The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-12-29
NJ | ESOTA PION EE r.
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA,
Thursday. December 20, 1858.


At general council between the northwestern
tribes of Indians, and the United States Government,
held at Prairie du Chem, in 1850, the Naturalization,
Sisscton and Warpekute LANDS OF Sioux, who
parties to that treaty, asked and obtained the sanction
of the United States Commissioners 10 donate to the
Half Breeds, or Mixed Bloods Of those bands, GER
tain tract of land, extending, from the " Grange" six
miles above the head OF Lake Pepn, to a point OPP
posie the mouth o! Buffalo River, some twelve miles
below Lake Pepin, and fifteen miles back from the
Mississippi and Lake. The tract being nearly forty
miles IN length by fifteen wide, and containing not far
from six hundred sections OF land.
At the time this land was donated, the Territorial
Governments of Iowa and Wisconsin had not been
established and the sctcmentsha scarcely progress
cd beyond the lakes above the Lower Rapids on
the Mississippi, with the exception Of the mineral
region,) and the settlement. OF the valley Of the Mis-
sissipp above Gacna looked upon AS barrel, pos
siblc. but by means probable, within the ninee anh
century. The Indians therefore desired 10 locate
their "whiic relatives in "a central part OF their
country, where they would form permanent and az
ricultural community, that would be Beneficial to both
the Indians and the recipients OF their bounty.
The treaty however, stipulated that The land thus
donated the Halt Breeds should lie held as other
Indian lands are held" that is, in common; and no
individuality of title could be obtained unless the
President should proper to deed claimants one
section in fee simple. This stipulation entirely pre-.
vented the Half Breeds from rcaping the advantages
contemplated by the donation, no claimant could
farm aniit a..
he would be secured in his improvements, when d.
vision of the lands should take place |, is the
President had authority under the treaty TO grant in
fee simple each claimant, his Improvement, not ex.
ceedns section but for obvious reasons the Prrs
dent could be induced to confer such grants.
Year after year the claimants petitioned Congress
Tor relief, DESTROYS that they might reap bene6,
from the donation. They asked for the survey and
distribution of the tract among those mixed blood to
whom it was donated, or tina, Congress would author
zc the purchase Of the tract from the claimants -
But nothing definite was ever effected True, CON-
mlssioners the part Of the government have treated
for the entire tract at three different times, but the
Senate has seen proper TO refuse to ra,y any purchase
that has been made, and now more than twerty-th,ee
have derived benefit from the grant and the land
with few exceptions, remains unoccupied, by those
for whose improvement and prosperity the donation
made.
Although but little change has taken place in the
condition Of the Half Breed Tract, there has been
a vast change going in the country in which it is
located. Since the grant made in 1880, the In
Al tie has Sheb tI,
River the ST. Louis, the head Of Lake Superior
east Of The Mississippi, and from the Des Mosne to
the Red River Of the north, on the west side of the
Mississippi. Two States that were not dreamed of
at that time have passed through their Territorial
probaton and entered the Unon and now contain over
hall million Of people, while this Territory in which
the " Half Breed Tract" is located is advancing
with rapid strides towards the halls of Congress to
demand admission "on an equal footing with the
other States OF the Union, and the land around this
tract is open to settlement and settling rapidly The
wants Of community now demanding at the hands
Of Government that the title to this tract should be so
established as to open it TO settlement. The settle
ments the valley of the Des Enbarras and of the
Cannon want an outlet TO the lake and river across
opposite the Chippewa River, has ALREADY induced
settlers TO take possession Of and make extensive i'm
provenents in that vicinity. At the head of the lake
also mills are being built and improvements being
made without reference to the title Of the land or
any regard to the rights of the Sioux Half Breeds
AT this time it is only due to the claimants to
that tract, that Congress should enact such laws rs
..sl H.
iand but the interests of the Territory demand tha,
such legislation should be had as will not only oreo
the Half Breed land to settlement but will at the
same time settle the title beyond all dispute or conro-
versy hereafter. The loose and conflicting titles nv
which the Sank Half Breed Lands" were
held has ruined Of the most beautiful and fertile
counties in Iowa, and has prevented Kcokuk from
becoming large and prosperous commercial city,
No such injury should be permitted to fall upon our
Territory, and We hope Congress will take the pro-
per steps TO relieve from apprehension on that score
The interests of tho General Government also require.
speedy settlement OF these lands, as a means of
causing much more rapid settlement Of the public
lands Immediately in rear Of this trac:
The Claimants to this tract, although we'll aware
OF its mineral wealth. the agricultural and manufac-
turing advantages it possesses, well as the s,per,-
GRITTY Of its geographical position for the control of
The immense commerce which mus, at no distant DC
rod flow from the settlements west to the valley of
the Minnesota, arc still dcsrous that such rolicy
should be pursued by Congress as will place the title
to the land beyond controversy and the same time
ensure to them the advantages contemplated by the
donation.
With this view, they have recently submitted to
Congress proposition relnquish all RICH, and title
to the tract, il Congress will authorize that land
warrants BE- issued for equal quantity Of land to be
divided among and located by the claimants either on
The original tract within the Sioux purchase
As may be most desirable.
This proposition il acceeded to by Congress, we
'ceve, would he Of mutual advantage to the Halt