The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-08-13
Correspondence of the Minnesotian.
correspondence OF the Minnesotian.
First Payment at the New Agency-Debate be-
tween the Agent and " LIE Petite Rat ''-Madi-
son SweetZer Again.

First Payment at the New Agency-Debate be-
| tween the Agent and 3" LIE Petite Rat ''-Nadi-
son SweetZer Again.
RED WOoD Minnesota River, July 18th.
MEssRs EDITORS There are about 1000 In
dams here. of whom upwards of 1000 are Sis
setOans. The balance of the first annuity that
of lS52-sOme 12,000-was paid a few days
ago to these last. This created quite a stir
among the primitive rock, praries and swamps
of this whiom desOlate spot. But now cred
Wood " is dizzy with its own uelOcity The
golden era has dawned through CIRCUS clouds
of vermillion and rouge pigment on the copper
faces of the SisSetOans. These aboriginal red
skinned semi-barbarians have emerged from the
ancient crysalis of constitutional slimc-thc
gaudiest of aboriginal butterflies. At the
"clnk of the dollar as at signal, the nation
shook from Its brawney shoulders past of I'M
known ages-ages that were folded up in the
hlrsute hide of the royal buffalo and the gar
nished elk skin, discarded now forever (Which
means fifty years according to the treaty. for
the iridescent splendOrs of blankets and calico.
" Red spirits and white, blue spirits and grey"
negotiate abstruse commercial transactions
with the most knowing strut of change" or
rush past us on bedlZzened ROsinantes, in me-
teoric blaze of ribbons and bespangled glOry-
Twenty-Five, more or less of shanty shops were
thrown open to initiate them into the complica-
ted necessities of their ameii0rated condition.
III thC SdtlHo luclT NTcdI alIer nau am
ply furnished them out of their own subsistence
fund clothing was wanting, but sufficient
supply OF hatchets to cut out their flour withal.
while their cOrn--the remainder of what could
be found in all the land Of Egypt-having al
ready germnatcd-will save them from plant
ing other; but it is in that bourne from whence
no grain ever returns. Thus, while flour is
decidedly a ''hard case" corn is quite lively
and continues so. Indeed, we look forward to
fa fhStap lin, Z bn
quantity already cropped but pork and lard
are not in sufficient quantities to Intricate over
the flour. and we fear ere long there will not
be grease spot left Lead it appears, or did
not appear-was too heavy for the market but
the powder given out without it, it is hoped
will lie used more economically; and having
been supplied by especial contract" and there
fore very potential, it will doubtless fluttcr the
feathers of the voant tribes, leaving far to
wing their lofty flight southwark for the enjoy
ment of future sportsmcn.
But to the trade and Traders Fruits of
the tropics, spices of India. complicated fabrics
of mercantile Europe. have superseded the
Pcmmican, and pOrcupine quills of the evancs-
cent past. Venerable shades of the olden time.
I"WopatOans" trading now beyond shade of
dubiOsity in impOnderablc lead, and ETHEREAL
grey list with ghosts of ancient Nadowcsccs,
congenially employed in hunting muskrats
in Elysian swamps Spirits of past red skins
reclining under the dog star in cXtatic fulness
of ambrosial meats wrapped in fragrant clouds
of celestial 50 chun sha sha.' What say We to
this? The degenerate son of Flying Thun-
der cutting short a luXuriant festive Of skunks
to complete an operation in Smyrna figs and
the brOnzed beauties of anctOn land displaying
their worries in rapt gaze upon the shawls of
civilization. and other ncomprehcnsiblc adOrn-
ments--coulcur dc rose.
Alas for the old regime! Alas for Fur
Companies militant; for brass beads and wam-
pun are fast becoming traditional myths, and
the sons Of the prairie now take blankets at
three dollars in severe arthmatical calcula-
ton. But this to no purpose. Everybody knows
all about Indian payments, but ererybOdy may
not know that more unsuitable site for an A
gcncy could not have been selected than this.
The buildings must be placed among masses of
primitive rock and immense bouldcrs which OBJ
struct free movement; and the spot itself is
bounded on three sides by an almost impassi-
BILE swamp. The river completes the boundary
There is but little valuable timber for building
or fencing purposes near the location. Disad-
vantages so palpablc make change of situa-
ton necessary. The Agent has already been
exploring TIE river on both its banks with this
view.
At Council held previous to the payment
some interesting Developments were made
which may serve to clucidatc certain Mr.
Sweeizcrs hdion policy. a paternal address
from the Agent was followed by the vehement
OratOry of several chiefs. There is not space
to give you specimens of their style-the graph
ic energy of their gesticulation, or the pathOs
of the inevitable peroration-givc us to eat -
1t was at this crisis of the proceedings that Il
halfbre of the name of Polite Campbell. better
known as :" Petite Rat" thrust himself visiblv
forward and claimed hearing; and it was not
without persuasion and some force that he was
induced to rcliuquish the floor for the time be-
ing to the Agent, after which permission was
given him to explain the cause of his unwar-
rantable interference and interruption of the
proceedings, and he it did as follows:
PETITE RAT. VOquiter. )--Thcre has been
great many chief made by traders they was
made last year by Fur Company. Young men
was made chief to rob the Indians of their mo-
ney. These Indians like not these new chief
They want the seven old chief they had before
treaty. They want all new chicfbrokc There
will be great trouble if the new chief are not
broke. They will quarrel among themselves
y GU can't do nothing with them. Major. They
wont sign no paper. They talk great deal about
want money back again. If you do not WISH
give them no provisions, they don't care They
don't want nothing--thcy want no provisions.
IL Nitrate dictu.)
AGENT. Mr.. Campbell, arc you done?
CAMPBELL. (rcluctantly .)-Ycth thir.
AGENT. Mr.. Campbell you seem to interest
yourself great deal i'll Indian matters. and to
have put yourself forward as their spokesman
in an Obtrusive manner. You seem to he one
of those who find their proper element i'm stir
ring up strife and discord among Indians and
to experience great deal of qualification in
gripping the operations of government. You
prophcsy trouble apparently because you wish
it and hope to create it, You have assumed
here | infer that you have some influence with
the Indians. Now you can use that influence
to aid or oppose the government. 1t you can
do anything to render the Indians more Obcdi-
ent to the wishes of the government, you can
in your way do them gOod-on the other hand
If You attempt to put obstacles in our way, as
you seem disposed to d. it can do the Indians
no manner of good, and must do them injury.
Let me then advise you to choose your side now,
for L can assure you that such efforts as you
seem to be busy with now can result in no good
to you Or the Indians. Another thing | wish
you to hear. You have spoken of the Fur Com
md trad h,,- Il.