Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-05-17

aud :he Legislature Of Missouri, as | lean
from . copy Of the Message 81 The Gover-
nor Of that State passed an act to carry into
effect the sc3 Nf Congress-. bnt the Cover
moi, declined "a appyove It and returned it
with objections to is passage, and ! have
Understood Enough not officially informed
Of it) that the measure failed, 80 that the
controversy remains as it stood Before the
passage Of The act Of Congress-. Isend you
copy Of letter which I addressed to the
Governor of Missouri on the occasion Of
the discharge, Of the individuals prosecuted
in Davis county, and respectfully recon-
mend, that you take the lead in applying to
Congress to make provision for an imme-
diate legal adjustment. of the controversy.
Until it can be finally settled there will Be
constant daneerof collision between the au-
thorities Of Missouri and those Of this Ter.
ritory, and citizens holding Office under
either government win be subject totmuch
inconvsnience and possiblyto injury for the
discharge Of what they are constrained 10
consider their official duties. The Terri
torial government has no power to surren-
der the! disputed territory, if they were
disposed to do so, (which they certainly
are mott ithas been committed to us by the
General Government, and we have at all
times exercised jurisdiction oyer it; to
abandon ittherefore would be derel;ction
Of duty not only to the governments of'the
United States, but to its inhabitants; who
claim to be citizens Of this Il Territory, and
demand the protection Of its laws; some
years ago this controversy came very near
producing armed hostilities between the
State Of Missouri and this Territory. My
predecessor in Office on, that occasion, cal
led portion Of, the Militia into service to
protect our citizens resident within the dis
puted tract Of country against the exercise
Of the jurisdiction Of Missouri over them;
in doing so he acted in the discharge Of a
duty which evidently resulted from the re-
lation in which the territory stands to the
government Of the Union, but it would
seem from the repeated refusals Of Con-
gress to provide for the payment Of the Of
fcers, and men called into service on that
occasion, that the effort then made to sus-
tain the right Of the United States against
the claim Of Missouri, was not considered
as authorized, and hence, it may reason
ably be feared that our citizens would with
great reluctance perform service which
receives neither money or thanks from
those for whom it would be rendered. But
it is hoped that necessity will not again
occur for putting their patriotism to such a
test; the idea Of resort to arms between
neighbors, citizens Of the same government,
in such controversy cannot be tolerated,
but in case Of extreme necessity. ! res
pectfully submit the subject to your consi-
aeration end recop,Hend, that such meas
ures may be adopted as you may consider
best calculated to protect our citizens resi-
dent within the disputed boundary against
the necessity Of submitting to the laws Of
two distinct and Independent governments,
and of being held liable 70 be punished for
resistance TO either, and BY both for any
offence against the penal laws common to
both. j..
Our Indian neig.hbors within the Iowa
SUPPLEMENTARY, have conducted them
selves with more than ordinary propriety
during the last winter and present spring.
The Sacs and Foxes, with few exceptions
among the latter, give strong assurance Of
their intention to remove next autumn from
the western part of the lands ceded by
them to the United States, by tie treaty Of
October l842,-their removal will open
an extensive fertile and beautiful portion Of
the Territory to immediate settlement and
subject it to the laws Of the Territory. I
would. therefore respectfully recommend
that provision be made by law for attach
ing it, prospectively, to the adjacent organ
lied counties for Judicial and other purpo-
ses. . ...
In November last the government Of the
United States made q second unsuccessful
effort to. induce the Winnebago Indians to
relinquish the Neutral Ground and take up
their residence in some part Of the country
appropriated to the use Of the Indian tribes
removed BY government from within the
limits at the States. This policy Of the
Government in reference to the Indians,
however injuriously It may seem to oper-
ate in some particular instances, is for the
most part, humane and wise, and consid-
cred in reference to the present condition
and future prospects of the Winnebagoes,
is peculiarly 50. i. The large annuities paid
by government and the total insufficiency
Of the laws enacted for their production
against the avaricious feelings and demoral-
izing practices Of the whites, doom them
unless speedily relieved to become the
certain victims Of that rare for intoxica-
ting drinks, to which the indolent and If
regular habits pf the Indian race render
them peculiarly liable. They have become
perhaps The most degraded of all the west
ern tribes-they have no longer the habits
Of the Red Man, the chase is almost ,aban-
doned,. and their Council fires, if kindled
at all, seem only intended to. light UP the
Wretched scene Of their drunkenness and
debauchery. The money and PROVISIONS
furnished them BY government Would rem
der them, in i location suited tetheir habits
and remote from the poisonoiis influences
which now surround them. entirely ipde-
pendent Of any Of those casualties aifectiat
the. means d, living Of the most favored
communities, but So long as they ars sup
Piled with liqnor By the abandoned and
psoAIgate .scouhdrels engaged ~ this, hefa-
fious traffic, they will continue to diminish
in numbers. and 10 descend, ifpossible into
stili lbwef depths 81 degradation. Neither
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