The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-28
Minnesota Territory.

message of Governor RAMSAY and the
proceedings of the organization Of the two
branches of the Legislature.
In the Council, David Olmstead was
elected president thereof; Jos. R. Brown,
chief clerk; H. A. Lambert, asst clerk;
Benjamin L. Sellers, sergeant-a arms;
Robert Dummies, messenger, and Rev.
T. Boutwell,, chaplain.
In the House of Representatives, Joseph
W.. Furber was elected speaker; w. d.
Phillips, chief clerk; L. B. Waite, asst
clerk; Jesse Taylor, sergeant-at-arms; 0.
H. Kelley, messenger; and Rev. c. Ho-
bart appointed chaplain.
The message of Governor RAMSAY we
have attentively read, and are free to
award him that praise to which the en-
larged and liberal views he has taken upon
almost every subject connected with the
welfare or the prosperity of the Territory so
Justly entitle him. 1t is plain, forcible,
common-sense state paper, Astounding With
useful and patriotic suggestions, which, if
followed and carried out by the Legisla-
tive body, will lay the foundation of one
of the most prosperous and populous States
in the Northwest. Nothing but its length
and our limited space prevent us from
giving it entire; we must, therefore, con-
tent ourselves with making few short
extracts.
Upon the subject of selling liquor to the
Indians within the territorial limits, and
the great necessity that exists for its sup
preston by legal enactment, as the only
means of guarding against Indian depre-
dations of the most serious nature, Cover
nor RAMSAY says;
''In now proceeding to invite your attention to
matters at large calling for Legislative interference,
am impeed, by sense of the deep importance of
the subject, To first urge upon your earnest consid
Grafton the propriety of adopting some strin-
gent enactments TO put down the frightful and in
creAsing traffic in intoxicating liquors with the
Indians Of this Territory. When on business visit
! to Long Prairie at the Winnebago agency, on the
18th of July last, found the frontier settlers my
| route in great alarm, and some of them ON the
point of breaking up and leaving the country, with
their families, from we'll grounded apprehensions
of Indian outrages, reasonably to be anticipated
from the amount of whisky carried to that border
by bad and lawless Deeply sympathizing
with these distressed people, made a requisition,
superintendent Of Indian affairs, upon the COM
mandants Of Fort Gaines and Fort Smelling for a
military detachment to pursue these contraband
whisky traders, and if possible TO destroy, under
al, "A
Indians, that damnabe stimuIant which in savage
nature too surely provozes to murder arson, vio-
lence, and outrage. The force at Fort Gaines was
too small to lend the necessary aid; but Colonel
Loomis, thecommandant at Fort Smelling promptly
despatched Captain Monroe with detachment Of
forty men, 70 Sank Rapids, under whose energetic
management much liquor was destroyed, several
offenders arrested and handed over 10 the custody
OF the law and the peace Of the frontier preserved
The necessity of severer laws to repress the abomi
nabe traffic is daily apparent. The laws of
Congress, where they operate, sufficient TO
check the evil; bat the liquor trader cvades these
laws by locating himself ON the borders Of the In
dian country, upon the coded lands, and there,
tempting the Indian 10 follow him, carries on the
nefarious business, in defiance Of public opinion,
and in utter disregard Of those mild prohibitory
laws, which, though suited 20 the condition Of
ganized and weil-regulated society, quite pow
erless a remote and wild frontier. Laws. there
fore, allowing Of prompt, decided, severe, and
| almost summary action against those engaged in
selling liquors to the Indians on our borders, are
required 10 break up the business; and il must be
broken up, or Minnesota will be the scene Of many
tragedy, and her settlement delayed for years"
The next recommendation is the APP
pointment Of commission consisting of
three persons, to report code of laws for
the government Of the Territory, to be
submitted for the action of the Legislature
during It's present session. II appears,
that by the 18th section Of the act organ
izing the Territory of Minnesota, the laws
Of the late Territory Of Wisconsin are in
force in Minnesota; but that, from the ex-
tent and conflict of the laws from time TO
time passed in Wisconsin, and the difficulty
Of procuring copies thereof for the use Of
the various officers of the Territory, IL is
almost impossible to determine what is
their written law.
The Governor also recommends the
adoption. Of a militia system, and an early
organization under it, for the purpose of
depressing Indian difficulties, which he is
sure will constantly be arising on their ex-
tended frontier and he thinks that mount
ed men would, by all odds, be the most
efficient and economical corps for this SER
vice. In connexion with this subject he
says
| Much good, il occurs To me, could BE- done by
the General Government, in opening great mill
sry road from Fort Smelling 10 the Missouri river
and marching respectable military force over il
at least once year. II would give 10 the wild
Sioux Of the western portion Of our Territory, and
other Indians of the warlke tribes the borders in
that direction proper Of the military power
OF the whites, and do much TO preserve peace even
among tribes hostile 10 each other. There pro
badly within the territorial limits twenty five thou
| sand or more Indians, some Of them-as for in.
stance the winnebagocs-disoonte with their
| location and ready for mschief, and all Of them