The weekly Minnesotian., 1853-01-01
drafts and checks for the accommodation of the

drafts and checks for the accommodation of the
business men in the Territory; may have cho-
sen likewise, as the Agent of the Indians for
removing and s,,bsisting themselves, to pay
contractor for PROVISIONS in good par paper,
with the option of gold if he had wanted it
and all this, without treading on the corns of
that bug-bear, the Sub-Treasury Law! Docs
the Democrats legal stupidity comprehend?
1t was while at Washington Oh this business.
that the Traverse dcs Sioux paper that distrib-
utes their dcbt-fund, was first brought to his
notlcc-was first seen by him, either in original
or copy! He was surprised to find how con-
elusive it was in its solemn acknowledgements
of debts due and owing to various individuals,
and how strongly expressed was the desire of
the Indians to pay them.
He found it duly signed by all the chiefs and
head men, and witnessed by a number of the
most respectable of our citizens.
He did not find it to he an agreement or
contract with traders" merely but a declara-
ton, under the lth article of the treaty, that
certain sums of money, were 'justly due,'' and
requesting the United States 'to pay the per-
sons designated and :'solemnly pledginc
themselves and the faith of their nation to see
them SO paid.
Thus, it was neither agreement, contract"
nor power of attorney; and he felt that he
could not disregard the paper, nor with safety
change its specific arrangements.
He knew that the Indians had set apart the
S275,ooo fund mainly to pay their debts-as
Treaty Commissioner he kne,c that as Super
intendent of Indian affairs he was Instructed to
see it so applied--and as the agent and attorney
for the Indians he was 1ouna TO appropriate
the money according ''to the equitable and
true intent of the treaty. What other course
could he have taken than he did,
True, a portion of the Indians, acting under
the lead of Swectscr, had profcssed to have
been deceived into signing the Traverse des
Sioux paper. But in the comprehensive docu-
mcnt executed by them all, at Mr.. Rice's store.
on the sth of September, they say nothing
about this-they do not revoke it-though they
do specially ;rcvoke and annull all former or
other poacers Of att0rney'' in reference to the
receipt or collection of the said sum of money or
any part thereof" But that paper is no pow
er OF attorney forthe receipt and collection -
OF the money in question: and therefore stands
unmpeached by the only regular and proper
Indian council held subsequent to that at Tray
erse des Sioux, in 1851.
To make assurance doubly sure. however
Alexander Ramsey, acting under full powers
granted him by the Sth of September paper
resolved that the individuals claiming under
the paper of Traverse des Sioux, should PROVE
THEIR ACCOUNTS UNDER OATHu and accor
dinghy such claimants made affidavit that the
sum set down in the paper aforesaid, was Justly
due and owing them by the Indians. and more
besides!
The aggregate of the accounts sworn to
amounted to over S4O0, 600! for which the In
dans pay S20OOOO, and receire an ocguittance
in fuN!
Will SweetSer, Robertson & Co., have the
hardihood to assail those gentlemen.-men of
standing and high character as there are in the
Territory-as pe,jured rihains, who have taken
what did not honestly belong to them. We
shall see.
1t was upon this strong chain of circumstan-
ces, that Governor Ramsey paid to the Chiefs"
through their creditors, the money which had
been set apart by the treaty for no other pur-
pose than to clear off their debts and start them
atresh i'll the world.
suppose, for a moment that the paper exc
cuted at Traverse des Sioux, was informal and
invalid-yet under the powers entrusted to him
by the Rice Indian council he had the right
to take it as guide in asccrtaining and pay
ing the Indian dcbts-if only as an arrange
ment among the traders themselves, as to the
sums which they were respectively willing to
take, and give the Indians a full acquittance
from their debts.
Our space warns us to close The facts and
the argument, fairly stated, justify Gov Ramsey
in this whole matter; and this Jury of law
ycrs, bench of Judges, church full of dvines,
viewing it without prejudice or interest, would
unite in declaring.
His course is right legally. and right morally
the treaty has been fulfilled according to the
equitable and true intent thereof" and all
the parties are satisfied
The man has yet to come forward as crcdi-
tor OF the upper Indians, and say that he has
been left out Or neglected in the distribution
OF the debt fund. Not one ros neglected or
omitted!
But it is not merely the creditors who are
content-the INDIANS THEMSELVES, are fully and
completely satisfied ,ciM ,chat has been done,
though interested and mcndacious individuals
may falsely represent to the contrary!
They were tampercd with and partially de-
moralized by NJ. Swcctscr but that has all
reacted, and even Red Iron declares that he
BADLY advised them
And so we dismiss the subject for the pres
ent.
No Backing Out LET us have the Proof!
The last Democrat comes to lis freiphtcd with