The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-11-12


ceipt and distribution Of the money-an
told them that when they had agreed a
mong themselves the money would b
paid them. The council adjourned il
the evening, and the chiefs and brave
who received the money last year wer
expected to have met in friendly council
next morning to arrange their dificul.ie
and receive their money. But some ar
rangements appear to have been made a
! the agency during the night, unknown
! to me, that frustrated the council to be he'll
on the morning of the 29lh, and Keokucl
through the Agent. had advised Maj. Pill
!, cher to leave the Indian country with thu
money, which he did that morning. Thi
removal of the money from the Indial
country caused great excitement and dis
satisfaction among the Indians. WheI
Maj. Pitcher left the agency he informed
me that the funds being in paper. coult
be changed for specie, and might be re
turned for payment in about three week:
! thereafter, informed the Indians Of
what Maj. Pitcher hsd told me, which
appeared for the time present to reconcile
them. But have learnt, since my return
from the Indian country, that some mis-
chievous individuals have been impress.
ing upon the minds Of the Indians the
belief that the annuity will not be paid
until spring. This was calculated to dis.
satisfy them with the government, lead to
difficulties among themselves, and en-
danger the peace of our borders.
therefore, with view to check these
evils, issued a peremp,ory order to the
Agent on the 18th of October, directing
him to Obtain the funds that had been
set apart fer the payment of the annuity
for 1910, and to pay it to the same
chiefs and braves whose names were
found to the receip, roll of last year.
This conceived to be in strict accord
ance with the order of the department.
Those chiefs and braves number about 30,
and are distributed about equally among
the dlfferen; parties and should the mo-
ney be paid to them in accordance with
my order to the Agent, and they be left
to dispose of it among themselves, with
out the interference of any of the trades,
/ have little doubt but that it will be dis
tributed among the different bands just
ly, and be paid as far as it will 90. to.
wards the liquidation of their just debts.
But should the payment, from any con-
sideration, be much longer delayed, there
is danger that the excitement produced
by its postponement will burst beyond
the bounds of restraint and the Indians
commence fighting among themselves and
thereby endanger the peace Of our from
tier. | have conceived it TO be my duty
to presen. the foregoing facts for the
information of the legislative assembly.
It is certainly our duty to look TO these
things, to be watchful of their operation
and of the movements of the Indians, so
that we may not be taken by surprise.
And while we make use of all The means
under our control to Sustain peace and
harmony among our Indian neighbors as
well as between them and our citizens,
we should be prepared to meet every
possible contingency that might endanger
the peace of our frontier. have in my
report to the Indian department, given a
detailed account of the situations Of the
Indians with full explanation Of my
views as to the cause and probable is
sue that may be produced by the excite
men, that now exists among them. The
situation of this nation, in connexicn
with the Winnebagoes who have recently
been removed 10 the tract of country
within this Territory. known as the neu.
trail ground, bordering in part on our
northern settlements, and partly on the
Sac and Fox country, should admonish
us to be on our guard and 10 depend
upon ourselves for defence in case hos
tilities should be commenced by them. In
consideration of this state Of things, |
would respectfully suggest TO the legisla-
tive assembly the expediency of authoriz-
ing by law the organization of number
of mounted volunteer r1emen, say one
company at least TO each regiment of
militia within the Territory, with authori-
ty for the commandment of any brigade
to increase the number to a battalion
within his brigade, and TO provide for call
ing them into service in case of Indian
depredations or threatened invasion. This
precautionary measure can do no harm
and may ultimately secure our frontier
from an Indian war.
The Secretary of War informed me
some time since, that the Department
had determined to establish depot OF
public arms and munitions of war at
Rock Island, to be supplied to the citizens
of the Territory under proper regulations,
should the same be wanted to enable
them to defend themselves against Ia
dian hostili,ies, but | have no, yet heard
that any have been deposited at that place
The votes given at the late general
election for and against State Conven-
ton, were agans, Convention by a
large majority.--Ihe sentiments of the
people of the Territory thus indicated
will necessarily preclude all further leg1s-
lation on the subject at the present SEES
sion. The people have, by their votes,
eynressed their preference for Territorial