The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-23
Indian Intelligence.
LA Points, LAKE SUPERIOR,
Aug. 81, lSF.
The Treaty of Fond du-Loc.


tween the Watup and Crow-wing Rivers, to the
boundary line between the Chippeways and the
Sioux Indians, which, it is understood, is de-
sired as locality for the Winebagoes.
The latter Indians are proposed to be removed
to this position for the double purpose of secur-
ing for them permanent resting place. and to
act as a barrier between the Chippeways and
Sioux, who are maintaining ga state of war;"
which has existed for several generations, and
has come to be considered the natural relation
between the two tribes. Every effort heretofore
made by government to bring about peace has
failed, and neither Of the beligerents have
proved strong enough to conquer the other. This
plan is, therefore, resorted to, in hope, from the
well-known charac er Of the Winnebagoes, Of a
successfu result
The negotiations continued until the second of
this month, at Fond-du-Lac, when treaty was
concluded for the sale Of the tract desired,
which received the signatures Of more than
sixty chiefs, head men, and warriors, of the ma
ton; and on the following day sd of August),
hAving been confirmed by Que.we-sans* (the
Boy), the hereditary principal chief of the Chip
pewsys, the council closed, and the treaty was
forwarded to Washington for ratification.
But 1t Is not destined to be ratified without op.
position. There are always those whose private
interest is, in their own estimation, paramount
TO any public good; and efforts may be expected,
from indications here, to be made at the seat of
government for its defeat. The treaty. YOU Will
discover, by the copy accompanying this letter
differs in a few particulars, which are eoually
creditable to the Indians and honorable to our
Commissioners, from any that has been conclu-
ded with an Indian tribe; and these differences
are to be made the grounds for its rejection
1t would be strange if experience was totally
lost on the Indian; and those who suppose it is.
are mistaken. 1t has taugh the Chippeway the
improperly OF a portion OF the mixed breeds
being recognized as a part oil their alien nation
during the period of rsceiv nu1tes-but at
all other times claiming and sing the rights
and privileges of citizens OF iu. United States
1t has also taught them (if nO.u. Else has)
that 1t would be more convenient Tor the Missis-
sippi bands to receive their annual payment
somewhere on the upper waters of that river,
than to De compelled to make long and laborious
Journeys to this place for the purpose. In this
treaty provision has bee msde for relieving them
In both these particulars-and, besides contain
ing these wholesome conditions, it omits the
customary clause inviting depredations on their
stipend in the form OF claims
No wonder the local traders and agents of ira
ding companies, we'll as the general fabrica-
tors OF Indian claims" should object to such
reasonable and proper form Of treaty--nor is ii
matter OF surprise that those who are citizens at
all times except at the payment, and even them
while sharing with the true Indian his capitation
allowance, exhibiting dlsdan for him which
Inc true citizen would not assume, should Join
IN the mercenary movement. Their interests are
Identical, to deprive the poor nd an of his meagre
allowance by fraud or unjustly to require him
10 travel by land and water thousand miles g, that
they may sell chem goods, when 1t would be
equally convenient to have tn delivery within
reasonable distance of their homes.
The American people have but limited infor-
mation OF the manner In which nearly every In.
al IAN ham nfxyh ..ck .,oI..
ded, has been grossly outraged, by what, at first
sight, would appear TO be fair provision for the
settlement OF claims. And If none but bona fde
claims were allowed by those who are appointed
TO adjudicate, there could be no objection TO such
treaty provision. 1t would be just and honora-
BILE, But, when fraudulent claimant can be
readily and ehectually sustained by the admis-
slOns of some vagabond Indian, hired for the
purpose, who testiiies 10 the correctness of bill
OF particulars, exceeding without limit, any true
claim that msy exist or, as innumerable cases
prove, when by slmil means, claims are tabri-
Gated from whole cloth and, many times inno-
ceGtly allowed by the COMM IS on it is time that
stop was put by government to such facilities
Tor defraudIng those who, of all people, are most
entitled to protection.
The traders and agents here, have by some
means, obtained copy of the treaty, and
through that we are enabled to furnish you with
It. They prevailed Oh the Indian Superinten-
dent now here, Mr. Richmond, through some Of
the Indians, on whom the could ope rate to old
talk on the subject of the treaty, Saturday the
2lst Inst, at the council room (Sub agents Of
hce,) where those who had been melted to
oppose It,, expressed their objections. This oc-
CURED before our arrival, and we are unable to
speak OF 1t, except by report, by which we
learn that the rnalcontents were made to object,
not TO anything the treaty contained, nor omit.
ted TO contain, but that II was approved of and
signed by more persons than was necessary, and
that among them were several half breeds. No
speeches were made in favor OF the treaty
Alter this protest was passed around for sig
nature, demonstrating against depriving mixed
breeds OF their citizenship, and the removal of
chi dren from their parents. We had an oppor-
tunlty to perusc this document, as it lay on the
desk OF the American Fur Company's office for
signature and was pretty well signed, or pur-
ported to be signed, by the wives and chill
dren OF the traders and company's agents and
clerks. Among the signatures, was one purpor-
ing to be that of Il ucklng infant, named Borup;
and more than half, We were credibly informed,
were the names Of children.
On Monday, 23j, another talk was held on
the same subject at that we were present, and
purpose to make II the subject OF a letter. by CIV
Ing some OF the speeches from the notes taken
To many OF us IL was highly interesting, as the
first genuine Indian council we had ever wit
messed. Its spirit was decidedly IN favor of the
Treaty OF Fond du Las--but one speaker OPP
posed 1t, and he but family. |. may be truly as
serted, that there never was treaty more gem
orally and heartily approved by the tribe who
made 1t, than thnt negotiated by Messrs. Yer
planck and Rice.
In giving the names of the sgners of the
treaty, we have furnished an English transla-
ton where 1t could be obtained. RNABE
Que is the Of Bug Ike shig (Hols in
the Day, as he Familiarity known, who died some
time last spring. and this being the hrst official OF
the young chief with the government he assumes his
fathers name In siguiu: the treaty.
THE TREATY.
Articles of treaty made and concluded at the Fond
du Lac of Lake SUPERIOR the second day Of August
in the year thousand eight huudrt and forty
between the United states by their Commissioners Isaac
A 'erpanck and Henry NJ Rice and the Chippeway
Indians OF the Mississippi and Lake Superior, by the
Chiefs and head men
Arr l. 1t is agreed that the peace and friendship
which exis between the people of the United States
ana the Chippeway Indiana. shall be perpetual.