Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/30

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20 C. F. COAN

by the Indians in consultation among themselves. The super- intendents continued their explanations on the next day. Speeches were made on June seventh by the Indian chiefs. Lawyer agreed to accept the treaty for the Nez Perces. Looking Glass, a Nez Perce chief who arrived after this agreement by Lawyer, objected strongly and refused to sign. Young Chief of the Cayuse stated that he could not understand the treaties; the Wallawalla chief, Piopiomoxmox, said that he thought that Lawyer had given his lands away. The Yakima chief, Kamaiakan, when urged to speak, replied, "I have nothing to say." Owhi, a chief of the Umatilla, said that his people were far away and, therefore, he could say nothing. When the council met on the following day, Palmer urged the Indian chiefs to accept the treaties. It was during this meeting that Looking Glass created considerable con- fusion by forcefully objecting to the Nez Perces accepting the treaty which had been done by Lawyer. Looking Glass had not been present at the earlier meetings. These objec- tions were met in part by agreeing to allow the newcomers an additional reservation. At this stage, all of the chiefs agreed to accept the treaties except Kamaiakan. The papers were brought into the council on the following day to be signed. Stevens explained the reservations which were allowed in the treaties for the various tribes. This was followed by a speech from Looking Glass in which he urged the chiefs not to accept the treaties. The result was that Piopiomoxmox, Kamaiakan, and Looking Glass refused to sign. When the council was called together on the following day, these chiefs suddenly changed their attitude, from what cause it is not known. After a short speech from Stevens, the chiefs signed the treaties. That these Indians were unwilling to be re- stricted to reservations, and were unwilling to have the settlers occupy the lands, seems evident from their general dissatis- faction with the treaties, their earlier relations with the whites, and their subsequent hostilities. 44

Stevens and Palmer separated after the signing of the treaties at Camp Stevens, Palmer proceeding to The Dalles

44 Lawrence Kip, "The Indian Council at Walla Walla," Sources of tht History of Oregon, I, pt. a, pp. 4-28; Kappler, op. cit., II, 694-98; 698-702; 702-6.