The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-06-18
The lat. Sioux and Chippewa Disturbance.

| The late Sioux and Chippewa Disturbance.
Within the past six weeks, we have heard
great deal about the following proceedings of a
meeting, held SO long ago as the SOth of April,
but they never met Our eye until we found them
some ten days since, published in the Galena
Jeffersonan. During our visit to Taylor's
Falls last week, we were for the first time re-
quested by the citizens to publish them. It
was doubtless their intention to have them
reach us sooner, but they never came to hand.
| They were at the time placed in the hands Of
the editor of the Democrat of this place; but if
he is candid about the matter. he must state
that no editor in st. Paul, save himself, ever
saw them until they came back from Galena.
We now publish them at the request of our
friends of Taylor's Falls, who are respectable
and responsible men, and have right to say
whatever they think proper about the matter,
and to be heard through the public press. We
were not aware until the very hour of going to
press, that VIC could find room for them this
week, and are now compelled to put them
forth without the full comments we would
wish to make We are sorry our Chisago
neighbors have felt it their duty to take the
ground they do. We see no good that can re-
suit to them, or the public generally, from this
course. A broad question of veracity has been
raised between Lieut.. Magruder and the gen.
tleman who makes the affidavit below. Lieut..
NJ. bears here where he is best known the rcpu-
tation of a gentleman, and a man Of honor and
integrity; and he must be SO regarded by his
superiors in the army, or he would not have
been entrusted with the delicate duty of going
after the Indians. We believe it is noto-
rious in all circles where this matter has been
discussed, that he, in his official despatch and
in conversation, gives statement entirely at
variance with that of Mr.. hammers. In this all
his men coroborate him. and we have learned
from what appears to us good authority, that
the Chippewas themselves admit they fired up
upon the troops first We do not make these
statements wishing to be understood as giving
a decision upon the question at issue between
Lieut. Magrudcr and Mr.. hammers, but that
both sides may be heard. Lieut.. NJ. has right
to be heard by statement of this full denial on
his part, as much as the other party has in ma
htiit5 VIZ
The ringing in of the Executive, is simply
ridiculous. That cirH officer has just about as
much command over the troops at Fort Smell
ling, as he has over the army Of the Grand
Turk. 1t is true, the Dragons went in pursuit
of the Indians at the request of the Territorial
Executive but man who would hold him re-
sponsiblc for their doines, must have very little
knowledge of the legal accountability of go
vcrnmcnt officers, or the distinction between
military and civil authority.
! Upon the whole, We don't sec the use of max
ing so much ado over the killing of one Indian.
when, if all reports be true, we are to have
them strung up in scores, like onions without
Judge or jury.
We cannot let this opportunity pass without
returning our sincere thanks to the Demo-
cratic gentleman at Taylor's Falls, who, al
though we had never seen him at the time, took
our welfare so much at heart as to represent us
among his neighbors as being entirely to
blame for the non-appearance of those proceed
ings in any of the St. Paul papers. We take
the earliest occasion to inform his honest and
simple mind that we are not the censor of the
Minnesota press. and have enough to do to edit
our own paper, leaving our neghbors to con-
| troll their own columns.