Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-09
COMMUNICATION.
CHIPPEWA TREATIES.

MEssRs. EDIroRs Will you allow me- through the CO.
umns Of your valuable paper call the attention of the pub
lie and Of the Government to exceedingly geyous in
which the character of the country the claims of humanity
and rights OF helpless and dependant ncghbors all deeply
involved
The public are already apprzed that endeavos have been
made, by orders Of the Government make treaty with the
Chippewa Indians for the cesson the lands thew have long
lived upon, and that those endeayors were the
Grand Council OF the Tribe having almost not quite una-
imousy rejected the offers of the Government
The public likewise that the Government became
still more anxious for the possession of the lands question:
in order to accommodate the Winnebagoes with whom
treaty had been concluded whereby the latter ceded their lands
to the United States upon condition Of receiving lands in
lieu thereof To fulfil that condition it particularly desi
rable that the Chippewa lands should be obtained.
To effect this object il appears that efforts made to
enter into negotiations with the distinguished Chippewa Chief
and most influential opponents to the tribe parting with their
lands but who, after attending the Grand Council and the
annual payment at La Pone and there losing his dozed
daughter, had abandoned himself liquor and became
perfect so SOBER With this fallen chief agents
succeeded length in making treaty." whereby the said
chief assumed to cede the United States territory COM
psng about sixty miles square the finest lands the Mis-
| sissippi river.
AS the fact ascertained the other chiefs of the
/
theday only preserved for lime by vglant guard kept
around his lodge He soon, however, fell victimwheher
to their vengeance to his mpudence uncertain He
sleeps with his athershs grave the land Of the Chip
pewas He is but distinguished one-of race that
is apparently doomed. Evil must needs come but wo
unto him by whom it cometh,' is all we are allowed to
know Of such dispensatons
The treaty thus concluded with the unfortunate chief was
submitted the Government for ratification. The other
shA
test against its ratification, and against the injustice thus
tempted beimposed upon them The interests the par
cuar clan of which chief were alone
consulted in the contract the interests Of all the the
Chippewa tribe being neither consulted in the premises
they equed for the lands which they had equal claim to-
and which, according to all their usages could be disposed
of except by consent of general council.
The disposition of the United States Government to deal
fairly with the Red Man. within the territory of WHICH said
Government has taken parental CHARGE evnced on this
appeal Instead of rang said treaty of cesson they APP
pointed Commissioners to proceed the extremity of Lake
Superior, Grand Council of the Chippewa Tribe
inquire into the facts the case and they could conclude
valid and satisfactory treaty for the cesson of the Chippewa
lands This course was recommended alike by the whole
some old adage that honesty the best policy all cases.
and by that prudent precauon which suggested by the
mediate proximity of the Chppewas jealous neighbor OF
the United States towards whom they by no means dsa
feced The President doubt disposed have fair
treaty made with the Indians to have them paid fair value
for their lands and to hold strict regard justice towards
weak and dependant people, who taught continually to
look to the President of the United their Father
and who usually style him. Such a position has its
weighty responsibilities, and doubt the President feels
them.
How much depends upon the qualifications of the persons
entrusted with such commission is referred to above
Without presuming impute intentional injustice to the
Commissioners, may seriously lament that this occa-
sion familiar with the Indian character had not
been selected by the President associated with those who
were selected for those duties
But to the treaty. The Commissioners met the chiefs
of the Chppewas in Grand Council. They proposed and
earnestly urged their terms the behalf of our Government for
their acceptance Every argument and every influence was
exhausted in open council in vain The Indians evidenced
their dsappobaon of the terms urgently them
by rising in body and leaving the council-room.
Without stopping here the Eberafy of the sum
offered to them by the understood
to have been thirty thousand dollars for sixty miles square Of
the richest Mississippi land, with the addition of one
thousand dollars annually for forty years. to be divided
among large band of ndans-e look to its manner for
it not the terms Of the treaty, but with the manner of effect
ing the treaty, that most concened-a which,
alas has too sadly characterized of proceedings in
relation to this unfortunate of people, and which fraueht
with all those just for dsaecton that have given &C.
caon than to entail upon land the horrors and
expense of long and bloody Indian wars
There is 10 believe that the prominent methods
sorted TO for cecng instrument designed be called
treaty. will in this instance be asceaned and amply anthem
caed in time prevent its consummaton either APP
proval Of the President the ratification of the Senate
II is difficult what motives could have operated
upon the Interpreter to whom the Commissioners were obg-
ed in to entrust their CHARGE in resong the
pedents which is said he boasts of having used in or
der obtain the assent Of the Indians treaty which in
open council they had emphacaly repudiated Secret
nightly convokings resorted TO- and all the other appl
found requisite in such The treaty. is said
not read aloud by the Commissioners in the English lam
guage whereby its provisions might have been fairly under
stood and interpreted by Others but read by the In
teprete in the Indian language from copy which he held
his hand, and in which promises which the
official copy does contain. Not only the Indians
deceived by false promises but threats used, such
that of depvng them Of their annuites under existing
tes) and of expcng them the point of the bayone
from the lands they occupy II is believed that will
be established by documents which will be transmitted the
Department at Washington that many of the attached
TO the instrument signed such irregular meetings, and
under the influence Of such promises and such threats
above alluded TO.
of IN MIA tho