The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-01-26

members Of the Legislature and Gov. w. A.
German, on the subject Of this treaty. and also
the proceedings Of large and respectable meet
ing Of the citizens Of Hennepin county, held in
Minneapolis on Saturday last.
The withdrawal Of this treaty 10 all important
TO Hennepin County. as its ratification would re-
lard the settlement, and thoroughly destroy the
business prospects Of that county. Hence the
untirug opposition manifested by that and the adj
joining counties, to The ratification of the treaty
The views of Gov. German as expressed in ms
letter to the members Of the Legislature. viii
PROFESSIONALLY be read with much interest by all
friendly to our Territorial prosperity.
As we have said elsewhere, this treaty was the
ground work Of the opposition to Gov. German.
and we gratifed that as soon as he became
convinced Of the business of the complaints Of the
people, he withdrew his supper. from it. regard
less Of all these personal Opinions which he might
naturally be supposed to entertain.
Gov. German has also been severely censured for
err Of Indian Affairs, Of the course Of Gov. Ram
sey in carrying out the provisions Of the treaties
with the Sioux. We are permitted to publish
the following from letter written by Gov. Cor
man. which was handed US too late to be inserted
in the Pioneer of las, week. l, is candid and
explicit, and fully covers another item Of the OBJ
Jec,ions made to the Indian report. We believe
it will satisfy every unprejudiced mind, tina, he il
no. 'capable Of doing injustice to any one" In
,en,ionally. and if uninteniionally, not "wmhou'
promptly repairing it,
| ST. PAUL JAM 9th 1854.
| Sir: ! learn from persons, for whose Judgment
and opinion have great respect, that the following
/ extract from a report made by ME TO the lndiar
Department, has b-en and perhaps is now construed
into charge against Governor Ramsey or that It II
understood 10 be an insinuation that the seven
teen thousand dollars were improperly, or iraudm
! Ieny expended. do not think that such con
structon can fairly be put upon ii. IL reads fol-
lows:
I'd. Already the fund apart for the remova
and subsistence the first year OF the Sissetons and
War-pa lions has been expended. and all their pro-
visions eaten up; Sl7 900 and upwards has already
been expended By Governor Ramsey, and yeal
in advance Of the time fixed by the treaty for then
removal. This expenditure was made while he was
getting them to sign the Senate amendments the
treaty Of July %, 1851.
hope may never SO far forget myself as to be capa
BILE OF doing injustice to any one, especially pre-
decessor, without promptly repairing it. Therefore
distinctly dsciaIm aOy intention OF having IL infer
red that there had been any improper expenditures
Of this money. The only question with me was
that expended bt fore the time intended v the
treaty. Bnt this authorized by Luke Lea, Esq.
then Commissioner Of Indian Affairs. Nor va.
there any proof, showing fraud in the expenditure
/ The facts stated by me in the latter part o, thai
report relation 10 the money agreed 10 be paid &c
:" the Chiefs as they IN open Council (should) ie
quest" ono ever pretended 10 deny, but the
! point in dispute was uhethe Il ,ras paid accordin
la,r, and whe,ty the a,ahEy greH by the Indian,
TO the Ifdders and 10 G0rernor Ramsey, at and sub
sequc1t to the Treaty justified the % yment II ,ca,
made. This point caused much contest and scru
tiny. The Comm ssoner's Report this poin
will he made known in due time l beg leave
to say that had not preiudged any contested fact. -
II any well into med gentleman i'll say that | pre-
Judged any contested fat, will then beg leave re
specially to ask him to publish Governor Ramsey
defence, in which he admits that it paid tc
the Indians, but paid in accordance with authorit,
given by the Indians to himself and the Traders
at and subsequent 10 the Treaties, and according &c
his unde, standing Of their spirit and intention. -
In conclusion repeat, that The disputed question
was first, whether this authority authorized the pay
ment to the traders under the law, 3nd., whether
these powers of attorney were genuine aud iarlS
obtained.
THE INDIAN REPoRr.--Thc report Of Gov
German as Superintendent of Indian Affairs hai
been very generally disapproved by the people and
press OF The Territory, because
LIST, Its endorsement Of the " inncbago Treaty;
2rd, Its Injustice towards settlers on the Public
Lands;
SID, 1t referred to matters under investigation rel
alive to fiand said 10 have been committed against
the Sioux Indians, in a manner that admitted of a
construction condemna,ory of Gov. Ramsey, before
the testimony ia the case had been heard.
These are the prominent points Of objection, and
believe it TO be the duty Of the press to condemn
any and all acts Of public officers which are perni-
cIous in their tendencies, promoive Of evil in.
dividuals o communities. We believe further, that
party ties, 'tear, favor, or Affection should
prevent firm, yet mild rebuke, by the press. of all
acts injurious to The general welfare or conflicting
with individual rgh,s, but most cmphatically dis
sent from the bitter, personal and political hostility
which is clearly manifest in a review Of the repo
of Gov. German to the Indian Department published
in late ST. Anthony papers. More especially would
condemn low abuse Of government, officer under
democratic administration ty paper protesting to
he democratic.
We do not subscribe to the policy which is too
prevalent with The press, especially those Of par.
IAN character that the acts OF political opponent
must he condemned, and those OF mcn.ber of the
party to which the editor belongs be supported
and endorsed, ngh urong, We believe such
is injurious to the interests Of party, destruc-
tive OF that confidence in the press which every
ductor of public Journal should labor to promote,
and insting into the minds Of community a feeling
Of disust, discord and enmy which is subeersye of
that love and reverence for our institutions which
alone can secure their permanently. On the contrary
We believe in sustaining or condemning the acts of
public officer the tendency Of those acts may ap-
pear to be injurious promo,,e Of the interests of
the Territory, but certainly in where the press
feels i, duty to condemn the official acts of gov.
eminent officer Of lis party, all personal preudi.
ees should be discarded, and above ALL indiv idua
abuse should be ayni,L,d