The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-08-07


FOR VICE PRESIDENT
WILLIAM 4. GRAHAM,
OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The North-western lndians---Past, Present and
Future.
A great change is about to to take place
in the condition of large proportion Of
the most powerful nation of Indians Of
the Northwest, residing entirely within
the borders OF the United States. We,
of course, allude TO the Dakotas. Large
and powerful bands, or we may say fed
eral divisions, of these rude savages of
the plain and wood, are now about TO as
sumo more intimate connection with the
government than has heretofore been al
lotted them. The Sissetonwans, the
Warpetonwans and the Warpekutees have
never, until now, been participants in the
bountiful annuities which the United
States annually distributes to those of her
red children of whom she has, from time
TO time, acquired her national domain
while by the treaty of MENDOZA, the Mde-
wakantonwans have their annuities large
ly increased over the trifling stipend Of
fifteen or twenty thousand dollars, paid
them annually since 1887, for the lands
which now constitute the older settled
portions of Minnesota. BY recent ad-
vices from Washington, there is scarcely
a doubt that Congress will, before its adj
journment, appropriate the sums neces-
sary to make the first payment under the
treaties of Traverse DIES Sioux and Men
dota. If this be done, the payment, in
volving the disbursement of about $780,
600 in money, and considerable in goods
and provisions, will, in all probability, be
made the coming fall. Of this immense
sum, the Indians have already stipulated
that 100000 and upwards shall go to
the payment of the debts due their ira
ders. This, of course, let it fall into
whose hands it may, will mostly 60 ont of
Minnesota as it comes-in boxes, leaving
no beneficial effect of its brief advent
among us behind. The remainder will
mostly goto pay debts contracted since the
treaties were negotiated, or will be taken
care of, as per stipulation, by the officers
OF the department, to dcfray the expenses
of removal. 1t will thus be seen, that
unless Congress provides for the disburse-
ment, at the same time, of the amount
contemplated hy resolution recently in
troduced for the purchase of the Hall
breed tract, the g Sioux money" of this
year, large as the amount is, does not
promise to extend itself widely into the
various channels of business. We do not
mention this fact in any censorious or
complaining spirit-'leeming it, as we do,
but right and just that the traders should
be paid what is due them to the last cent
but merely refer to it as a matter of in
terest to our business men, and by wa,
of cautioning then not to rely too greatly
upon that source for brisk fall and win
ter trade.
But in future years, the effect of the
disbursement of these large annuities
which fall to the Dakotas under the recen,
treaties, will be different. Their trade
heretofore has been almost solely con-
trolled by one heavy firm. Those pecunia-
rlly interested in opposing the members
Of this firm, and political demagogues.
have called it monopoly. 1t is not me-
cessary for us to enquire, in this place,
whether the accusation be true or false.
oufhce it to say, admitting the full force
Of the charge for present purposes, it has
been monopoly which has saved hundreds
OF the Indians from that inevitable des-
truction which is ever the fruit of in
discriminate competition in the Indian
trade. The great destroyer of the race,
WHISKY, has never passed the portals of
the Indian country through trading posi-
connected with the house of Pierre
Chouteau & Go. On the contrary, the
men connected with the trade have ever
been the most vigilant in preventing the
spread of this curse among the Indians
and have also labored increasingly to
ameliorate their temporal condition in
o'ner respects. Particularly is credit
due to Hon. Henry H. Sibley, and those
Immediately in his employ and receiving
their outfits through him, for their humane
exertions to benefit the condition Of the
Dakotas. 1t is not to be expected, how.
ever, that hereafter things will be allowed
to remain as they are. Already is the
promise of largely increased ann,,;,;e,