The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-10-26
From the Lake Superior Journal.
EXTENSION OF COPPERDOM.

Prospects Of Vest Of the Lake-Proposed Pur.
chase Of the North Shore from the Chippswa
Indians.
MIR. EDITOR Having located at the extreme
west end OF Lake Superior, have become per.
sonally interested in the early development of
its vast resources, which are Just beginning to
attract universal attention among men of capital
and enterprise. 1t can no longer be doubted
that this is the richest mineral country in the
world, fact which must, ere many years, emil
nits now comparatively unpeopled shores with
larger population of enterprisng Eoen, and
greater amount OF capital than have ever We.
oeen employed IN any other mining region At
Is impossible TO make even conjeclural estihate
oil the Immense capital that will seek isvest-
ment on the lake in this branch Of isdustry,
within few years, as the demand 70, the pre-
cious metals, ever 50 abundant, will 1nquestion-
ably increase as rapidly as the supply. In
view OF this TACT we may anticipate for Lake
Superior magnificent commepe, with mercan-
tile activity, and manufacturing enterprise,
rlvalllng all the other lakes, and notwithstand-
ing its high latitude a greer degree Of agricul-
tural prosperity than resent indications prom,
Use.
land belonging Ythis great nation on the lake
shore, be as.Soh as possible open for settlement
Our ge shead people want it. They have ale
re,4y pressed westward Of the Ontonagon range,
and are now taking possession Of the newly ex-
plored trap range extending from the river Bots
Brulee, about twenty five miles above its mouth.
to near Lett Hand river-which is believed by
the most competent judges to be as rich in cop
per as the famed Ontonagon range So you
see Mr. Editor, that your Copperdom has over
leaped ITS former boundary, and extends to the
extreme western end OF the lake,a region which
abounds not only copper, but iron, and probably
silver also, tor nature seems to have been so pxo
fuse as to scatter these valuable minerals, broad
cast around the whole lake country. ! speak OF
the South side, but the richest portion Of all
copperdom is believed to be, and have no
doubt correctly so, on The North sideot the lake,
in the Territory of Minnesota, extending from
the British line to Fond du Lac, distance OF
say l5O miles. This region, which is but little
known, already reveals TO the explorer the rich
est Indications aud specimens OF copper, iron
and silver-giving assurance OF the richest dig
glngs yet discovered on the lake. This Cali
fornia OF dormant wealth ia in tho possession OF
small number of Chippewa Indians, who cling
to 1t with all the affection of the red man for his
tatheriand. Never will these children OF hu-
maniiy consent to lift their birch canoes from
the great lake, and turn their faces from its
sparkling waters where they have so oft sported
in the calm, and buffeied the storm. 1t is the
theatre OF their products, war tales, and most
cherished legends. Never will they sell the
privilege Of bathing in its waters, or setting
their nets upon its shore
To cheat these poor people out Of their below
ed home, by deceptive treaties. to bride the con-
sent of counterfeit chiefs, or to drive them away
by force, would be a climax of cruelty in>ihe
administration of Indian affairs, the transac-
tons ct which, God knows, Save been too often
disgrace and reproach upon those. entrusted
with lis duties.
The policy of the Government has hitherto
been to make the removal of Indians part of the
contract, or "lreaty' for the purchase Of their
lands. The policy has doubtless been proper
and just in most cases. But the relative rights.
and situation Of Indians and white people on
Lake Superior, demand different policy
There is no necessity, no propriety, no just rea-
son for attempting to remove the Chppewas
from the shore Of Lake Superior They will
not consent to 60, and the whites do not desire
their expulsion, but on the contrary are earnestly
opposed to such wanton inhumanity. They re-
gard the ChippeWas as a harmeless race, not ut
all in the way OF the whites, and they are of
great service to the settlers in various kinds OF
labor, especially as voyageurs and fishermen
Mutual good viii exist between the two races on
the lake. There is no doubt that these Chippe-
was manifest greater aptitude for civilization
than any other Of the Northwestern tribes Yet
believe their future must be brief, for they
seem not to have been created for the conflicts
of progress, which wear out and annhilate, not
only the inferior races Of the human family, but
also the weaker branches Of the eonquering Can
casians.
What then shall! be done. We want the
north west shore of the lake, now in posse ssion
of the Cbippewas. We want to develop its rich
treasures. How shall we geti it? Very easily
Buy it of the Indians, and allow them to remain |
there, under the protection of the laws and SUBJ
ject to the laws, the same as other people, deny
ing them however, the voting and CORES spending
rights of citizens. On this basis the Chippe-
was will sell the north shore. Herein is ex.
pressed the views and wishes Of the people Of
Lake Superior;-your own views, believe,
Mr. Editor, and nothing more is nsedt d but &C. |
lion to accomplish an object ardently desrediby |
Ill intelligent persons interested in the progress
Of the lake country.
Measures should be taken to bring the sub |
ect before the Government without delay
The present payment Of the Chippewas at La
Pointe, indicates the friendly cooperation 81 the
present able Commissioner of Indians Affairs,
gentleman distinguished for officiaiinsegrily and
patriotism.
Yours, &c.