The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-08-20
The Whine Again.

der through two columns of editorial cach af
fecting to adduce sOmethiRg--onc can scarcely
tell what--in justification of placing the Winnie
bagocs in the midst of the white settlements
upon the Mississippi. They affect to believe
that we have attacked Gov. German, when
it is notorious to all who read the last Minncso-
tan, that We merely stated certain facts, and
gave the state Of public sentiment, touching the
recent official transaction at Watab. Neither
Democratic paper endorses the trcaty-in fact
the Pioneer editor candidiy states he is opposed
to the Indians being allowed to settle upon the
Mississippi. This is the gist Of the ,rhoie mat
ter; and if it were not provided that the Win
nebagocs shall have eighteen miles on the Mis-
sissippi, and the Stockbrdgcs only six, the con-
troversy would DC at an end. It's the bringing
OF these worthless vagabonds upon that river
which is complained Of not by us--not by the
Uhigs, as the Democrat affects to believe, but
by the people of Ramsey Benton and IIcnncpin
counties. almost en- maSSc. Since our last, we
have had opportunities OF conversing with more
than q hundred prominent citizens of st. Paul
all agree touching this one thing: The people
interested, pctitioncd to have the Winnchagoes
removed back from the Mississippi The prop
or authorities at Washington, under both adj
ministrations, listened to the petition and gave
instructions to their officers here TO have the
wishes of the people of Minnesota complied
with. Their wishes have not been complied
with--dircctly the rcvcrsc--and hence tie gem
eral complaint. This is the whole matter in a
nutshell.
The Democrat and Pioneer make ont a much
stronger case againt Gov. German than we did.
Their articles are merely apologize {; and in the
end they produce the documents 10 grore that
he has hareled outside Of his Instructions.
But we leave the Governor withhis immcd-
ate friends, and conclude with copying what
the third Democratic paper Of the Territory.
the Northwestern Democrat, of st. Anthony,
has to say upon the subject. We presume we
must allow our ncighhor Prescott to indulge in
that sheer at Wing Indian policy, under the cir
cumstanccs. In the main. we are assured he
but reflects the sentiments Of those by whomhc
is surrounded. Here is what lie says:
"Thc Winncbagos ccde to government their
lands on the Grow Wing River, and receive in
return a smaller but far more valuable tract
between Clear Water and Grow Rivers. 1t is
alleged that the only object which the govern
mcnt had in view in This arrangement was the
desire to please and satisfy them (hc lndians)
and charity impcls us to believe that was it,
decd the only object thought Of 1t may De
time to commence rcdrcssing the long array of
grievances suffered by the red men at the hands
of the whitcs-it may be mark of pcnitcncc if
we lay our hands upon our mouths and keep
silence in this real affection but regard for
the prosperity of our Territory. and for the
rights OF those who have, in good faith. invested
their all upon the lands purchased. at so much
cost and trouble of their former posscsSors force
us to cry out against an act 50 impolitic and
unjust. 1t is true the Wnnehagos were dissat
| isfed with their location at Crow Wing and
were continual annoyance to the settlers for
the whole distance between there and St. An
thony. 1t is true they may be better contcntcd
at their new homeland they ought to- for they
haze secured one of the fliregt portions of fair
Minnesota 1t is true they have large annui-
ties paid them. which they s1uandcr away to
the whites as fast as received. But on the other
hand, Crow River is only about thirty miles
from this place, and the region of country be-
tween that and the Watab is considered one of
the best sections in the Territory both for the
richness OF its soil and the abundance and quail
ity OF its timber. 1t is the more desirable to
the white settlers from the fact that large Dor
ton OF the opposite side of the Mississippi is
prairie. and its wood is needed over there
flnc farms have been commenced on and in the
vicinity of this ceded tract, but the former. Ger
talnly, and the latter, probably, will have to
be abandoned, and thus the investments of
years of toll must be lost-and lost. not by a
casualty, the work of God, but by the deliberate
and unnecessary act of government.
Were the Indians the most peaccablc tribe
ever yet discovered, it would be an injury to
us to have them in that vicinity but when we
take into consideration the fact that the Win
ncba9o nation is noted for thieving and drunk
enncsS--in truth for the almost entire absence
of any rcdecming trait y which white or red
man ever yet possessed; when we rccollect
how insuiierahly annoying they We're to every
settler within dozen or twenty miles of their
late cncampmcnt above Elm Crcek--drnking.
stealing, and committing actual violence upOn
lnOfcnSlrc persons; when we reflect that in
their new location they will be easy of access to
set Of harpics who would, for few dollars.
endanscr the lives of our whole community by
selling them liquor; and when it is asked.
.. Who will wish TO settle above or near sucb a
degraded, unprinciplcd receive are tempt
ell TO cry out Ian enemy hath done this "a
cruel enemy, who fain would place a veto upon
the further settlement and grow til of the Upper
Mississippi. i'N'
We do not think the Governor intcuJed tbo
injury which it seems to us he has committed
we have no donbt but the prosperity of ali the
Territory is the motive which influences his
public acts. But we must none the less dcplorc
such an example of" hasty action" in the use
ola very important power. Here thousands
upon thousands of dollars were freely expcnd-
cd by the general government in order to rid
us of the immediate presence of sayagcs, and
open to a safe settlement neighbOrng and
much coveted country. Not heart in ali Min
nesota but throbbcd anxously during whole
year of negotating-not q breath but came
more freely when the final ratification of the
treaty was announced. And now, when former
Soa were being fast forgotten, and pre-
S "nn troubles were being patiently endured.
unuef the hope that soon all the Indians would !
ge swept to the distant frontiers-cvcn after
~ .he senate refused to allow the Sioux a tract
,ney wished to reserve upon the Minnesota-to
nave the most degraded of all the rascalIv rod |
SKIN race invited back into our midst is really