The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-02-06
The Pioneer Correspondence.
For the Pioneer.
Thel AIinnesotian and the sioux Indi-

Mr.. EDITOR Some time since, saw an
article in the 1limmssotiam. complaining that
the Sioux Indians had suffered severely from
the mis-management Of their officers and
concluding with promise that full erpose
would soon be laid before the public. Hav-
ing been on the ground during the payment,
and being familiar with the state of affairs
that existed, 1 felt no little curiosity to see
what sort of Misrepresentation that editor
would trump up" for this occasion. Sew
eral weeks passed without the appearance Of
the promised exposition, and l had almost
come to the conclusion that the public would
escape the inaiction, when that paper of the
18th inst. came to hand. Although the
editor fails to draw from the "Old Ira
ders" the full expose that he promised, nor
does he bring against the Government Off
GERS single charge Of non-ful6lment of du-
ty, yet he reiterates the false and malignant
statement that the Indians "have been
most outrageously treated" by them. The
fear of giving offence in executive quarters
has deferred those "Old Traders" from ex-
posing the outrages committed upon the
poor Indians by their officials, according to
this sage editor, and prevented him showing
to the public the loose corruption Of those
officers. This looks like a most lame and
Aimsy excuse for Withholding the exposures,
and speaks but poorly of his perseverance in
ferreting out the mis-doings of those holding
Offices of public trust. Hundreds were pre-
sent during the payment, who are compe-
tent and, doubt not. willing to give the
public, or the editor Of the Minnesotian, any
information they may require upon this sub
ject. But, evidently, faithful report of
the transactions Of the Government officers,
and condition of the Indians, is not what he
desired or sought for; he much prefers
turning aside from truth and honesty, and
uttering mean insinuations, and building
thereupon unfounded and malignant asseve-
rations.
That the public may be correctly inform
ed, and the Superintendent and Agent alb
solved from all blame, propose briefly to
state the character of the outrageous
treatment the Indians received, concern
ing which the editor of the Minnesotiam
speaks with so much warmth and affected
sympathy, and so little truth and honesty.
The treaty with the upper bands of the
Sioux stipulates that they shall receive their
annuities in July. Congress has failed to
make the appropriation to meet this early
payment-the money not being ready for
delivery to the Agent in St. Louis before
late in September. The time consumed in
going and coming, counting and counselling
with the Indians is necessarily considerable,
and renders it impossible to bring about
payment earlier than October or November
The Superintendent and Agent have re-
peatedly urged upon the Department the
necessity of making earlier payment to these
Indians. But, as yet, no action has been
taken in the matter. The inclement wealth
er of this season, always has, and always
will bring about much suffering among so
large number, (some 10000 made up Of
both sexes and all ages, from tender infancy
to decrepid old age But there was anoth-
er cause that operated to render the posi-
ton of the officers trying one, and the
condition of the Indians distressing-an in
suficiency Of food. The Indians came down
and encamped at Red Wood early in Sep
TENDER, relying entirely upon their annuities
for subsistence, which were inadequate to
supply the long continued demand. When
they were exhausted they resorted to the
fields of the lower bands, which afforded
but meager fare, until they were ready to
leave for their homes and hunts. These In
dams were repeatedly urged by their Agent,
not to leave their homes for their annuities
until he had sent for them, warning them if
they did so, Gas was the case the year pre-
vious) great suffering would be the conse-
quence.
The Agent, am informed, turned out to
them every barrel Of flour and pork which
had been received for the winter supply Of
the workmen employed on the department.
and adopted every means in his mower to