The weekly Minnesotian., 1852-12-25

this devoutly-wished-for consummation all can
bear witness-it has been matter for public
rejoicing, and should be of public gratitude
The labors and difficulties of the enterprise,
few, however, will ever adequately appreciate.
Through his constant representations to the
authorities at Washington, and the untiring
cxertions of Delegate Sibley, and Of Mr.. Hugh
Tyler, backed by other citizens and many
friends of our Territory, Congress at length
consented to open negotiations with the Sioux,
and made an appropriation for that purpose.
Accordingly the Indians, remote savages of
the Upper st. Peters, unacquainted with the
forms of business, and difficult to control, were
assembled at Traverse dcs Sioux, where Col.
Luke Lea and Gov. Ramsey, Commissioners on
the part of the United States, met with them on
the 3Oth of June, 1851.
THE NEGOTIATIONS AT TRAVERSE DEs sioux.
At the outset it appeared, that about one
half the Indians were indisposed to treat at all,
and the other half imbued with extravagant
ideas Of the price which should be paid for their
land-either of which feelings threatened to
render any purchase at all, impracticable: for
the commissioners were limited in the price they
were authorized to give.
1t appeared, moreover, that the white men
present who had acquired great influence over
them, from speaking their language, living
amongst them, and trading with them for years,
Ito wit: their raders-werc unwilling to aid
government in cffectinga purchase, uniess pay
ment Of their debts and claims, ,ras secured by
the provisions Of the Treaty.
Thus stood the case:
On the one hand -the Government by its
COmmissiOners-the missionaries among the
Indians,-the citizens Of the Territory-every
body, in fact-were deeply anxious to effect the
Treaty--the future prosperity Of Minnesota and
the we'll being ofthe Indians likewise, depend
ing upon it.
On the other hand, the Indians were either
Indifferent to a Treaty, or extravagant in their
demands.
Meanwhile, the intermediate powcr,-the
traders-wOuld not move hand or foot to aid
the government, unless by so doing they could
have their debts secured and paid.
Who could blame the traders for their posi-
tion? What could be more natural?
Some of them had spent twenty, thir-
ty, and even forty years in the trade. The
country becoming almost denuded of game
and these upper Bands receiving no annuites
from government, the traders, from time to
time and year after year, had been obliged to
advance them clothing for themselves and
families, and guns and ammunition and provis-
ions, without which supplies these poor crea-
lures would inevitably have pcrished. The
furs returned by the Indian hunts in payment
of their credits, each year grew less and less,
and left constantly increasing balance un-
paid; yet each fall and spring the credits ta-
ken by the Indians were as large as ever. The
system once commenced, was continued per
force; and the traders were trailed on to per-
sist in the losing business, by the assurances OF
the Indians themselves that ample provision
should be made to meet their demand whenev-
er Treaty was effected with the government,
"a mode of payment for which there is any
amount Of precedent.
This long promised treaty from which they
were to obtain remuneration, was now about to
he made-the time had come for them to receive
reward for their long course of losses and
sacrifices; and it was to he avrootod, that,
deeply in debt MS they were, and utterly impov-
erished by their advances of goods in the
trade, they would rcsolutcly oppose any treaty
which did not provide for the liquidation of
their claims, in whole or in part.
They therefore took the stand before the Uni
ted States Commissioners, we have mentioned
Their ultimatum was" let the government Sc
cure to us what are our just rights, as conce-
dcd by the Indians themselves, and we will aid
the government to make an equitable bargain
with the Indians for their lands
Now all this struck the Commissioners un-
pleasantly. They were more than half indg-
nant. They had come to treat with Indians
not with white men. Still the difficulty inter-
posed was real and substantial one There
was no showing it aside. 1t was fixed fact
that the Indians were disinclined to do any
thing without the advice of their traders and
halfbreeds. What was Col. Lea and Gov.
Ramsey to do under the circumstances? Break
up in pet? Abandon the enterprise as i'm
practicable, and 60 homc' What citizen of
Minnesota would not have condemned such
policy as that-wOuld not have keenly dcplor-
ed such rctrogade step on the part of the
Commissioners, which for a score of years
would have confined our prosperity to the mar
row limits east of the Mississippi?
The Commissioners adopted wiser course
They set themselves at work to remove the OBJ
stacle they could not overcome. On considera.
tion they concluded that nQi ionty exnediency::
but equal and exact justice.aena:1ded't the
Indians should not pglv he permitted; hut en-
couraged to set. apart in !he Treaty a sum. ii
liquidate their honest debts-to start them
fresh and clear in the world under the new
condition of things that would ensue for them
after the Treaty, if any treaty was made.
They accordingly signifed to the traders
hi,