New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-19
MINNESOTA.


Numbers Of Tss Demoers', paper pabh.hei a. 81.
Paul in that Territory, have been widely distributed.
in which sweeping charges made against GOV Ram.
say Hon. H. II. slbley aad other parties, in counec.
ten with the payments 70 the Indians unde- the said
Treaties. AZ a great "hue and cry" hSs been made
about this and great paine taken to mi.repren,
facts, the prejudice OF the parties named. it is but
justice that s simple ard correct statement should be
made and the motives ead conduct Of the persons
making the charges should be exposed
These Treaties were negotiated in the summer Of
ls5f by Hon. Luke Lea, Commissioner OF Indian Al.
fairs and Hon Alexander Ramsay, Governor OF Mime
sofa Territory. Tie Treaties models IN them
extraordinarily favorable to the Government and
Just 10 the Indisns The Indians largely ntes,ed
to traders and others in the country, who had for
long series Of years supplied them with provisions,
clothing ammunition, guns, &c The product OF their
ehaee grew smaller year by year. though the credits
from the traders were large ever and could only be
diminished BY bringing great suffering 70 the Indians
The balance sgsnt them suffered 20 increase year
after year. with the distinct promise Of payment
whenever they sold their lands. Accordingly, when
the negotiations going and at the request of
the Indians themselves, and under their fall compre-
henicn OF the whole subject frequently discussed and
faithfully interpreted to them, there was insertedin
the let clause OF the 4h article of the Treaty, the fol-
lowing provisions
"Lt To the Chiefs Of the said Bands 10 enable them
to sess DiT affairs aud comply with their Just
engaeements" &c A" the sum of s25SOo Pro
ri9,d That said shall be paid the Chiefs ia SseA
HanRp as they hsrdjerin open council shall request
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars OF this
amount to 60 the creditors OF the Indians, and
the other s25COO was go toward paying the expenses
of their removal
The object OF the Indians in setting apart hesaidsum
OF s250Co0 to pay their just and debts
their old friends the traders and half breeds. This
was right honest and just After this treaty signed,
the hereafter open council" spoken of in the 9Th ar
tcle OF the treaty held and at that council in
der to carry the provisions of the said article the
Indians entered into and signed the following agree
ment in the presence OF Nathaniel Mclean Esq, In.
dian Agent the Government Interpreters and numerous
Witnesses;
1--WE the undersigned Chiefs Soldiers and Braves of
the Soesee-toan and Wahpsy toan Bands Of Dakota
Sioux Indians being DESTROYS 70 pay to our Traders aud
Hall Breeds. the sums of money EAicA ne acknowledge
10 be justly due TO sR do hereby obigatc and bind our
selves the authorized representatives of aforesaid
bands TO pay TO the individuals hereinafter designated
the OF money set opposite to their respective names
the shall be paid In accordance with
the 4th article of the treaty aforesaid,
and IL being therein specified that the said sum OF
S2750C0 shall be paid in such manner as requested by
the Chiefs in open Council thereafter do hereby In
open Council request and desire that the said sums be-
low peosed sha be paid to the persons designated as
practcahle &c anil for he
neptwell and truly Ia be made do hereby soicraaly
plcdgs onrssres ard ke filth OF natios and we do
hereby release and acquit the United Sles upon the
payment OF the sums aforesaid herein specified, OF
any further liability TO nation, for much Of
the amount so TO be paid az u provided for In the 9TH
article OF the treaty aforesaid"
lsigned by 20 Chiefs and Br"yes-Dated July %
1851
To this paper appended the names Of the traders
and haltbreeds who the creditors Of the Indians
and the amounts they requested they should sever.
ally receive.
After the terms Of the treaty became known, the Gu
pidity of new traders, brokendown politicians and
worthless adventures attracted by the amount
which the Indians had agreed should 60 the payment
of their Just debts, and combination of the most dis
reputable character formed In order to divert this
from going in its proper channel and TO divide
1t among the parties to the combination and their friends
In about three months after the negotiation OF the rea
ties, Mr. Sweetser appeared in 81. Paul with an ~.
sortmen, of Indian goods Interesting certain gentle
men in his plans whom he thought could be Of to
him. he procurcs license to trade from the Indian
Agent and proceeds to Traverse des Sioux. The
course be there pursued Is thus described by Col Her
cules l.. Dousman dstng ushcd citizen Of The North
Wet in letter addressed to the Senate Of the United
States while the Treaties pending before that
body:
Although Mr.. sweetscr utter stranger 10 the
Sioux, having previously visited their country,
had any dealing with them, directly or indirectly yet
having been connected In trade with the Namis and 9TH
er tribes In Indiana (as have been normed) he
well acquainted with Indian character aud be forthwith
commenced operations by endeay oring produce dis
satisfaction among the Indians and induce them TO
pudiae their obligations Ia the absence OF those inter-
ested aud by making prosuse expenditure OF presents,
together with appeal to their cupdlty by stating that
lie name hevs a mn
larger Of money than thsy otherwise would part
OF them persuaded to sign protect against their
previous Obligation alfo power OF attorney granting
him, The said 5weetser srEed control over all their
money TO be received from the upper treaty II ratified,
except their annuiiies"
The power of attorney above spoken Of s a most
extraordinary document, and fled by Mr Swee,scr
ia the Indian Bureau at Washington Az Ii bore upon
the treaty then before the Senate for ratification, tho
Commits sioner Of Indian Affairs very properly trans
nitted il to that body Mr.. Swee.ser visited Washing
ton himself with all his documents and endeavored TO
get the phraseoogy Of the fourth article Of the treaty
changed TO prevent the money going towards the
payment OF tho deb. OF the indiana but he entirely
unsuccessful and the Senate ratified the treaty with said
article unchanged and with full knowledge Of all the
facts.
The 1yument used by Sweeuer & Co. was that u
the old traders ard half brecds paid their debts
from the country and they wsuld not get any portion
oft H. on the other hand, they could persuade the
Indians TO "Tepudiate,' they could have grab AZ
the money Themselves. All psssiblc efors were made
10 induce the Indiana TO dishonesty, and with par
tsl srccess However, the treaties were finally rati
fed with certain amendments which submitted
10 the Chiefs assembled in Council at a. Paul and on
the sth Of September, lsJ2 agreed TO by then The
anne day upon which the Ch.els ratified the amend
nens they held grand Council in reference TO the
receipt and disposition Of their money sccruing under
the ls clause Of the 1h article. The result Of their
deliberations Yves complete power Of attorney 10 Coz
Ramsey to eek and receipt for the e?75,oo and the
document then gees on 10 say:
"And also authorize, empower, snd request nun
e said Alexander Ramsay 20 DO OF esnse % be Gone
all the cor,rpiad by the sasd 4th srtice Tor and
us 20 be done 20 appropriate ds said MONEY 10 eccrd
srce rik azd far ds purpose Of esvyng car ne e3saao1
and true sfeni treof; all such acts when doae 10 be
final end binding upon u.s. and to have the came force
.nA eaacs IL fone bv