The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-02-17
The Fort at Pembina-Debate In the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES

e for fort at Pembina. friend, writing fro
f Washington, incidentally alludes to the pa
sage of this bill through the House, as follow:
: 1.-THE House passed bill to-day, making a
f appropriation of $4,000, for the construction
, fort at Pembina. This $4,000 is merely
authorize the commencement Of the worl
when it will be completed out of the funds ,
the Quartermaster's department.
"For this act you are entirely indebted t
your excellent and persevering Delegate, VIII
F has been unceasing in his demands for the es
adjustment of this fertilization. 1t is a mea
sure of great Importance, and especially so a
this Juncture, when there are continual rumor
OF preparation for war among the tribes of tn
West and Northwest 1t will form a nucleu
around which the people of the Pembina dis
trictmay form and rally, in the event Of an at
tack upon them, which is not unlikely to occur
if war actually breaks out"
1t will be seen by the debate that Secretary
Rosser's very particular and confidential friend
Mr.. John Letcher, of Virginia, opposed the bill
to s. the bitter ends No measure, looking to
the interests or the welfare Of Minnesota can
come before the House, without meeting the
violent opposition of this narrow-minded alb
stractionist and officious meddler. Mr.. Wash
burne, OF Illinois, gave our Delegate strong
helping hand On this occasion:
Mr.. RICE. The Secretary of War has been
consulted in reference to this bill The settle
ment, Mr.. Chairman, contains about four thou
sand Inhabitants. They are on the British lines,
and are twenty days march from the nearest
settlement south. The inhabitants have been
murdered. and every year since the settlement
has been made, the cattle and horses have
been stolen from them by the very Indians
against whom you now propose to raise force
OF three thousand men in other Territories. We
have about from forty thousand to fifty thou
sand Indians in the Territory of Minnesota,
and yet we have never cost the Government a
dollar in the shape Of Indian wars. All that
we ask now is, the means for our citizens to
protect themselves. A small force there-a
company Of infantry-wOuld form nucleus. a
sort of depot of arms and ammunition which
would enable the citizens to protect themselves
We do not ask for mounted men there. At
present we have a collector OF The port station
ed there. Our laws are being constantly vo-
lated. The subjects of the Hudson's Bay Com
pany come over every day in the year, seize
American citizens with ilnpunty, bring them
across the line, and try them according to the
laws or rules of the company. believe the
Secretary of War has recommended this. l
know that. in 1S48 or 1S49, he sent officers
there to select site for the purpose. A site
has been selected, and all we want the Govern
ment to do is to furnish US with means to pro-
tect ourselves.
Mr.. WAsHBURNE, of Illinois. Living, do.
in the neighborhood of my friend from Mime
sofa. (Mr. Rce). l can bear testimony to the
truth ofwhat he has stated to the committee,
in re gard to the great and urgent necessity
which there is for the establishment of this fort
at Pembina. l trust that this proposition will
not be encountered with that of the gentleman
from Kansas (Mr. Whtfeld) and if that gentle
man will not withdraw his amendment. l hope
the committee will vote it down, and recon-
mend that the bill. as reported by the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, be passed.
Mr.. HEM. believe that the Committee on
Military Affairs have passed over, and not pro-
vided for, the most important points as militia
ry posts-thatisp points where there are hostile
Indians, and where they have shown hostility
within short time past-in other words in the
hunting grounds Of the Sioux and the Omahas
I think the whole question should be left to the
discreet on of the Secretary of War, and let him
establish any further posts lie may deem neces-
sary. IprOpose the following amendment as
covering both the Territories of Kansas and
"
Nebraska:
Sec 2 And be it further enacted, That for
the establishment of military posts in the Ter
ritories of Kansas and Nebraska, at such points
in said Territories as the Secretary of War may
designate the sum of $4,000 be. and the same
is hereby appropriated.
Mr.. WHITFIELD. l accept that amendment
MIR. faulkner. Ihayc but one single remark
to make to the committee with reference to this
bill. The Secretary of War was fully apprised
of the impor ance of having military post at
this point. Pembina, and l would call the at
tention of the committee to his letter to me, on
this and other subjects which engaged our at
tention. His letter is as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Washington, June 80, 1854 I
SIR,-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter of the oath instant, in
closing memorial from the Legislature of
Minnesota for the establishment of military
post on or near Pembina river. in latitude 40
north. for the protection of citizens of the Unit
ed States, and Indians resident within our Dor
ders. from the attacks of the British settlers at
Selkirk.
| In reply to your request for the views of this
department on the application. l can say that
there is very little doubt of either the propriety
or necessity for a fort at the point indicated
but. at the present time, there is neither money
| to construct. nor men to garrison one. at the
disposal of the department, and it was mainly
/ to give security to such exposed sections OF
country that the increase of the army was ask
ed for in my late annual report.
With our present limited force. many assail-
able points necessarily remain unguarded and
all that can he done is to occupy The more i'm
pOrtant positions.
Should the required increase Of the army lie
authorized by Congress- it is within the views,
as it will then be within the means. of the de
partment to station company near Pembina.
for the protection of the people in that section
of the country.
The memorial of the Legislature is herewith
returned.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JEFF. DAVIS.
Secretary of War.
Hon. c. J. FAULKNER. Chairman Com. Military
Affairs.
Mr.. WAsIINBuRE. of Illinois. The bill make:
an appropriation for the erection of a fort al
this point.
Mr. FAULKNER. Yes; the bill makes an ap
preparation for the establishment of fort. but
the men are yet wanting to garrison these forts
and the Secretary tells you he cannot defend
the country, he cannot do what you call upor
him to do in the shape of your appropriations
because he has not the men to garrison the
forts.
The question was taken on Mr. Henn's am
endment; and it was agreed to.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. l move to amend
the original bill by striking out the wore
"fort.' in the seventh line. and inserting in
lieu thereof the words military post" SO a!
to make it read, "in the purchase of a site ant
the erection of military post in the Territory