Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-08-30

My Dear Times,-Soms events have transpired
in this upper Minnesota country which seem wor-
thy of record. First, the fraternal correspon-
dence which took place, in the early part of the
season, between the waters of the Minnesota and
the Red River Of the North. Years ago, the In
dians say, bateau was taken up the Minnesota
from its mouth to the head of Big Stone Lake,
and from thence it was Aoated over to Lake Ira.
verse and so down Red River to Lord Selkirk's
settlement. Between the small stream which
constitutes the Minnesota above Big Stone Lake,
and runs around the south end of Lake Traverse,
is a piece of bottom land a mile or more in ex-
tent each way. In the high waters of May, this
tract of land was, understand, flooded, and so
the waters of the North and South embraced each
other. This is fact for the Historical Society.
In these times Of President making, when
Freedom and Slavery are making deadly thrusts
at each other, both in Kansas and in the Senate
Chamber, some seventeen young men have entered
the lists, the representatives of progress, have
formed Constitution and elected Chief, a
Secretary and three Councilmen, and their gov
ernment has been recognized by Maj. Murphy,
their Agent. think you will be interested in
some account of this movement. Their plat
form or Constitution is written in Dakota by
their Secretary. The first article recognizes the
existence Of one Great Spirit, and His claim to
the love and worship of all men. In the second,
they declare the basis of their organization to
be, ceasing from their former Dakota customs,
adopting the white mans dress and following the
white mans customs alone, and according to
their ability, endeavoring to improve their con-
dtion by labor. The third article sets forth
their appreciation of education, and their deter
mnation to erect School House ard employ
teacher for their own families. The fourth ex-
presses their desire to enlarge their fields, build
bctter houses and have domestic cattle, and their
intention that the trespasser upon the rights of
property shall be duly punished. In the fifth
they acknowledge fealty to the United States
Government. In the sixth and seventh, they ask
to have separate division Of their annuities,
that the United States Government will make
and treat them as citizens, and individually put
them in possession of piece of land. For the
present their officers are to be elected annually.
On the 30th Of July they made their debut be-
fore the Government Agent. But it was done
with fear and trembling. They had met with so
much opposition from the other Indians, who had
declared to them that they would not succeed,
that it was with difficulty they could all be got
together to make their presentation. Maj. Muir.
ply received them very kindly and spoke good
words to them. Among other things he told
them that he was glad to take by the hand the
first elected President among the Dakotas--that
he would treat their elected officers on an equali-
ty with any Chiefs in the Nation-that although
they might meet with opposition from their own
people, the movement would meet with the ap-
probation of all good and wise men--that 80 fa r
as was in his power he would help them, and that
if in deed and in truth they carried out the prin-
ciples of their Constitution, they would earn for
themselves place and a name among the D ako-
tas. 4a AiH
So the Government went into operation with
the Agents blessing. We regard it as an evil
dence of progress. 1t is at least an index,
pointing to something better and higher in the fu-
ture. A copy Of their Constitution in Dekota,
with their autographs appended, and also an
English translation of the same, were placed in
the Agents hands. May it not be the last R,pub-
lie organised among these Native Americans!
Yours, Very truly,
| 7, ~ .@e S. r. Riccs.