The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-03-30
The Half Breed Lands.

We learn that the committee on Indian affairs in
the House Of Representatives have refused to recon-
mend the passage OF the bill introduced by Mr. Rice,
our Delegate in Congress. which we published
short time since, providing for the division of the
Hall Breed lands, among the pei sons 10 whom they
were granted, and allowing the claimants To select
IN lieu Of their land, other lands in any part Of the
country recently ceded by the Sioux Indians.
We do not pretend to know what objections are
urged against the bill, but we do know that either
Congress the President Of the United States should
cause those lands to be granted in fec the claimant.
at As early day as possible. This is demanded AZ
act Of justice to .he Mixed Bloods who have been
kept ont Of the enjoyment Of any Of the benefits the,
should have derived from the grant, for over twent,
years. Ii is due TO the whites who have settled on
those lands, uader reasonable expectation thai The
treaties Tor the purchase o. the would be ratified
aad have made valuable improvements TO which there
IS no probability OF their obtaining title, unit, the
trac, Is purchased. the Lands divided. 1t is due
10 the Territory, because unless those lands are
ed 10 settlement, large and valuable tract Of country
situated back Of the Half Breed tract viii! not be
settled, it being virtually shut on, from access 10 Lake
rcpn and the river.
We regret very much that the course proposed BY
tie bill referred TO, should have met the Sanction
OF the committee, because b, issuing warrants to the
Claimants thos" who chose to do so could have loca
ted their lands in the vicinity of the present location
Of the Indians and those who preferred to locale OF
the tract, which is doubtless more valuable, caul,
have done so; the Improvements made in good faitl
by white settlers would have been secured to them
and the title to the tract would have been settled be-
yond any future cavil.
We very much fear that the Half Breed tract !,
Minnesota, is doomed to the same litigation. an,
difficulties that were entailed upon the Half Breec
tract IN Iowa. That beautiful tract of country ha
suffered far beyond computation, in consequence q
the negligence Of Congress to make proper provisio,
for The settlement, Of the title Of the several claimants
Those interested in the Half Breed tract ON LAX.
Pepn have expended large sums of money alrcad,
IN their endeavors u a proper title to wha
belongs to them, which tile the government u,iu.,h
~thhods. and at this day they appear be no neare
the consumnation OF theit desires than they were il
1913 when they Commenced their solicitations.
Why IS this!--The treaty authorizes the Presden
10 decd N fee 64) acres to each claimant under III
treaty Ii Congress will do nothing in the premises
why will the President persist in refusing to do hi
act of simple Justice! Way compel the claimants t,
expend money year alter year in the vain hope tina
they may b, enabled TO obtain title to the land
which in right and justice should have been granite,
them almost quarter of a century ago!
The coalition Of these lands il wei! know, ,o q,
delegate AID the bill he introduced was we'll aIane,
to meet tia peculiar necessities Of all Interested
lar as they can be met at this late day, and we ca,
see no Taiid objection that Congress can have to IL
passage, as grants nothing 10 the Half Breeos bu
tardy and long delayed Justice.