The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-01-07
A. E. AMEs. Sec'y. ~ Il. s.

On motion the Society adjourned
". y. GORMAN,
Pres't. NJ. Il. s.
A. E. AMEs, Sec'y. NJ 4. s.
Report of the Superintendent Ct Indian Affairs
for Minnesota Territory.
MINNESOTA SUPERINTENDENT.
ST.. Paul, Sept. II, 1853
SIR Il have had the honor heretofore to
transmit from this Office reports from the indi-
an Agents under this Superintendency
beg leave t. give my views of the future
regulations necessary in the Indian department
in this Territory.
THE CHIrPEwAs.
lat. The Indian title ought, by all means, be
eXtinGushed to the mining region of Lake Su-
perior. and to all lands east of the Mississippi.
The immense mineral wealth of that region.
under the control of our entcrprising country
men. should not be overlooked. The Indians
are daily being impressed with its great value,
and every year it will be more and more diff
cult to purchase it at reasonable rate.
"a. This tribe should be concentrated as
-"on as possible. and the Pillagcrs put un-
DER ahnntes to prevent their wandering and
marauding habits
respectfully call your attention to the very
interesting report of the Chippewa agent on
this subject.
%. The Chippewas must be paid the lst or
ION OF September. or their annu;ties, as here
toforc. will prove curse instead of u blessing
to those living on Lake Superior.
18th. II their goods and provisions could be
here by the 10th of July. they can be transpor-
ted by steamboat above the Falls of ST. Autho-
ny within 80 miles of the agency.
9th. Ii they are not paid before October they
lose their TALL hunts. which are far more yalua-
sie 10 these people than government provisions
rs they now receive them.
9Th. II the object of the government is to
cItiiizc them. they must be concentrated west
OF III" Mississippi, and near their agent. their
school and their missionaries: they are now
more scattered than any tribe in this Territory.
The Pillagcr Lands of Chippewas are warlikc
and. not beng annuity Indians are doubly more
troublesome, living as they do among those
drawing amnuit,s.
TIE s:ovX.
The doubtful tenure by which thi. tribe hold
Their supposed reservation, is well understood
10y their chiefs and headnlcn, and is beginning
to give deep dissatisfaction, and throwing daily
more and more obstacles in the way of their re-
mo>al: this reservation will not be wanted hy
white men for many years:
l>t. Because there is not wood or timber. or
coal, Sufficient for the purposes Of civilization
except Immediately on the St Peters and its
tributaries From near the vicinity of the new
agency 'herc commences vast prairie Of more
th'h one hundred miles IN extent entirely dcs-
tItutc Of timber: and feel confident we never
shall be able to keep any very large number of
them at their new agency. or near there II
may he. by using with care and economy their
agricultural fund. that inducements can he held
olt Ia Keep more and more each year within
the reseh Of the agency.
ii. Already the fund set apart for the reno
val and subsistence the frs. year of the Sisse-
tons aad War pa tons has been expended. and
all Their provisions eaten up: Sl7, 900 and up
wards has already been expended by Governor
Ramsey, aud Que year in advance of the time
.:Xcd hy the treaty for their removal. This ey
pcnditGrc was made while he WIS getting them
to sign the Senate amendments 10 the treaty Of
July % 1851. which they were very reluctant
to do. and which not mere than half the chiefs
have ever signed yet. These Indians want the
government to confirm this reservation to them
for term of years. would recommend that
this be done as the only means TO satisfy them
and humanity demands t. recommend that
the payments he made earlier. so as to give
them their usual time for going on their fall
hunts fer TIE winters supply Of buffalo and
deer. The supplies must tr here sooner than
heretofore. because the agency is now removed
zoo miles further of and for the further reason.
that after the lst August no steamboat can he
got up 10 the new agency. and land transpor;a-
ton is extremely difficult and cx.rava:an,ly
expensive.
TIII: wiNNEGAGoES.
This tribe have until lately bcrn cxtrcmsl,
discoutcntcd. and have never remained i'm the
country set apart for them. under the treaty of
1876. permanently. The treaty Of ls;G pledged
the homer and solemn faith Of our government
To Civ" them home suitable 20 their wants
aul Wishes by the exchange lately made
with them. Nv order Of the government through
agent Fletcher and myselfthcy are much pleas
ed. or at least they profess to be- Their new
horne on Crow river viii. in my Judgment. give
them permanent satisfaction. / take this occa-
sion to say. that this exchange has caused some
persons. for party purposes. and others bccausr
4 difference in money was not given them to
pay old debts. to be dissatisfied. They talk and
reason like the government had 10 right to its
own soil. nor the Indians any claim to protcc-
ton by the government. nOtwitb standing the
pledged faith Of the government by the Sd art
icle Of the treaty Of 1916. These men making
complaints against the treaty are residing on
the Mississippi where they can go on the west
side and make what they call claims. and TINS !
cut the good timber off government lands and !
convert them to purposes of commerce, &c. .
without being actual settlers.
But should remark that this opposition 70
this exchange with the WinncEacors is very in /
siccre.-Thry don't want to lose the distribu- !
ton Of the large Indian annuity ANNUALLY. vet
they want them off the Mississippi river 50 they
can get full access TO the timber Of its banks. /
They don I care what becomes Of the unfor.u-
nate Indian so they can have things arranged
to cater to their cupidity. But this complaint
only comes from few, and is hardly worth The
notice have seen proper to take oft The cy-
change made ought Jy all mans he confirmed.
This exchange was made without the disiasey-
sted interference Of traders and spectators.
zone OF whom have no other care for the red
nan than TO fatten Oh his ignorance and fraiItv.
know what say and mean what say.
In the annual report ofthe Winnehago agent.
or 1852. he strongly recommends this exchange
}! country. and appeals to the pledged faith of
'ur government made in the 81 article of the 4
rcaty Of 2si6: depicts the caiamitics and diff
ulties consequent upon lis not being done b;
ore then; but now, under new and different ,
dim n ;straton. he and some friends affect to OBJ
'osc 1t. Governor Ramsey recommended il
tIOnpiy and said tho forks of Frau. r;,or ,ror