wilderments, the tribe at last gave what the United States Government chose to call a “consent” to the removal. The story of the influences, deceits, coercions brought to bear on these unfortunate creatures before this was brought about, is one of the most harrowing among the harrowing records of our dealings with the Indians. A party of chiefs were induced, in the first place, to go, in company with a United States inspector—Kemble by name—to the Indian Territory, to see whether the country would suit them. It was distinctly promised to them that, if it did not suit them, they should then be permitted to go to Washington and consult with the President as to some further plan for their establishment.
The story of this journey and of its results is best told in the words of one of the Ponca chiefs, Standing Bear. No official document, no other man's narrative—no, not if a second Horner should arise to sing it—could tell the story so well as he tells it:
“We lived on our land as long as we can remember. No one knows how long ago we came there. The land was owned by our tribe as far back as memory of men goes.
“We were living quietly on our farms. All of a sudden one white man came. We had no idea what for. This was the inspector. He cane to our tribe with Rev. Mr. Hinman These two, with the agent, James Lawrence, they made our trouble.
“They said the President told us to pack up—that we must move to the Indian Territory.
“The inspector said to us: ‘The President says you must sell this land. He will buy it and pay you the money, and give you new land in the Indian Territory.’
“We said to him: ‘We do not know your authority. You have no right to move us till we have had council with the President.’
“We said to him: ‘When two persons wish to make a bar-
