The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-06-05

Ma. EpIToR AS il is expected that an
eff'rt will soon he ,na,le to purchase of The
Dakota Indians, their land west Of the Mis-
sissippi river, deelni il not Improper to say
word on this important subject. n
u is well known that many an'I serinus
difficulties with Indian i,ibes often arise out
of treaties. And why IS il. Why is there
, so much complaint against the General Gov
eminent in these matters, aud such dissaiis-
faction and even stubwrnness on the part
Of Indians " hn receive annuiiies from the
United States Why is it that il has be-
come such a general habit for Indians, old
aud young, wise and unwise, male and fie-
male, To- abuse our Government and its Off
cers-charging upon them deceit and false
hood and hatred cannot believe that it
is the purpose of our Government To employ
lis Superior wisdom and power TO hasely
cheat, anii Cypress, AMI crush the weak red
man. cannot believe that men who are
commissioned to negotiate with these help
less tribes, are instructed TO make so vile
use of their delegated powers, or that they
would 10 il if they were. Neither do be-
iieve that the Indians are so long cared and
s'uped, that they cannot comprehend the
con'lIions on which they CONSENT to trans
fer TO a foreign power the laHl whcl, their
idtucrc tUk ny tutts now utRI touidthNk
from the hands Of their enemies; nor so des-
titute of reason and honor that they will not
comply with such conditions when UNDER
stood. TheIndisn as wen as the white
man will ackn0 wledge the mutual obliga-
tons which bind the parties to a treaty.
Yet it cannot be denied that serious difficult
ties which peril the interest of the Indians
do grow out Of treaties. II we can asrcr-
tain precisely where this evil lies, an effect
ual remedy may, doubtless, he applied.
! These difficulties severalIy and naturally
grow out of misunderstanding between the
parties concerned. IL is exceedingly diff
cult TO fit the thoughts of an American into
the indians words, and vice versa. They
are nli wrong end first, and wrong side out.
How difficult il is TO do this, none under
stand but those Who attempt to do it. Com
mssinnerS make a strai ght- forward speech,
and the Indian replies in what is to him,
straight forward speech; and the interpreter
has got to interpret it then and there, and
not wait 10 consider and explain, and ask
questions, and ascertain whether he has sue
ceeded in conveying the precise idea of the
speaker or not. Under such circumstances
it is impossible that misunderstanding
should nor arise, aud even very important
ones. st
| In the year 1887, a treaty was made with
the Mde-wa kai,-ton-wan Dakotns at Wash
ins,on. The Indians coded TO the United
States their land east of the Mississippi riv-
err, on condition that the United States pay
them sum specified in the treaty. Now,
this treaty in all its provisions, was perfect
| ly understood by one OF the parties, ard sup
posed to he equally well understood by the
other party; and It is not probable that any
difficulty was anticipated in carrying out the
provisions Of the treaty. But was it so un-
derstood! deliberately answer No. The
conditions of this treaty so far, il is believ-
ed, on the part Of the United States have
been complied with in good faith, and the
Government would not wrong the indians
knowingly to the value Of a tarthing; but
does the other party believe this No.
Why this difference? Because the Indians
did not understand what the Government
engaged to do. | will specify a single in
stance which will show that there may he
such Misunderstanding as | have referred
to, and their evil consequences to the In
! dians. a -4 4-s
When the Dakotas sold their land east of
the Mississippi as already stated, the Gov
ernn,ent engage,l to pay them annually, for
ever, the SUN Of 81 900, (the interest on
Ten thousand dollars of this sum was 10
he paid in cash. SO far they uu lerstood IT,.
The remaining five thousand dollars was to
he applied for the benefit Of the Indians, un-
der the direction of the President. The
President intended this sum should he ap-
piled to their education, but the Indians, il
seems, did not understand it so. The con-
sequence has been that the money, which
hos
never been applied anywhere. Instead OF
promoting the education and civilization OF
the Indians, as intended by the Government,
il has excited against the Government and
its officers, their ll-will, and created among
them a general opposition to schools from
that day to this. II has driven children
from the mission school home, and broke up
the schools. Ii has driven men and women
, out of the houses Of christian worship on
, the Sabbath. Ii has in some instances ex.
( citeh the Indians TO use their utmost en-
deavOrs TO drive their missionaries out o
: their country. II has perhaps done more
effectually, To oppose and prevent the civil
lization Of the Dakoias, than the same
amount OF money could have been made tc
90 in any other way. rs.t .5s.i .at
: n doubt il IS 900 year in whisky, would
have so effectually opposed the operations
$ t0f the Dakota mission. Such have beer
4 the effects Of a misunderstanding in sin.
: gle instance, and they will continue to he
felt, years to como. Aside from this, the In
tdians have as a necessary consequence, in 9
{ great measure, lost their respect for the Of
, ficers Of the Government, as well as conf
dence in the Government itself--an evi
which cannot he over-estiniatetl How cal
u such evils be avoided in future! / will re
specially suggest what, il seems to me
{ would 90 far to effect cure. When AREA
Ity is entered INTO, let there lie particular
) lpalns taken To secure mutual understand
ing between the parties. In order to 4,
: this. ali the provisions Of a treaty should b,
i simple and easy Of comprehension. tn
,chole should be translated into their QUO,
y language, and rritten and read.
4 There is no necessity that treaty shollt
contain any provisions which cannot he thu
translated, and lie wnderstood By the In
dams. When this is done, then let the In
b dians affix their Names 10 The treaty in boil
e languages, and let both he printed, and III,
7. lchiefs furnished with copies. this 10 done
I the Indian win IN after years refer to ih