Mr. RAYMOND. wish to state as briefly as possible the reasons which render it important to pass this resolution. It is a resolution which comes from the Senate appropriating the sum of $120000 for the purpose of enabling the Presient of the U.S. to conclude treaties with certain Indian tribes on the northern Missouri and Platte rivers. The House is aware that growing out of the massacre in Minnesota there ensued a war with some of the Indian tribes. In March, 1865, Congress passed a bill appropriating $20,000 toward the conclusion of treaties of peace with the Indians engaged in those hostilities. Soon after the passage of that bill the govcriior of Dakota Terntory made application to the Dept of the Interior for prompt action under that law, asking that a commission might be appointed to proceed asspeedily as ossible to the region of country concerned an conclude treaties with the Indians there. Some correspondence, I believe, ensued between the War Dept and the Dept of the Interior as to which properly had charge of the subject, but it all ended in the appointment by the President of a commission, consisting of Governor Edmunds, Major general Curtis, Superintendent Taylor, General Sibley, and Hon. Orrin Guernsey. They were a poiuted to treat with the Indians and concihde treaties of peace if they found it prac ticable. The ComrIndAff authorized the purchase of certain goods to be distributed to these Indians. A portion of those purchases were made orauthorized to be made by Mr. Burleigh, then the Indian agent there in NewYork and StLouis, and a balance 0 about 8,000 dollars was placed at the disposal of the commission. The commission proceeded to Fort Sully, and remained there for some time, holding conferences with various Indian tribes who were able to get there at that time. About October they made a report of the a 1 1866. oiiopn. 3087 result of their visit which will be found on page 637 of the Report of the ComrIndAff. The general result.was that they found a great desire among the Indian tribes for peace. There was only one exception, the Sioux of the Missouri. But they concluded treaties with 9 separate tribes, a portion of them being fully represented, and 2 or 3 others represented only in part. They recommende that the commission should be divided and authorized to proceed during this present season to the upper missouri and the Platte rivers, to complete the work they had commenced and partially completed. They found the Indians with whom they did not make treaties quite willing to remain at peace with the U.S.; and they were willing to protect the right of way bot for the telegraph and the overland mail, but they found them entirely averse to entering into stipulations for their own removal from the territory they occupied. They, therefore, did not press that point. The commission was accordingly divided and proceeded earl in the present season to meet a portion of these Indians on the upper Missouri and the remainder at Fort Laramie, on the Platte river. The commission is now engaged in these negotiations. It is believed by the dept that the use of this money by the commission and by the agencies will restore peace to the whole western portion of our country. We all know how expensive Indian wars are, and how unsatisfactory. The object of this appropriation is to enable the commission to go forward to the conclusion of the treaties. I have before me letters from Governor Ed munds of Dakota Territory strongly recommending the rosccution of these negotiations, together with letters from GenlCurtis, Superintendent Taylor and others, on the same subject. I have also a detailed statement made out by the ComrIndAff of the particular sums which are wanted, and the particular objects for which those sums are to be expended. This subject has been examined by the ComAppropriat, and the recommend to this House a concurrence with the Senate in this JtResolution. These are the leading facts of the case. I do not suppose there is any desire to have this subject debated any further, and if not I will call the previous question.