Treaty of Peace and Friendship made at Ruby Valley, in the
Territory of
Nevada, this first day of October, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three, between the United States of America, represented by the
undersigned commissioners, and the Western Bands of the Shoshonee
Nation of Indians, represented by their Chiefs and Principal Men and
Warriors, as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
Peace and friendship shall be hereafter established and maintained
between the Western Bands of the Shoshonee nation and the people and
Government of the United States; and the said bands stipulate and agree
that hostilities and all depredations upon the emigrant trains, the mail
and telegraph lines, and upon the citizens of the United States within
their country, shall cease.
ARTICLE 2.
The several routes of travel through the Shoshonee country, now or
hereafter used by white men, shall be forever free, and unobstructed by
the said bands, for the use of the government of the United States, and of
all emigrants and travellers under its authority and protection, without
molestation or injury from them. And if depredations are at any time
committed by bad men of their nation, the offenders shall be immediately
taken and delivered up to the proper officers of the United States, to be
punished as their offences shall deserve; and the safety of all travellers
passing peaceably over either of said routes is hereby guarantied by said
bands.
Military posts may be established by the President of the United States
along said routes or elsewhere in their country; and station houses may
be erected and occupied at such points as may be necessary for the
comfort and convenience of travellers or for mail or telegraph companies.
ARTICLE 3.
The telegraph and overland stage lines having been established and
operated by companies under the authority of the United States through
a part of the Shoshonee country, it is expressly agreed that the same
may be continued without hindrance, molestation, or injury from the
people of said bands, and that their property and the lives and property
of passengers in the stages and of the employes of the respective
companies, shall be protected by them. And further, it being understood
that provision has been made by the government of the United States for
the construction of a railway from the plains west to the Pacific ocean, it
is stipulated by the said bands that the said railway or its branches may
be located, constructed, and operated, and without molestation from
them, through any portion of country claimed or occupied by them.
ARTICLE 4.
It is further agreed by the parties hereto, that the Shoshonee country
may be explored and prospected for gold and silver, or other minerals;
and when mines are discovered, they may be worked, and mining and
agricultural settlements formed, and ranches established whenever they
may be required. Mills may be erected and timber taken for their use, as
also for building and other purposes in any part of the country claimed
by said bands.
ARTICLE 5.
It is understood that the boundaries of the country claimed and
occupied by said bands are defined and described by them as follows:
On the north by Wong-goga-da Mountains and Shoshonee
River Valley; on the west by Su-non-to-yah Mountains or
Smith Creek Mountains; on the south by Wi-co-bah and the
Colorado Desert; on the east by Po-ho-no-be Valley or Steptoe
Valley and Great Salt Lake Valley.
ARTICLE 6.
The said bands agree that whenever the President of the United States
shall deem it expedient for them to abandon the roaming life, which, they
now lead, and become herdsmen or agriculturalists, he is hereby
authorized to make such reservations for their use as he may deem
necessary within the country above described; and they do also hereby
agree to remove their camps to such reservations as he may indicate,
and to reside and remain therein.
ARTICLE 7.
The United States, being aware of the inconvenience resulting to the
Indians in consequence of the driving away and destruction of game
along the routes travelled by white men, and by the formation of
agricultural and mining settlements, are willing to fairly compensate
them for the same; therefore, and in consideration of the preceding
stipulations, and of their faithful observance by the said bands, the
United States promise and agree to pay to the said bands of the
Shoshonee nation parties hereto, annually for the term of twenty years,
the sum of five thousand dollars in such articles, including cattle for
herding or other purposes, as the President of the United States shall
deem suitable for their wants and condition, either as hunters or
herdsmen. And the said bands hereby acknowledge the reception of the
said stipulated annuities as a full compensation and equivalent for the
loss of game and the rights and privileges hereby conceded.
ARTICLE 8.
The said bands hereby acknowledge that they have received from said
commissioners provisions and clothing amounting to five thousand
dollars as presents at the conclusion of this treaty.
Done at Ruby Valley the day and year above written.
James W. Nye.
James Duane Doty.
Te-moak, his x mark.
Po-on-go-sah, his x mark.
Mo-ho-a.
Par-a-woat-ze, his x mark.
Kirk-weedgwa, his x mark.
Ko-ro-kout-ze, his x mark.
To-so-wee-so-op, his x mark.
Pon-ge-mah, his x mark.
Sow-er-e-gah, his x mark.
Buck, his x mark
Witnesses:
J.B.Moore, lieutenant-colonel Third Infantry California Volunteers.
Jacob T.Lockhart, Indian agent Nevada Territory. Henry
Butterfield, interpreter.
Oct. 1, 1863. | 18 Stats., 689. | Ratified June 26, 1866. | Proclaimed Oct. 21, 1869.
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