The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-08-07
.JuIv %. 1851.


Ttpiy 10 our pTOpOSitIOu suDtnttteu III WIFI
ing TO them Yesterday. "i
After some hesitation as to which chiel
would take the lead,
E-yang- -ma-nee or "He whose walk is
like running" generally known among
whites as "The Big Gun," head chief Of
the Wah-pay-twans, arose, stepped forward
to the Commissioners and placed in. the
hands Of Col. Lea paper containing the
terms upon which they would agree to sell.
"The Big Gun" then said-Fathers:
desire that those young men around may
live long to tell what ! now say. We wish
you to do as is written in this paper and
therefore | have spoken. es1
Cot. Lea:--l am glad you have come to
the wise conclusion of making US an offer
TO sell your lands. We will look it over ;
and as soon rs we can draw up the neces-
sary documents, we will meet again TO com
plete our work, and sign the treaty. We
will have our goods and medals ready for
those who attend on that occasion, aud who
behave WELL
Coz. Ramsey:-Your Great Father has
proposed this treaty we are about to COM
plete, because he is your friend. Those
who participate in it will he sustained by
him. At any moment he can have soldiers
without number here for the protection OF
his friends here.
Council adjourned.
July 23d, 1851.
This is the day, fixed by the Grand Coun-
Gil at which the treaty is to lie signed. -
Clouds cover the horizon, and the sun has
n struggle to unveil his face, to see what is
going on. The Indians, it is said, have
been in Council the whole night, upon the
upper terrace; and messengers between
them and our camp, have been going to and
fro continually. The proposition made by
the Indians yesterday, fails to secure the en-
tire appreciation of the COMMISSIONERS
he resolve of Col. Lea and Gov. Ramsey
both, unreservedly stated, is to make treaty
simple in Its provisions, but which shall
comprehend more extensively than Indian
treaties have usually done, civilization and
improvement features, that will secure to
the Indians substantial and enduring bene-
fits in all time to come. Finally, | under
stand, things are satisfactorily tius,ed, and
the Secretary is now engrossing the treaty
for signature. Everybody is busy. The
Indians are gathering around male and fe-
mule, all in high paint and feather. The
corner in which the event is to take place,
is being piled up with goods and presents of
various kinds-here a huge pile of various
colored blankets, there red and blue cloths,
looking glasses and ribbons, powder and
lead, and hundreds of other items of utility
or fancy.
AT IL o'clock, the weather having cleared
and the sun shining brightly, the Commits
sicners took their seats and after a grand
smoke from Col. Lea's magnificent Eya7l-
shah pipe, the Council was opened by
Col. Lea, who said Chiefs, Headmen
and Brothers Our anxiety TO
make treaty with you satisfactory to your
selves, has induced US, after much reflec-
ton, to agree to nearly your own terms
We have accordingly prepared a paper TO
be signed by you and ourselves, containing
the provisions which you have asked US to
consent to. Nothing but our kind feelings
towards the Sioux, could have induced US
to agree to treaty so favorable to tbem.- -
No Indians under the same circumstances,
have ever had a more favorable treaty from
the Government. We hope when we make
IT known to their Great Father, he will be
content with it; though we have agreed to
pay you more than he expected We will
now have IT read to you aud we hope
there will be no difficulty hereafter in con-
sequence of any one not understanding fully
what is done here to-day. And to prevent
| q,
the treaty after being read in English, will
be read by written translation in Dakota.
The English copy of the treaty was no:y
read aloud hy the Secretary of the Com
mission, and then immediately afterwards
the Rev. S. X. Riggs, the Missionary of tie
A. B. c. F. Missions, at Lac-qui- parle,
and the author of the Dakota Lexicon. who
was acting as one of the Interpreters of the
Commission, read the translation in Dako-
ia. Those who are acquainted with both
languages say, that the translation was full
and clear; and one thing that has been said
of other treaties can never be alleged of
this One--that the Indians were not made to
understand it fully, clearly, completely, be-
fore signing It.
| The reading finished, there was short
pause when Gov. Ramsey announced that
the Commissioners would now proceed to
sign the treaty in duplicate, and that imme-
diately afterward, the chiefs and headinen
would step forward to the table before the
Commissioners, and affix their signatures.
Col. Lea then signed the treaty and af-
ter him Gov. Ramsey.
| When the Indians were called to come
forward, that foolish old fellow
Esh-ta-hum-ba, or Sleepy Eyes. showed
a disposition no make II speech, and arose
Tor mat purpose; but rs he was rambling on
not at all to the purpose,
Col. Lea reminded him that the Council
was assembled for business, nor for talk, for
which there had already been sufficient time
before; hut they would hear him briefly.
Sleepy yEyes:-Fathers, think it will he
very difficult when the year comes to be
white, for your children to live without
some beef; and we would be thankful if
our Great Father could furnish US at that
time with some provisions. We will be
very hungry. In the treaty we are making
we have had mercy on our friends and our
relatives; and we are glad it is SO. Our
young men thought they should have had
more for our land, (naming sum which
has escaped the reporters recoIlection.)
Col. Lea:-We have given you treaty
such as you said to US you wanted and in
II agree 10 pay you more than Sleepy Eyes
has mentioned. | supposed so old chief
rs Sleepy Eyes, who has moreover been to
Washington, would have understood better
what we are paying, especially after having
had it explained to him SO fully. We are