The New York herald., 1851-07-15
Treaty with the siour Indians.

IRON the ST Paul (Mnnesois) Democrat. July
We have just returned from a trip to the Sioux
treaty ground at Traverse des Sioux.
The steamer Excelsior arrived at 1t. Paul on
Saturday morning last, having on board Colonel
Luke Lea, the Commissioner Of Indian Afairs,who
visits the territory for the purpose OF making
treaty Tor the Minnesota Sioux lauds. The EX-
celsor chartered 70 take the goods, provisions,
and beef cattle for the treaty 70 Traverse des Sioux
'Op Saturday afternoon she went up 10 Mendoza.
soc there received iftyf five head ofbeef cattle, a
eonsidegaSie duAhsi.y Of p.9ysions, blankets, &c,
and the next morning, about five o'clock,
started Up the Minnesota river, arriving at lfa-
verse des Sioux, az seven o'clock Monday morning
she laid up Sunday night, some ten Or twelve miles
below that point
The commission cor-sists of-Col. Luke Lea aud
Gsy Ramsey; S9Inm.s,,oqfIs r Foste[, 'eSS
believe) Hugh Tyler, Efq commis.ary and
Eessr, Odell and Brown, assistants. These gen
tlemen. the Hon. II. II. Sibley. aud some o, hers
connected with the Sioux trade, with heir enpy'S,
ard few persons in search Of Information CT
amusement, were all the passengers that enjoyed
this tfp, which, notwithstanding the disagfetaoie
weather of sunday and Monday mornings, was a
rich treat 70 all on board.
The commissioner were not expected 50 soon, o.
Eve or six days, at Traverse des sioux. ne Dahd
cf that place only was there. The mis- ionaIles
and most intelligent Indians were Of opinion tnat
the upper bands would not assemble thre IN ieS
fhan liz AID perhaps not before ten days. - that
A will be az least two weeks bcfor treaty ca De
concluded with that portion OF tue sioux !. s-'
The sioux 70 be treated with at this point receiv.
ra aasvitisS. Thev are Of tie widest bands Of
chat tribe, and wretchedly poor. Starvation among
them is not uncommon There will oe' no diihcHlty
in procuring their consent FOR the transfer OF their
lands 10 Toe government 20 FAR us the Indians are
concerned. 4" the treaty Il farce. The real par
ties treating with the United states are the traders
The treaty IL not already made, viii DC concludes 4
very luie'ly between the commissioner and the
lion n n Sibley The Indians wall then ratiiy
IL I, il very natural that the traders should nave
more influence over the Indians than any other
..sf,, for hev oil
life, their guns and ammunition, and purchase ol
them their furs But our whole Indian system ls
n,fstske-s bumbug-and based on false esuha'
ston al the Indian character.
The county proposed to be purchased from the
SIOUX embraces all the lands wstered by the tribu-
tarics Of the Mississippi, and extending two nun
dred miles west Of that river me SIOUX
lots Of dollars. Ii is Of the utmost importance "
the prosperity Of this territory that these snds p
open TO settlement at the earliest day possible. ~
viii be better 10 pay q large sum tor the country
than longer delay its purchase.
II n the purpose Of the commission TO treat WIZ
the annuity Sieux al Little SKIS Village, on tne
Minnesota river, some twenty-five miles above It's
mouth. This second treaty will take place imme.
disteiy after the conclusion Of that Of Traverse de'
SIOUX.
The waters have been higher on this river and
,xributares during the present season. than at any
time during the memory OF the oldest traderl OF
Indisns-some eight nine feet higher than the
highest water Of last year. Az this time all the
bottom ltnob hiODk tfei alV
eo,u crops at all the Indian villages have been de
sroyed-drowped out. The river has fallen lou
or 6ve feet. r-,.,-
Al Il o'clock on Monday morning the Excelso
s,a,ted dovn the river, and arrived at st. Paul az
o'cIoek the same evening -dstau e, 10 miles. Sh
came down in 6ne style OF those who went up,
fec saiy returned They we're exceeding q raias y,
si,b Tie trip PIE ssed with the beat and s &C. ,l'
uanly officers. and delighted with The valley Of IN
rIknnesota river, which is unnyslled Ia beauty
s,rtil,ty b. sny portion Of the West