Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-09-16

For several weeks past, we have observed a
disposition on the part of some persons, for
political effect, to raise noise about the
non-payment Of the annuities of the lndi-
ans. A talk was published in the Galena pa
per, in which the Indians were represented to
be in starving condition because Of the fail
ure Of the Government to make the payment.
The following. which we copy from the same
paper, will throw some light on the subject:
After reading the lamentable accounts of the suf-
fering condition Of the Sac and Fox Indians paint
ed in speech purportng to have been made at
Rock Island by one of the chiefs of those bands,
which was communicated to and published in your
paper few weeks since, i'll which talk and COM
munication bitter complaints were insiduously made
against the Government for non observance OF the
treaties and of the condition Of the poof Indians,
was asionished at the late reluctance and posi-
i've failure to meet Capt. Hitchcock at the APP
gointed tine, after being notified OF his readiness
70 Pay them their annuties. The following state
ment of their conduct and situation on the late
occasl on alluded TO are from the most authentic
se."uee-it is this That notice was sent TO the
.9acs and Foxes 10 assemble at Rock Island to re-
se.ve their annuities. Two days before the time
"ppointcd the agent and paying officer were
present to exercise their du les; the day arrived,
out no Indians came. On the contrary, report
reached Rock Island that Keokuk the principal
chief, and all his village men were i'll drunken
frolic, and had been for three weeks After watt
ing an entire week beyond the time appointed for
the indians TO meet, the only news received was
confirmation of the first report that the Indians
were still drunk at their village.
The consequence was that the paying office',
Capt. Hitchcock, having other duties to perform
other Indians to pay, had to leave them Oh that oc-
casion without meeting and paying them. How
changed the disposition and condition OF those In
dams seems to be-a few, short weeks past they
were found in the strange and novel attitude of
moving BY their head men down the Mississippi OH
a steamboat 10 St. Louis, there in proper person
demanding their annuities, and urging in public
talks their demands, complaints and starving con-
dition; all of which was of course Published; now
when tho proper time and officer arrives with the
solid means to pay them, he finds them (although
Represented to be unable TO get subsistence III corr
sequence of the Government disappointing ther,,)
able 10 procure means to keep drunk ON for weeks.
Hhy could not the hand which has been SO kind as
TO furnish them wiiskey in such abundance, have
furnished them ammunition, of which they COM
planned of being in such need; or with something
to eat; if they could buy whiskey, they could buy
provisions or ammunition. The Indians may de-
serve the sympathics of all good men, but the gov
eminent is not responsible. This is about the time
that delegation was to be in readiness to 60 with
other representations from several other tribes OF
Indians to Washington city, with hope on the
part of the department to make some arrangement
with those Indians which would SO much better
their condition as to make them independent OF a
certain iunto which has madea business of follow
ing up the Indians, their treaties and annuites;
this junto has at this time strong influence over
| these indians, and the humane and liberal policy
which rte government wishes to extend to those un-
fortunate children of the forest, does not suit the
interests of those Indian speculators therefore the
unseen hand that can at this time furnish the In
dams with the means of disqualfying themselves
to receive either justice, berality or money from
the Government.
To give the above place in your next will much
oblige an OBSERVER.
THE ROSE.
1uavv n roson s,, han u. reQted