Information having reached the office of the Executive of said Territory, through various sources, to the effect that combinations of men have been and are now being made with a view to entering and occupying the region of the country known as the "Black Hills" of Dakota, which is within the Reservation belonging to the Sioux Indians, under the plea that the said Black Hill country has valuable mineral deposits, as well as quantities of timber fit for lumber.

         Now, therefore,

                                       I , EDWIN S. McCOOK,

Secretary and Acting Governor of the Territory of Dakota, by the direction of the President of the United States, through the Hon. Columbus Delano, Secretary of the Interior, do hereby warn all such unlawful combinations of men, of whatever locality, or under whatever plea or excuse operating, that any such attempt to violate our Treaty stipulations with these Indians, or disturb the peace of the said Territory, by an effort to invade, occupy or settle upon said Reservation, will not only be illegal, and likely to disturb the peace between the United States and said Indians, but will be disapproved by the Government. And if such efforts are persisted in, the Government will use so much of its civil and military as may be necessary to remove from this Indian Territory all persons who go there in violation of law.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Territory.

Given at my office, in the City of Yankton, this 6th day of April, A. D. 1872.