The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-04-10
ST PAUL MINNESOTA TERRITORY THURSDAY

Ger under The existing system, and willis,
the grade of service is elevated in its duties
and its rank both legally and intellectually
TO the highest degree.
The second section is as follows:
find be 1t further enacted, Tlsat hereaf-
ter all Indian treaties shall be negotiated by
such officers and agents Of the Indian De-
partrnent as the President of the United
States may designate for that purpose, and
no officer or agent so employed shall re-
ceive any additional compensation for such
service.
Mr.. Sibley (in,erposins) here asked a
question IN reference to the salary of the
Governor Of Minnesota, understood TO I've n
desire 20 know how the deficiency in the
salary of the Governor was proposed TO
be supplied.
Nj, Johnson. will state that Govern
or Ramsey has connection er oticio with
the Indian Department--as have all the
Governors Of our Territories under existing
laws--and he receives 900 salary over
and above his salary as Governor, for ser,i-
ces which he thus renders rs er oDicio su
periutendent Of Indian Affairs. In conse-
quence Of the extraordinary efficiency and
value of the services Of this particular gen.
tleman, it is proposed in this reorganization
not to strike him out, until such time as in
the discretion OF the Executive it may he
deemed unnecessary to retain him any lon
ger, and the section then authorizes the
Executive to dispense with his services
As to the question how to supply ihe def
cheney that will be thus created ia the sala-
nv of the Governor, it is something with
which the Committee and Bureau of Indian
Affairs have nothing to do. 1t is presume
be that the salary Of the Governor is suffi7
cient. Ifit is not so, then it is a matter
for Congress and other departments 10 con-
slider.
MIR. Sibey said he had listened with at
ten,ion to the reading of ths amendment
which contemplated a reorganization of
the Indian Department; and without ex-
pressing an opinion Us to the necessity Of an
increase in the clerical force of the office
here, of which he could know nothing. AT
ter the lucid and powerful exposition by
the Chairman of The Committee on Indian
Affairs, of the importance of remodelins
the system upon which an intercourse with
the Indian tribes is based, he (Mr. 81
should not think it proper for him to con-
sume the time of the House at this late
period Of the session, but that he had been
requested, hy some of the members present.
to give his views upon the subject, connec-
ted as i, is also with the immediate interests
Of many of his own constituents. Ii was a
fact that the magnitude of the public bisi-
ness cOnfided to the Indian Office had no,
been sufficiently appreciated by Congress,
or 10y the country at large. Important ns
had formerly been these operations, they
bad become vastly more so since the terri
torial acquisitions of Oregon, California
and New Mexico, which had brought with
in our jurisdiction large number of savage
tribes, and, as necessary consequence, an
accumulated amount OF perplexity and la
Dor in their management. The apprOpr:a-
zion bills would show that the expenditures
of this branch Of The public service arecon
stantly increasing; and with this increase is
involved corresponding weight of respon-
sihility upon those who are intrusted with
the disbursement of these large suns of
money. He was pleased to perceive, that
the amendment provided for the substiiu-
ton of full agents for sub-agents, with an
augmentation of salary. The small pay
heretofore allowed to this class of officers
had been entirely insufficient for the de-
cent support of themselves and families,
while there were devolved upon them all
the duties and responsibility If full agent.
The amendment should in his judgment,
contain provision for still larger increase
in the salary Of Interpreters, $50 as TO place
them on an equality, in that respect, with
sub agents under the existing SYSTEM
The post Of interpreter being most deli
cate and important one, should be filed by
men of character and intelligence, receiv-
ing an adequate remuneration for their SER
vices, instead Of the miserable pittance now
doled out to such officers. The sole com
muncatiOn between the Government and
the Indians must necessarily he through the
medium of interpreters, and upon the prop
er discharge OF their duty will often depend
the continuance Of peace on the frontier.
1t was incumbent upon the Government
therefore, to select men who, by education
and Ohter mplishments, were fitted for
that station Much Of the bad feeling en-
gendered, in connection with treaties, in
the minds of the Indians, resulted from the
employment of interpreters not qualified to
perform their duties understandingly.
MIR. Johnson (Mr. Sihley yielling) de-
sired the gentleman from Minnesota sto
give him the floor for q moment. He mere
ly wished to say that he had no idea that
his time had so nearly elapsed when the
hammer fell, and had i'm consequence not
said all be intended. He would add that
by the reorganization of this bureau, whilst
the expenses are not increased the amount
of the Government patronage is decreased
so that the number Of officers, The amount
f Executive patronage, and the contingent
expenses, were all curtailed, whilst real
and substantial benefits were offered. -
1 he proposal, therefore, embodied not
merely a reorganization of the Indian bu-
reau, hut most economical reform. He
(Mr. }. hoped that it would commend it,
self in every way to the support Of the COM
n,itiee.
MIR. Sible, (in coniinua,ion) said that the
section providing for the appointment Of
commissioners TO negotiate treaties with the
Indian tribes hereafter, from the officers or
agents of the Indian Department alone, was
a wise one and free from objection. IL had
too often been the case, that men were sent
out to make treaties with the western tribes
who knew little about the Indians, and cared
less. The object Of such persons was to
procure, iy any means, the signature of the
chiefs to a paper; and then to Claim much
credit for having deceived and betrayed the
poor savsges, taking very good care mean
while to pocket the pay and emoluments Of
the office. These things done, no further
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