The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-08-05
Relief for the Indians.

We have waited with painful anxiety, to know if
by the treaties By any other method relief could
be had before the ensuing winter for the suffering
Sioux Indians, neighbors West Of the river;
knowing for an absolute certainty, that their attcn
ton to the treaties for two years past their losses by
freshcts, the scarcity of game and the small returns
from their unenlightened agriculture, have left them
IN condition Of uncxampled want. By the follow
ing debate in Congress. it will be that our dele
gate Is alive the interests Of all the human beings
red well as white within cur limits that he has
feelingly and truly portrayed the condition Of the
Sioux; and nublv vndicatcd the much aspcrsed
character Of the real Indian tadcr.
! There is at least 4 hope that 500 900 will
be appropriated for the relief Of Indians who are ac-
tually suffering with hunger. Not only does every
white man in Minnesota, fee proud of our delegate,
but every Indian in his tepce, with his starving chill
dren around him, will bless him and do bless him,
as benefactor whose kindness and Sympathy extends
to all the family of man.
Mr.. SIBLEY. have not risen with any de-
sgn Of making set speech Of consuming much Of
the time Of the Committee. deemed it but right
and proper however, in view of the fact, that
an attack had been made upon gentleman who fer
merly occupied distinguished position under this
Government, 10 yield portion of my time the
gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Sweetser, to enable him
reply to the very serious charges which had been
made against Col. Medill, BY members Of the Com
mittee on Indian Affairs OF this House. 1t but
Justice the absent that the reply should GO forth
to the country simultaneously with the accusations
against him. aud to effect this object, very cheer
fully permitted the gentleman from Ohio Mr. Sweet
ser] TO occupy much OF my time ne might deem
necessary devote the defence of the former Com
missioner of Indian Affairs. Being myself ignorant
of all the facts connected with the transactions be-
tween the Government aud the Menominoe Indians
l have nothing To that snllcct. propose 70
detain the committee for short time in the discuss
Of another matter OF very general interest To the
country at Large, and particularly to the Indians
themselves Sir, the aboriginal tribes upon this con-
tinent and especially those nhabting the northern
portions of it, are subjected great amount of sut-
erng, because Of the want Of food and proper cloth
ING. This is a subject which ] had the honor OF
bringing before this House during the last Congress
in speech which | made upon the general topic Of
our Indian relations, when | took occasion among
other things to state. that the miserable condition OF
the wild tribes of the West far from being real
ized by Congress and by the country.
/ Sir, but two short years have passed since that
speech delivered, and my observation and the M
formation have gathered since that time, have en-
rirey Corroboratcd the statements therein contained
l have whole bands O Indians Comprising men
women and children, reduced to state OF cniacia-
ton from hnnger, shocking 10 behold in this far
land, which God has blessed with an abundance ci
all the clements necessary for the support OF human
lifa. ] have witnessed the voGacity with which
these poor creatures have seized upon Gnd Gevoured
garbage the most disgusting, from which the very
pampered dogs Of vour cities would turn away with
loathing Il would be consolation to be able
to assert with truth, that reduced to these extrcml
ties there stl 10 believe that any had
actually pershed f.om the want of some kind OF food
capable OF sustaining life. Untol tunateE even that
solacc is denied Us.
have reason to know from statements which have
been made to me by respectable IN the Indian
country that during the last year in the Teultoy y
which have the honor to represent upon tins iioor
there have been from sixty to ore hundred death.
among the indians, fom actual starvation. may be
met here with the that these ca!amItiee be-
fall them because of their imptovidencc. have no
disposition TO DENY that such is the TO some ex
tent Eve ybody who knows anything about the
chaiac ter Of Indlan is that he acts up to
he scrip;ns max% Of Of etns the moo% AK
thought for the things Of ITSELF If he has but sui
cient to feed himself and mis- family tor one day, h'
docs not trouble himself much about what he is e
have of fare for the next. That is especially thc
case with the Indians who depend exclusively upor
the game for subsistence. Now, | have reason tC
know, that many of the large western pIaies whicF
forme, abounded in wild animals now ontirei,
denuueu oil them. he consequence That WAN
two or three yea,s bands of Indians who rehcd en-
trey upon the buffalo. elh, and antelope for the
dailv supply Ct food. have been reduced to The las
ages Of destitution. -,
I propose in an amendment shall offer to the bal
under cons idei ation bfore take ny seat, TO appro
r pirate the sum Of 100000, to be applied by tn
Secretary of th Interior relieve such cases OF sut
5 ferns As nave described among the lidans 1T an
part ii ths Ualtsd States. have taken rarticuia
care likewise to provide that no pat OF this mona
shall ne raid out by the Secretary unless statement
fiom entirely reliable souces shah be brought T. n
notice. showing the absolute necessity of the expendl
tme.
In immediate connection with this subject propcs
5 to reply to charge ur,de by the gentleman tor
r Missouri, fMrPhelps,l against class OF pergons II
the West called Indian traders.
Mr.. PHELPS. The gentleman will permit me
saw that in the aIlusion which ] made TO the India
traders as being unworthy OF credit, did not mea
to refer to the owners of trading Establishments, b