Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-09-25

FAIR PLAY TO THE INDIANS-NO. I.

For the Times.
FAIR PLAY TO THE INDIANs-No. 1.
Messrs T. M. NEwsoN & Cot may be
justly expected of citizens of the U. S. residing
among the Indians, that they will feel a spe-
cial interest in maintaining friendly feelings
between those among whom they reside, and
their fellow citizens. One of the most effect
ual ways of doing this, is by making known
the wrongs which the Indians suffer, so that
they may be treated with kindness, and JUS
tice. To this end, last winter wrote you sew
eral letters, giving some account Of the suffer-
ings Of the Dakotas, in consequence of their
civilization funds being kept back, and their
annuity money not paid them at the proper
time. There are two other points in which
they Justly complain, that the treaties of 1851
have not been complied with. BY these trea-
ties sixty thousand dollars, were promised to be
expended in erecting School houses, mills, and
Smith shops, and opening farms; and twelve
thousand dollars year, for fifty years, in edu-
eating their children. No school known has
yet been erected for their benefit, nor is it
known to them or to the whites residing among
them, that single cent of their educational
funds above spoken of, has been expended for
their benefit. Thus the children of these In
dians are not only left to grow up in ignorance,
idlcness, and vice, but most of them are as ef-
fectually excluded from education as they could
be by any human law. Their educational funds,
thus held back, prevent benevolent societies
and individuals from doing what they other
wise would do for the education Of these Indians
Eighteen yearsag the Mendcwakanonwan
Sioux were favorable to education, and schools;
and when the treaty of 1897 went into opera
ton, there were four educational establishments,
supported by three different benevolent socic-
ties among these Indians, numbering in all less
than two thousand souls. Major Lelafcro,
who had at that time been their agent for not
less than fifteen years, and manifested much
interest in their welfare, in his report to gov
ernment says that their establishments were
all doing well, and commended them to the
patronage Of the L. S. government But un-
fortunately in that treaty, it was promised that
be expended for these Indians, in such a man
ner as the President of the United States should
direct and every President for fourteen years
said it should be expended for education, and
neglected to have any considerable part of it
so expended. Thus an opportunity was offered
to persons who thought that they might thus
make profit out of this money, to prejudice
these Sioux against education. This was done
by telling them that the missionaries were liv-
ing on their money, and if the schools were
suffered to continue, would get the whole of
this annuity, but tha, it would be paid to them in
money, if they asked for it, and suffered none
of their children to attend school. Such as did
not speedily yield were charged with wronging
the whole band out of their money, and threat
ened with violence. Thus the schools among
the Mendewakantonwans were all frustrated,
by that unfortunate provision intenden to foster
them, but not enforced. The poor Indians did
not dislike education, but most of them were so
ignorant as to love money more than they did
learning.
of the L. S., Lea and Ramsey promised these
Indians that the annuity which they had been
repeatedly told, the President of the L. S. said
should be expended for education, and in no
other way; would be paid them in money, the
Indians said they were in favor of schools
Accordingly besides a sum for the erection of
school houses, six thousand dollars year was
promised for education. Had our Government
acted IN this matter promptly many Of the
children of these Dakotas might have been
now receiving such an education, as would fit
them 10 become useful citizens; instead of
growing up with such habits as are likely to make
them burden on society. As the Dakotas
are not very desrous Of education, many may
suppose the injury inflicted by Withholding thei.
educational annuities is small, at most only
postponing their education as many years as the
money is held back. But to one who has seen
Its pernicious influence, in annihilating all
desire most of them have for education, and
causing in the minds Of many, strong opposition
to it; the injury inflicted on the Indians by
neglecting to expend their annuities appears to
be greater than it would be if the amount Of
their educational annuities held back was sunk
in the deepest hole in the Mississippi
T. S. WILLIAMSON.
Pajutazee, NJ. T., Aug. 81, '55.