The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-02-13
NO. XLIII.

breasts. Though rot prone to the dark
rites Of superstition. and perhaps rather
skeptical than otherwise Of the rhapsc-
dies and incantations Of the soothsayer
and juggler, still to the augaries Of his
medicine man, prophet of marvels and
mysteries, the untutored Dacotah in
clines. rather than to the pure precepts
and elevating instructions of the fol-
lowers of the ''Prince Of Peace"
The facility and frequency with which
the Sioux pass in their canoes to The
east side ofthe Mississippi, where places
for vending liquor have so much in
creased within twelve months, furnishes
occasion for deep solicitudc, and pre-
sents practical evil for the remedy Of
the department Ardent spirits have
been the bane Of the race, and though
the healthy public sentiment of this COM
munity indignantly rcprobatcs that C.
bominable traffic, which more perhaps
than any other agency has contributed
to the declension and deterioration Of
the Indian, still in all communities will
be found sordid wretches sufficiently
depraved to attempt for filthy lucre TO
elude the laws hich prohibit their sale.
l am happy to state, that in aid of the
judicious and wholesome statutes Of the
United States upon this subject, the
Legislature Of the Territory of Mime
sofa have passed stringent penal enact
ments for the suppression Of this cor
rupting traffic.
Owing to the high waters in all our
northern rivers, the corn crop of tho
Sioux, for the present year, has been to
a great extent cut off; but the consent
of the department to the diversion from
the accumulated farm fund Of FIVE thou
sand dollars, to be expended for pros
visions, will relieve them from the dis
tress which, otherwise, the inundation
Of their fields would have occasioDed.
The high stage of water during the
past season in the St. Peters, or Mime
sofa river, has led to frequent explora-
tions Of its vailey--truly the garden Of
the Northwest-and satisfactory test has
been had of safe and convenient naviga-
tfon for comfortable class Of stea,n-
boats for 900 miles from lis confluence
with the Mississippi, In view Of the
contemplated treaty with the Sioux, the
question of acquisition by the govern
ment of the United States of portion
of this country must soon pass sub judice;
opening, by the extinction Of the Indian
title, new theatre for the great drama
of western civilization.
Urgent reasons for a purchase may
be found in the advance Of our cultivat.
ed border. in the civilization which 10
pressing upon and impending over this
valley, in maxims Of natural law, from
which civilized man deduces the duty Of
reclaiming and cult;yating the Garth, as
well as in jealous regard for the best
interests of the Indian, and tender eau
lion for his welfare. Should the Sioux
,cquiesce in some proper conventional
arrangement for cession Of their pos
interests, as no pillars Of Hercu-
leg stay the flowing tide of Anglo-Amer-
can inundation, it may fairly be pre-
,umed that the luxuriant soi;tudes, re-
posing in the valley of the St. Peters,
which have slumbered unproductivc
since the creation, will soon be gained
70 the dominion of the plough and the
sickle, and smiling villages rise, like
an exhalation, by its shores.
In July last had an interesting inter-
view with numerous party of Y ankton,
,of the North, or plains, from the other
side Of the great Cofeau--the first ofthat
distant and warlike band who have ever
visited St. Paul. The ostensible object Of
heir journey was to lay claim to the
country, which they had un-
ierstood was TO be sold to the United
States. The country that these people
nhabit is almost one entire plain. un-
covered with timber; it is extremely
level, the soil fertile, and generally we'll
watered. Lewis and Clarke, in the re-
port of their expedition, describe tbi.
band rs Growing from the heads Of the
river ST. Peters and Red river of the
about the Great Bend" They
estimate the number of their lodges at
eighty, warriors five hundred, and pop
ulation sixteen hundred.
In June, IS49, party Of sixteen
Wahpacooia Sioux, led by their young
chief, were murdered while occupied in-
hunting upon their own lands. Since
The occurrence, have made every effort
10 obtain correct information rs to tho
ofthc outrage. From Brevet
Major Woods. recently detailed to re-
move the Sacs and Foxes from Iowa
who, at my request. gave the subject
some attention. have received inform
alton which leads me to think that the Of
lenders belonged to that tribe who have
ong been known, an ancient enemy Of the
Sioux. In a letter, dated the Odd of Sept
ast, | communicated to the department
hc intelligence in my possession; and for
at that time stated, l here take
occasion to renew the request then pre-
erred, that the sum Of sixteen thousand
IeIIars be retained from the Sac and
Fox annuities, to be distributed among
he Wahpacootas, TO whom, as they are
poor, and receive no annui-
les frcm government, the tribute would
,e very opportune.
With other tribes the intercourse of
he Sioux during the past year has been
- ~ L,, noxc~,l ,oov, a