The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-01-16
MINNESOTA TERRITORY THURSDAY JANUARY

Some have applied for, and had bedsteads,
made for themj and various other articles
of household convenience. Numbers OF
them are ploughinen, some plough with
their own teams; and last summer, more
than SO Indians were employed in different
labors on The agency farm.
General +. appears to have had remarka-
bic success in gradually draMiashi In
dians, to learn the arts Of labor, and to ap-
preciate the comforts Of civilization.
Every day, some Indian discovers that he
has new want that he never thought of
before, but which has been naturally sug-
gested by some previous Improvement. for
one artificial want supplied, soon begets an
other. He comes to the Agent, and applies
for aid. If it is a house he requires, the
Agent agrees TO put it up and finish it off
for him, prouided, Mr.. Indian cuts or hauls
his house logs; but at all events, it is an i'll
dispensable condition of his becoming IA
householder, that he should do his own
daubing, and they all do it, chiefs as well rs
privates, for there are no favors shown to
them, publicly or silly, which all their
bands do not share in. Does an Indian ask
a sled made for him---he knows il to be an
indispensable preliminary, that he must go
into the woods, select, chop and haul or car
ry in the "crook" for the runners; which
crook when brought, the Agent inspects,
and if pronounced good for the purpose, or
ders it made: if not fit. away the Indian
goes back again for a better one.
Thus is the principle of work inculcated
by the policy Of helping those most, who
help themselves never so little. 1t
needs but steady persistence in this poll
cy; and along with it, THAI the children o..
the tribe be taught first, the aipha6e! of Ia
Dor, and its spelling and reading also, in
stead Of receiving only literary instruction,
in the manual labor schools, which, at long
last, Government has now ordered to be es-
tablshed in more strict accordance with the
provision of the Treaty; and in the next ten
years we may anticipate witnessing an al
most miraculous improvement in the Winnie
hago nation.
The efforts to ciylize Indians, have gen.
eral!v commenced at the wrong end Blu,
educate them in the first place to supp,
their physical wants; by systematic labor,
without relying upon the precarious chase
and by rendering stealing unnecessary As
well as disreputabe, and then you may hope
they will retain your teaching of literature
morals, and religion. Success is not posi-
ble, otherwise; for experience shows, tha,
hungry belly unsatisfied makes all three
"go to the wall" even among whites, and
how could it be expected different " ith To-
dians. Lord Brougham | think, condensed
the wisdom of library. in his remark, tha:
''the belly ruled the world"
With this progressive disposition among
the Winnebagoes to work, there is ten
dency to change the dress. | hold that
nearly the greatest enemy TO civilization
among Indians, is the blanket; for as there
can be no civilization without labor, SO
there can be little work effected by men
whose two hands are both engaged holding
blankets around them TO hide their naked
ness, or protect them from the cold. Over
coats are already worn by few OF the
tribe; and on General F.'s formal sugges-
ton in Council, since | have been here,
the chiefs unanimously expressed a desire
to have a quantity of good blanket over
coats and some warm pants, IN place of so
many pairs Of blankets, IN their invoice oi
next winters goods: and the requistlou
has been sent on for them accordingly.
! Such, Mr.. Editor, roughly and hastily
but honestly expressed, are my observations
upon some of General F.'s chad proceed
ings" in this quarter Of the world.
From these results, which have wit
messed, with my own eyes and "sceing is
believiug,' they say )--it may he conceived
that saw nothing here to sustain the aIeg-
alton heard made elsewhere, and which
also once partially believed, that the Agent
chad 20 influence or control over the lndi
ans" On the contrary, think now he has
the most complete control over them, tha,
any agent could .Jesire-they respect him
and somewhat fear him; and apparently
confide most implicitly IN his integrity and
good intentions towards them. Indeed the
comfortable condition of the portion of the
tribe here around him, and the manner they
have been cared for by him, is gradually hu,
sure,v having It's effect upon the rowing
bands, end drawing more OF them 10 ner-
manently settle at tne Prairie-as may be
Judged from the fact, that since last sum-
ner, 25S souls have been added to the Indi-
an population residing at the agency, max
ing the total Of Sb4, divided into eleven
bands. If firm and judicious policy is
continued, and the scheme of making pay
ments and improvements in the Mississippi,
successfully resisted, not very long time
will eIapse ere nearly all the rowing bands
will leave the whiskey shops on the river,
aud come and settle at Long Prairie.
The Chronicle, is very unfortunate, il
appears to me, in using,th word ''despised''
in connection with General letcher's name.
He evidently don't know the man; or he
would be aware, that the General is not the
kind Of person whom people despse. can
conceive of his being sometimes feared, and
even disliked, while respected-but certain
| ly never despised.
1t may he queried why J, a Wing, and
friend Of the present administration, should
volunteer to defend a retiring Democrat
who has Just been removed from Office by
that administration. l answer; that do SO
from sense of what is right and just; and
because revolt at the ungenerosity which
seeks to justify removal from Office of a
political opponent, by permitting his repu.
tation to be injured and broken dowa, wher
have it in my power to bear witness to the
un,ruth of the allegations, made or insinua
ted against him. 1 do so, moreover, be.
cause there is plain reason for the remov-
al, one which neither General Fletcher no'
his friends nor his party, can object TO; and
| ieem it impolitic as it is unjust to assigr
any other The removal has not been made
for cause, but in pursuance of that custom
-pernicious as it not unfreGuently is, anC
aud often "more honored in the breach thai
in the observance but still, nevertheless
the custom of both pariies--of acting upon
the maxim that 'sto the yictors belong tho