The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1855-11-22
Dele The sssax Rayaens-calpabili-
oflhc Governuens Officers.
lsai,ora, cerr..po.deu.. Of r,oas.r and Ds.oers,
YELlox MEDICINE. Nov. 10. 1855

Editorial Cctrsspoadeuee cf roaeer and Dsnoernsl
YMlox MEDICINE. Nov. 10, 1855.
suppose you viii be somewhat surprised to
learn that the Indians at this place have not
vet been paid their annuities. although they
came here by appointment about a month ago,
aud the sgcnt has had the money in his pos
session more than month Certainly, the
upper Sioux desrvc great credit for their for.
bearance, tor they have had their patience sorely
tried since they have been In the receipt Of an
nuities. Last year they were kept waiting
some two months --almost the entire time in q
state Of starvation finally left for their
hunting grounds destitute Of the means Of
support, at an Indictment season. Again
they are delayed unnecessarily this season, al
though they are destitute Of tood---winter
about to set inland they must yet travel
some hundred and fifty miles to their wintering
grounds. .....
The Indians yesterday and to-day have beg.
ged the agent to give them their money. that
they may prepare for their return TO their
homes as soou as possible but the agent Is
now unwell, and will NOT in oil probability, be
able 10 make the payment until the Indians
have been reduced to the proper extremity TO
render the purchase OF certain beef cattle and
sacks Of -four indispensable. Were these
Sioux provided with the means Of support
during the winter, the actual damage they
would sustain from this delay. would not be so
great; but, on the contrary, they have no other
means Of support than the chase, and every
day wasted here renders their travel 10 the
country where they can obtain game more diff
fcul aud dangerous, owing to the heavy falls
Of snow on the praires.
Although provision was made In the treaty
with them for breaking up their land, and an
agricultural fund provided. which should now
be aiIording the Indians the means Of support
they have not yet had over two hundred and
twenty acres broke, for about four thousand
Indians; and the most Of that was plowed the
past summer. Up to the present time, the
Siesetons and Wapetons have derived no bene-
fits from the liberal provisions in their treaty
for agricultural purposes.
Many of the Indians will again visit the
white settlements the coming winter, who
would have gone west to hunt, had the pay
ment been made at the proper time The pros
pect for the Indians to derive any advantage,
pecuniarly or morally, from the sale Of their
lands, is gloomy indeed; and at this time there
is every appearance that our settlers will be
burdened with them until some radical change
is made by government in the administration
Of their affairs in this Territory.
The Indians do not attach blame TO the
government. They see what is transporting
around them they feel that the fault is with
the officers in the Territory; them alone they
blame for the injustice to which they are sub
jected and efforts will be made TO represent
matters to the Department, as they exist, with
tho hope and expectation that change will
be made which will enable them 10 derive
some benefit from the sale Of their lands
The stipulations Of the treaty are liberal. and
il properly carried out would render the In
dams comfortable, and to some extent, pro-
mote their advance to civilization; but, up to
the present moment, the matexpenditure Of
the agricultural fund, and the suilerings and
priva,ions to which they have heen subjected
through the delays in their annuity payments,
have made these annuities curse instead OF a
blessing. and will cause the Indians Ia hang
about the white settlements, as the only means
of procuring food.
This place jus, now is quite Lively. Us there
are whites and Indians in abundance, who have
little to do except to run from one camp to an
other. The arofs, therefore, are constantly
filed with people Of all varieties Of shades.
When another opportunity Offers, will write
again. meantime remain,
Yours. &c. j. X. Is