The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-06-09

I'd. That the $276 900, or that portion Of III
which has gone to the traders and halbreeds, should
be regarded coming out Of the Indians, forming
any part Of what is paid them f.r this land The
efforts Of the friends Of the Dakotas succeeded in
getting for them addition Of hafa-niliion Of dol
lars, that is $4,000 annually. which raised their
money annuity ON thirty to forty thousand dollars
Sd. The chief men Of the Dakotas who were
parties 10 that transaction doubtless understood TO
what purposes that two hundred and seveu,y-6ve
thousand were TO be applied; but they did not know
enough Of Wall-Sreet business expect that the
words Of the article which says that it should be dis
tibued by the chiefs in open council, not to be
understood literally.
4th. In regard 10 the fifteen per cent, about
which SO much has been said, it seems to me very
NANTES; thar have right to DO what they viii
with their own if so b. they don't it wrongiuly.
OF this matter l knew nothing until since it has
TRANSFERRED. l shall be sorry know that the prin-
cal actors in this affair have been guilty Of fraud or
dishonesty. IT is humiliaing thought that whip
pers-in have to be employed at Washington, and
oystcr-suppers resorted to, obtain the Of hon
orable Senators 10 the ratification Of treaty.
Business may regard such proceedings as neccs-
sary, bmt they are, that account not the less lie
deplored Another made Of part Of the iftcc II
per cent, to me still more Objectionable. With
it the Dakotas were hired sign the amendien, Of
the Senate, which took from them their resery-
alton. Every good must detest bribery, but the
yeliow boys and fine horses brought home by the In
dians last fall, must, fear, be regarded as brides
The plea of necessity is not satisfactory. But,
cept so far as it wrong to bride them, the Da-
kotas not wrongcd by the fifteen per cen;.; on
the contrary they proli'ed by it.
With these remarks | leave the past with those
whom il may concern and pass discuss the present
and future.
The second section Of the fourth article of the
treaty provides for the erection Of school houses
mills, and blacksmith shops, together with poughpg
land etc. and for these purposes appropriaes thirty
thousand dollars. Ii is certainly desirable that the
objects contemplated in this section should be accom-
plished speedily possible. There is no time to
be lost. How long the Dakotas will be permitted to
reside Oh the upper Minnesota is Of course uncertain
But be that time longer shorter, whatever is done
for their education and civilization must be done
quickly. Every year Of delay i'll operate unfavor
ably on The minds Of the Indians. In addition 10
this thirty thousand dollars, with which commence
ment to be made the third section of the same
article provides eighteen thousand dollars as an
auity for the prosecution Of these educational
and civilization purposes. Altogether, during Tie
present season, there will be, under the treaty Of
Traverse des Sioux alone sixty-sx thousand dollars
available for the erection of mills and carrying them
onfor the putting up Of blacksmith shops and far
nishing smiths-for the ploughing and fencing Of
land-lor furnishing oxen, ploughs, etc, to such Da
kotas viii take Of the same-for giving them
assistance in building houses and furnishing them
with some Of the common utensils Of housekeeping
for the employment of physicians-and .or the
ton of the necessary buildings for boarding
and others, and defaying the expenses Of scholars
and teachers in the same.
My first remark in regard to these appropriations
IS that. BY al thy stauld net be suffered 10
accnmulefe. The state of the Indians certainly de-
mands the Immediate application Of these funds. No
more favorable time will probably occur, lot
commencing vigorously wise and systematic efforts
for the education and civilization of these upper
bands than the present. Obtaining scholars for a
boarding hool will be attended wa much less lit6
Guilty now, than in former years. In this respect pro-
gress has been made among these upper bands.
But if this not the case, much evil will result
II the Dahotas from any course which manilests in
dirsion Of f,b j., ~
Better sink the money in the Atlantic ocean as fast
it becomes due than have it remain on hands not
appropriated to its legitimate usee We have seen
with the results Of accumulation in the case
OF the Dwer Dakoias. For the sake Of our common
humanity, for the sake Of Dakota ciyilization--and
for the sake OF the religion of the Bible it is to b.
most arlently hoped that such a result will no, be
wrought out under the late treaties. But the ouy
security against this lies in expending every dollar Of
the specified anauities, for the purposes intended, as
fast it becomes available otherwise it will be an
verincreasing appeal to cupiditv. The attempt ma,
he made TO persuade the Indians that il the, only re-
fuse to have it expended for education they may
coed in having the money paid tc them. This may
be regarded As impossible. But many things sup
posed TO be impossible, have been done and NAV
not the like be done again! 1t rs then commence
enUgeiicaHy and systematically and let US ,cork
faithfully. hm4'iAy and tyutf,diy, and Con WILL
HELP THE RIGHT.
S. r. RIGGS
Lac qui Pare, May 10, 1853.
THE ERIcssoS.-Capt. Ericsson having been