The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-05-25
The Half Breed Tract.

Through the favor of our Delegate we have
received copy of the following "Bill to au-
thorize the President of the United States to
cause to be surveyed the tract of land in the
Territory of Minnesota, belonging to the Half
Breeds or Mixed BlOOds, of the DacOtah or
Sioux nation of Indians, and for other purpOs-
es." 1t will be remembered that we have here
tofore advocated the policy adopted in this Bill,
of granting lands in the new purchase, in eX-
change for those on the Half Breed tract
This policy is undoubtedly the most proper,
both for the white settlers Oh the tract, and for
claimants under the Half Breed grant. Many
of those to whom this tract belongs arc anX-
iOus to locate in the vicinity of the Indians,
while large number of the whites are already
located on, and have improved portions of that
rich agricultural tract granted by the Sioux
to their mixed blood relations.
The Bill has passed the House of Rcprcscn-
tativcs, and it is to be hoped will also pass the
Senate at the present session, us follows -
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Represent
ot,ss of the United Stairs Of America Congress as
sembied That the President be, and he is hereby,
authorized to exchange with the half breeds m<ed-
bIoods Of the Dacotah Sioux nation of Indians,
who are entitled to interest therein, for the tract
Of land living on the west side Of Lake Pepin and the
Mississippi River, in the Territory Of Minnesota,
which was set apart and granted for their Use and
benefit bv the ninth article Of the treaty of Prairie
du Chen, Of the fifteenth day Of July, thousand
eight hundred and thirty and for that purpose he is
hereby authorized to to be issued to said per-
sons, the execution by them, by the legal rep
resentatves of such may be minors, OF a full and
complete REIMBURSEMENT by them to the United States
of all their title, and interest, according to such
form as shall be prescribed by the Commissioner Of
the General Land Office, in and to said tract of land
or reservati"n, certificates scrip for the same
amount of land to which each indiv idual would be
entitled in Of division of the said grant or res
ervaton pro rata among the cIamants-wh'ch said
certificates or scrip may be located upon any OF the
lands within said reservation not occupied by
actual and bona fdc settlers Of the half breeds
mixed bIoods such other persons have gone in
to said Territory by authority of law, or upon any
other unoccuped lands subject to preemption or prl-
vae sale. upon any other unsurveyed lands, not
reserved by government, upon which they have re.
spectively made Improvements PrOidCd, That said
certificates scrip shall not embrace more than six
hundred and forty, less than forty each, and
provided that the shall be equally appOrtiOned,
nearly as practicable among those entitled to an
interest in said reservation And prorded further,
That transfer OF any Of said ccrtifi-
Gates scrip shall lie valid.
SEC. 2. And be 1t further oacted That the Prcsi-
dent he, and he is hereby authorized to be
ascertained The number and names of the hafbreeds
or mixed-bloods who entitled to participate in
the benefits Of the said grant reservation aore-
said before the ssue Of the certificates scrip pro-
vi dcd for in the preceding section.
SEC. And be It furtho enacted, That from and
after the passage Of this act, the President is author
lied to have the lands within the said reserve sur
veyed and exposed to public sale ut the land Offices
for the districts in which said land. may lie, accord
ing the boundaries Of the several land districts re-
Gently established by Congress, in the same manner
as other public lands.