The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-02-26
Correspondence Of the n. Y. Tribune.
Gov. Ramsey and the Sioux Inde mnity.

ticS, Ill minnesota, seem TO have created some
little excitement in that new Territory. The
last hHm1ers OF TIE Democrat, a paper publish
ed at st. Paul in that Territory, have been wide
ly distributed, in which sweeping charges are
made against Gov. Ramsey, Hon. II. II. Sibley
and other parties, in connection with the nav
mcnts to the Indians under the said Treaties.
AS great ''hue and cry" has been made about
this matter and great pains taken to msrepre-
sent facts, to the prejudice of the parties namedt
is but justice that simple and correct state
mcnt should be made, and the motives and con-
duct of the persons making the charges should
be exposed.
These Treaties were negotiated in the sum-
mer of 1851 by Hon. Luke Lea, Commissioner
of Indian Affairs and Hon. Alexander Ramsey,
Governor of Minnesota Territory. The Trea-
ties are models in hcmselvcs-enlincntly favor
able to the Government and Just to the Indians
The Indians were largely indebted to traders
and others in the country, who had for long
series of years supplied them with provisions,
clothing ammunition, guns, &c. The product of
their chase grew smaller year by year. though
the credits from the traders were large as ever
and could only be diminished by bringing great
suffering to the Indians. The balance against
them was suffered to increase year after year.
with the distinct promise of payment whenever
they sold their lands. Accordingly, when the
negotiations were going on and at the request
of the Indians themselves, and under their full
comprehension of the whole subject, frequently
discussed and faithfully interpreted to them,
there was inserted in the 1st clause of the 4th
article of the Treaty, the following provisions:
1st. TO the Chiefs of the said Bands to enable
them to settle their affairs and comply with
their present just engagements &c, ''the
sum of $275, ,O00 Pr0rided. That said sum shall
be paid to the Chiefs in such manntr as they
hereafter in open council shall request
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of
this amount was to go to the creditors of the
Indians, and the other $4,000 was to SO toward
paving the expenses of their removal
The object of the Indians in setting apart the
said sum Of 100000 was to pay their just and
honest debts to their old friends. the traders
and halEbreeds. This was right. honest and
just. After this treaty was signed, the "here-
after open council spoken Ofin the 4th article
of the treaty, was held, and at that council in
order to carry out the provision of the said ar
ticlc. the Indians entered into and signed the
following agreement in the presence OfNatban-
iel MLane, Esq, Indian Agent. the Govern
ment Interpreters, and numerous witnesses
ave, the undersigned, Chiefs, Soldiers and
Braves of the Sec-sce-tOan and Wal,-pay-toan
Bands of Dakota or Sioux Indians, being desi-
rOus to pay to our Traders and Half Breeds, the
sums of money ,rhich IRE acknowledge to be just
iy due to them, do hereby Oblgate and bind
ourselves as the authorized representatives of
aforesaid bands, to pay to the individuals here
matter designated the sums of money set Op-
positc to their respective names. as soon as the
same shall be paid us in accordance with the
18th article of the treaty aforesaid .
and it being therein specified that the said sum
(Of S275,OO0D shall be paid in such manner as
requested by the Chiefs in open Council there
after, we do hereby in open Council request
and desire that the said sums below specified.
shall be paid to the persons designated, as soon
as practicable, &c.. and
for the payment well and truly to be made we
do hereby soie,nniy pledge ourselves and the
faith Of our nation, and we do hereby release
and acquit the United States, upon the payment
of the sums aforesaid as herein specified, of any
further liability to us or our nation, for so
much of the amount so to be paid as is prOvd-
cd for in the 4th article of the treaty afore-
said
July 23, 1871 'N
To this paper were appended the names of
the traders and halfbrecds who were the crcdi-
tors of the Indians, and the amounts they "rc-
questcd' they should sevcrally receive.
After the terms of the treaty became known,
the cupidity of new traders, brokcn-dOwn
politicians and worthless adventurers was at
tracted by the amount which the Indians had
agreed should 60 to the payment of their just
debts, and q combination Of the most disrepu-
table character was formed in order to divert
this amount from going in its proper channel,
and to divide it among the parties to the COM
binatiOn and their friends. In about three
months after the negotiation of the treaties a
Mr.. Swectscr appeared in st. Paul with an as
sOrtmcnt of Indian goods. Interesting certain
gentlemen in his plans whom he thought could
be of use to him, he prOcures license to trade
from the Indian Agent and proceeds to Tray
ersc DIES Sioux. The course he there pursued
is thus described by Col Hercules L. DOus-
man, a distinguished citizen of the North West
in letter addressed to the Senate of the Uni
ted States while the Treaties were pending be-
fore that body:
although Mr.. Swectscr was an utter stran-
ger to the Sioux, never having previously visit
ed their country or had any dealing with them
directly or indirectly, yet having been connec-
ted i'm trade with the Miamis and other tribes in
Indiana, (as have been infOrlned) he was well
acquainted with Indian character, and he forth
with commenced operations by endeavOring to
produce dissatisfaction among the Indians, and
induce them to repudiatc their obligations. In
the absence of those interested, and by making
profusc expenditure of presents, together with
an appeal to their cupidity by stating that if
they would sign his papers they should receive
much larger sum of money than they other
wise would, part of them were persuaded to
sign protest against their previous obligation,
also power of attorney, granting him, the
said Sweetser, unlimited control over all their
money to be received from the upper treaty, if
ratified, except their annuities"
The power of attorney above spoken is q
most extraordinary document, and was filed by
Mr.. Swcetser in the Indian Bureau at Washing
ton. AS it bore upon the treaty then before the
Senate for ratification, the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs very prOperly transmitted il to