolved by the legislative assembly of the Territory of Dakota, That a copy of this memorial be forwarded to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House, and our Delegate in Congress; and, further, that his excellency, Governor Pennington, be requested to sign this memorial and unite with us in securing favorable action by Congress.