The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-08-23

TROUBLE WITH THE CHIPPEWAs.-The Madi-
son CWis.) Express gives us the following account
of transactions near the Falls Of Chippewa that
may lead 10 serious difficulties with the Indians:
You published an account recently of the hang
ing an Indian at the Falls of Chippewa without
Judge or Jury, for assault and battery with in
tent TO KILL This account was published first at
this place, and is said to be substantially correct.
But the beginning of the sequel is now to be told.
The Indians too well informed as to the white
mans mode Of dealing with criminals, to acquiesce
/ with the Lynch Law They, therefore, about 100
strong, armed to the teeth, came to the Falls and
/ demanded the murderers, to be dealt with by them
according to their laws. This was refused, when
the red men threatened to burn the place and Kill the
guiifes The latter could muster probably so or
100 men, if they had time and notice, but not more
than a dozen or twenty were in from the woods
and not as many old shotguns and rifles could be
gathered up for USE and fearing the consequence Of
resistance, the whites agreed to send the four who
hung the Indian to this place for trial and pro-
posed for the chief, with or two of his braves
and an Interpreter, 10 guard them.
To this the Indians agreed, and the chief, two
braves and an Interpreter, started in boat with
the four prisoners, and descended the Chippewa
River to its mouth, at the foot Of Lake Pepin. AT
that point the interpreter took sick-real fegned
and a steamboat happening 10 be there, the in
terpreter induced the Indians to put the prisoners
on board, in charge of the Captain, who, he said
! would deliver them to the authorities here which
| would do Just as well as if they came down them
selves. To this the Indians acoeded and returned
| home.
The Captain of course had no authority to detain
/ the murGeTers, and on arriving at this place thew
went'where they pleased but have given the fore
going account of their escape from the avengers Of
blood They bare not return to the Chippewa. but
| intend TO 60 up Black River, which is only two
days march from the Chippewa; and the proba-
bility is, that as soon as the Indians become ac
quainted with the hoax played upon them in this
| matter, that they will become exasperated. and
burn out the whites at the Falls.
The people Of Chippewa County are in a remote
and secluded part of the State 1t is said thew have
/ no law or law officers among them. Thew have
held but one election for county purposes since
their county was organized, and to save the nav
ment Of taxes have concluded TO hold no more
elections; and therefore have no magistrates To
enforce the law. Had they, instead Of hanging
the Indian as they did, arrested him and brought
him before magistrate, and had him committed
m due form Of law, the Indians Of the neighbor.
hood would have aequesced in the measure and
probably this would have been the mode of nro-
eeeding if a Justice had been at hand But re-
fusng 70 elect any officers, they of course ara
without any, and their present hazardous situation
grows out of this neglect, and may cost more lives
and property than to have supported a county gov
eminent for half century to come.
But the Iphole truth should be told Tie peonla
OF Chippewa have excuse which they urge with
more force than poetry. They say--and thus one
Of them wrote to this place as their excuse that
it is Of no use 10 send criminal TO this county for
trial because none such have eyer been convicted .
And to avoid the expense and trouble, and to pre-
vent the savage from running at large and perhaps
killing Others they deemed It necessary 10 take the
law into their own bands,