The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-08-18
The WinnebagO Treaty.

nc last MtilncSoti;iu comes down on the new
Wnncbago Treaty" and after defining the boundaries
OF the land given to those Indians speaks in perfec,
,apures Of ''i.s vast agricultural and commercial ad
yantages. The Minnesotian ''aier this description
Of the country exhibits great indignation because the
country purchased, only year ago. 'from one
tribe Of Iadans and is now given to another
After this new line Of Indian policy" had rcceiv-
ed thorough castisaton at the hands Of the Mime
sotian, the editor very magnnmously concludes to
wage ''no war upon officers that may have Il
'ac;ous party opposition? Very great manifesto
ton OF a nagnanmous determination on the part OF
the Minuesotian, to denouncc the OF public
officers until the facts of the case have been made
known, and prove TO be 'just and proper to all
cerned, Indians ana Whites included.
/ We will not quarrel with the Mnnesoian for hav-
ing violated in this instance, rule laid down, doubt
less, for future guidance, and hope the circum-
stances connected With the negotiation Of the exchange
| Of lands between the Government and the Winncba-
goes such that when the editor learns why those
indians shave thus been crowded in upon the Whites
and settled upon lands so advantageous and valuable
TO the agrcultutast, and the general wealth of the
Territory he will be among the first to vindicaie
from IN ust ccnsure," the officers entrusted b, the
Government with ''ths difficult and perplexins bust
ness"
We by means arc in favor of the location Of the
Winnebagoes near the Mississippi at any point and
have always believed that the policy pursued by the
Government, OF making the Mississippi the line be-
tween the White and the Indian settlements has done
more towards keeping the Indians in state Of moral
degradation than any other. 1t has been the means
Of locating the "White'' side OF the river set Of
unprincipIed quor-dealers who have been able to
furnish the Indians with liquor at all times, in def
ance Of the laws Of the general ard local goyernmen,s
and we hold that every difficulty which has heretofore
existed between the Whites and fadons MA, be traced
directly to those liquor traders, which the policy of
Government has located in the vicinity of the Indian
settlements. But this is reason why the agents of
the Government should be held respons ible for the
performance of thar duty in accordance with the in
sructions under which they act, nor why the faith OF
the Government pledged to the Indians should be
violated.
In the treaty concluded between the United States
and the Winnebagoes, al Washington CITY, Oct Is,
1916, we find the following:
"Artcle g. In consideration Of the foregoing Dur.
chase IRON or cesson by the said Indians the Unit
Ell States hereby agree to purchase and give to the
SAID Indians, their home, Inc held as all Indian
lands held, a tract Of country North Of the St.
Peters, and West of the Mississippi rivers Of not less
than eight hundred thousand acres, which shall be
suitable to their habits, wants and wishes provided
such land can be obtained on just and reasonable
TERMS
The provisions of that Article made it imperative
on the Government to purchase land ''fom one tribe
OF Indians and' give it 'to another,' ii it could lie
obtained on reasonable terms.
In conformity to the provisions Of that treaty, the
Government purchased a tract Of country bordering
on the Mississippi below Crow Wing River,-the
indians were located that tract, bot were never
satisfied with lit was not Equitable to their habits
wants and wishes" The Dissatisfaction of the
Wmnehagoes made known to the Government
BY the proper officers in this Territory and also By
the people residing within the Territory. A petition
numerously signed, and to which we believe the name
of every member Of the Legislature was appended,
begins follows:
"Io the President and Senate n The United States.
1--WE, the undersigned, citizens of the Territory of
Minnesota, would respectfully call your attention tn
the situation of the Winneba.o Indians
"Ihis dsafeced people could, we believe If the
proper measures are TAKEN be located As to induce
the entire tribe to live together and turn their aen
ton to agriculture
The petition proceeds TO state that the country they
now occupy is ''wholly unfit for tribe of indians who
have been accustomed to live the prairie" that
"they are much dissatisfied with their present loca
ton, and that ga Country between Crow and Sank
Rivers, distance west of the Mss;ssinn; River
and embraced within the limits of the country ,ecel
purchased from the Sour Indians, would be one the
W'nnehago Indians would cheerfulIy remove to-"
HE Government was bound by treaty stpula,ions
to provide home for the Wnneba goes equitable to
their habits, wants, and artshes." The country pre-
v'ousiy provided did not meet the wants and wish
rs" of those Indians and the Government wa c,ll.5
upon by its own officers, aud by the people Of the
Territory TO carry out. in good faith the treaty s,pu
'at'ons with the Wnnebagocs and by gratifying them
conduce to the Improvement Of their condition.
This is the view taken BY Commissioner Many.
penny, and in letter from him to The Secretary Of
the Interior, Of June 9Th, be says:
sin view Of their dissatisfacto and in conseo,e,c
oil the trouble caused thereby the Legislature Of Min
nesota has asked Of the Department that their ;sb.
may be complied with. The memorial of Ina, hoIy
speaks OF the great value of the tiuber to the white
nan, but OF its utter uselessness to the Indian.
"fhe Indians alIege that il is country not Of their
own selection but one which they have been compell
cd to occupy; that an open country such as they far
merly lived in, IL essential to their comfort and
tence."
The Commissioner then proceeds to recommend
that tie indians should be srahed III their wishes,
by allowing them to have in exchange, no, exeeed;o,
hall million OF acres, ''no'1h of the Crow River,
having that stream tor its southern boundary and not
than the fork Of ead the
Mississippi.