Affirmation of Indian Treaties
Abolition of Treaty Making
March 3, 1871
Because of humanitarian attacks upon the treaty system and the objections of the House of Representatives to the concentration of authority for dealing with the Indians in the hands of the Senate through its treaty-making power, Congress in 1871, in an obscure rider to the Indian appropriation bill, outlawed further treaty making with Indian tribes, and affirmed the treaties previously made.
An act making Appropriations for the current and contingent of the Indian Department…
Yankton Tribe of Sioux. -… For insurance and transportation of goods for the Yanktons, one hundred dollars:
Provided, That hereafter no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of the United States shall be acknowledged or recognized as an independent nation, tribe, or power with whom the United States may contract by treaty:
Provided, further, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to invalidate or impair the obligation of any treaty heretofore lawfully made and ratified with any such Indian nation or tribe…
[U.S. Statues at Large, 16:566.]