The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-01


The mississippi, whose origin and progress Of
discovery have now been examined, runs through
the Minnesota Territory, dividing it into very une-
quail parts. On It's left, east banks, extending 10
Lake Superior, and the western boundary of Wis
consn, it has the balance of the old Northwest
Territory, which has yielded her prescribed FIVE
SrArEs-namely, Ohio, Indiana, illinois, Michi-
gan, and Wisconsin. This fragment of the public
domain embraces about $1,000 square miles
On its right or west banks, extending to the Mis-
souri,, it has the remainder of Upper Louisiana,
east--a region of about $50 600 square miles. Both
these tracts have strip or belt of sphagnous and
on the North, embracing the ltasca summit, with
its lnnumerable lakes and sand-hills. For this
northern belt, which possesses many of the peculiar
attractions for Indians who are living in the hunter
state-such as wild rice, game, and the small furred
anlmas-and which embraces the country north
west of Lake Superior, we may, perhaps, deduct
one-haf of the entire area, leaving, as the theatre
OF northern agriculture, one hundred thousand
square miles. This would make two large States.
as the ultimate geographical result north of Iowa
and Wisconsin with large territory on the bound.
ary The line dividing these States, north and
south, should be dictated by the proper separation
of the country leaving one State to face on the
Missouri, and the other on the Mississippi
Of the residuary territory, are less intimately
acquainted with its capacities for settlement on lis
western borders, such as the region of the Che
yenne and Devil lake but there can be no question
that by far the larger portions of its northern and
eastern attitudes are condemned to barrenness and
sterity; such is the region about the old Grand Por
tage, Rainy lake, &c.
The policy to be pursued with regard to the Min
esota Territory is to extinguish the Indian title to
such portion of it as is demanded for settlement: To
clear 1t of its Indian population, at the earliest pos
sible moment; and to provide at the same time for
the removal Of the tribes to separate territory,
where they may, agreeabiy to our system, enjoy
their own laws. This policy has, it is conceived,
been violated by the transfer of the Winn.b agoes
from the neutral ground, in Iowa, to the west banks
of the Mississippi, between the Watab and the
Des Co'beau rivers. The Indian Office, which acted
on this subject prior to 4th March, l849, was un-
doubleday misled. The Chippewas sold this fine
tract without ever having occupied it, except as
hunting grounds 1t was portion Of the wide
space of country over which that widely-spread
tribe roved, and went to war against the Sioux. II
was awarded to them in the adjustment of their
boundaries at the treaty of Prairie du Chen, in
1925; but they never had village upon it; the con-
sequence was, that they readily parted with it.,
when urged by Mr.. Verplanck, in 1885, But this
tribe, who adhered tenaciousy to their lands east
Of the Mississippi and aboue the line Of the Des Cor
beau, could not, as we could foresee that in very
few years their enemies, the Sioux, must retire west
from the whole line of the Mississippi, and give
place to the white population.
There can be no doubt that this fine tract of coun-
try, SO acquired, will in few years be occupied,
township by township, by our people, up to the
Des Corbeau, or Crow Wing river. Fort Gaines,
which protects it, is but six miles below the latter
on the west banks Its occupation by an Indian
tribe would have been the less excusable If we
could Aatter ourselves that the department had not
been msled by traders who had no higher view
than to bring the Winnebagoes from the neutral
ground in Iowa, where they were undoubtedly de-
teriorating and becoming poor subjects of profta-
BILE commerce, into a new country, where they
must, for time, recruit in their affairs; where, in
the mean time, they would serve as a barrier be-
tween the Sioux and Chippewas; and where at least
the expenses of ONE trading house, instead of two
would serve them and the Chppewas together.
But how are the Winnebagoes to flourish on land
where they will soon be within the jurisdiction Of
State, and where they cannot permanently re-
main? We shall examine some other points OF pol
icy connected with the settlement of this young
and valuable territory. ALGON.
N. B. The time that elapsed from the first dis
covery of the mouth Of the Mississippi by the
Spanish in 1927, to the discovery Of its actual
source in Itascaak in 1882, as stated in No S, bu,
msprinied, is 305 years, and NOT $685. Same
number, correct "St." TO Lieut. Allen.