The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-01-15


swef to Il, when received, we shall also publish.
And here We msy as well say. that we deem i
Of vial in,por,ancc for our Legislature. to remoa
strate Immediately, by memorial, against any
seizures Of lumber; and TO ass for speedy sur-
vey. and safe of the Chippewa pineries; and also
to ask Tor the establishment, al St. Paul. Of a
Surveyor Generals Office |
! Here is the letter Of Mr. SiLley:
HOUSE, OF REPREsEnTAriyEs,
| Washington. Dec. 10Th, 1851. s.
Hon. A. n. II. SrUARr, Secretary of
the Interior, Washington Ciy. &, ii ii
| SIN: Since arrived here, have receiv-
tcti information that an Agent of the Depart-
mcnt has been dispatched to Minnesota,
| with orders to prosecute trespnssers upon
the pine lands belonging TO the Government,
In that Territory. With the hope, and may
add, the expectation, that whea the facts
Of the case are matie known. To y0u, there
will he a modification Of the instructions to
the Agent of the Department, which will
secure the citizens Of Minnesota who are
engaged in numbering operations from mo-
lestation, have the honor to make the
following brief statement of the situation Of
affairs in that distant region. s.f
4 When the treaty was concluded with the
Chippewa tribe Of Indians in 1887, by which
the extensive country on the east bank Of
the Mississippi river, now included within
the boundaries Of the Territory OF M,nue-
sofa, was ceied to the Government, il was
expressly stated and avowed, that the OBJ
Iject in effecting the purchase at that early
day, was to open the pine lands to the en-
terprise of our citizens; that the demand
for lumber in the great valley below might
be supplied. With this understanding,
men Of industry and capital embarked in
that business, ami it has been carried on
without interruption up to the present time.
The first object of these hardy and intrepid
settlers. was the supply of the demand in
the region immediately contiguous TO the
lands in question; there being no possibility
Of immigrants being furnished with build
ing materials from any other quarter
Whatever surplus remained over and above
these acquisitions, was RATED az great labor
and expense to the towns IN the lower Mis-
sissippi, as far down as ST. Louis. This
branch of commerce has continued gradu-
ally to increase, in proportion TO the rapid
settlement of the country, and many Of the
pioneers Of our Territory have Invested their
all, in the construction of mills and other
"othS uSCCSsdt WI thc pIOsSCuttou VI tucH
business. they have done this with the
full conviction that they would not he con-
sidered by the Government as wilful tres
passers on the public domain, because the
lands had not and have not TO this day been
surveyed, and there was no possibility there
fore Of its being purchased 10y those interest
ed, who would otherwise have been glad to
pay to the government its full value.7 1t is
u fact also, that oft-repeated assurances have
been given TO the lumbermen, that, under the
peculiar circumstances OF the case, they
would not be disturbed in their ayocation,
and that they would not be regarded in the
same light with those who have been tres
psssers upon lands surveyed, and subject
to private entry. The same, or q similar
state Of things has existed, and doubtless
now exists in the Territory Of Oregon,
where the manufacture of lumber taken
from the public domain, constitutes very
large portion OF the commerce of that re-
gion. and vet so far as [ am informed, the
United States government has not even pro-
hibiied such trespass, if trespass it can he
called. The Government has certainly no
right to take advantage OF it's own negIec,
and wrong, TO prosecute its cAtzens. If the
pine region in Minnesota had been survey
ed, the lands would have been entered and
paid for long since. As they were not, and
the necessity that existed for obtaining ma
terials for building was absolute;7 the gov
eminent agents, very properly as con-
ceise, cOnnived at. or rather directly per-
mitted the settlers, to procure supply from
these public lands. Now that this has been
pursued for years, and as ! before remark
ed, many have embarked their entire means
in this branch of trade, it would be worse
than oppressive, if our government were to
lay violent hands upon the proceeds Of the
labor of a numerous class of its citizens,
and thereby virtually ruin them not only,
but entail most disastrous consequences upon
a now fourishing portion of Minnesota.
lfthe Department feels itself called upon
to change its policy in the premises, fair
warning should at least be given Of that fact,
and the whole pine region be forthwith sur
veyed and brought into market. Should
these preinninaries be attended to, am
satisfied there would he no good ground of
complaint thereafter; for beg leave 10 as
sure you, that the people engaged in the
Lumber trade in our Territory, constitute as
law abiding and respectable class of citi-
zens, as are to he found in the Union.
Having thus briefly laid before you the
facts rs they exist, in relation to the pineries
in Minnesota, have the homer to conclude
with an enireaty, that the gentleman who
has been deputized to act for the Depart
ment, may be instructed TO institute pro-
ceedings against those only, if any, who,
being citizens Of distant State, are enga-
gagged in transporting lumber from the
country without comforting any benefit up.
on the Territory, or being at all interested
in its prosperity. The U. s. government,
lSeing the sole great land holder in that re-
mote region, is directly interested 10 any
measures which will tend to increase emf
grafton, and facilitate the settlement of the
country. il encourages directly by legisla-
ton, the. influx of settlers into Utah anil
Oregon, and permits them to use timber cut
from the public lands without limit, and
the same reasons that operate in favor Of
such course in those Territories, are
equally strong when applied TO Minnesota.
! have the honor to he, ,sr fs----
- With high respect, s
Your ol,'t servant,
'ais = ~" HENRY III. SfBLEY.