The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-12-19


failure to pay, on the part of some OF tht
counties, while continuing to send person:
charged with ofiences-a law was passed a,
The late special session Of the Territorial Leg
isiature, making it the duty of the Warden to
receive and confine in the Penitentiary, per-
sons under indictment sent from any county
in the Territory, provided the Warden was
prepaid by the committing officer, the sum o
three dollars per week for five weeks board
besides furnishing the necessary clothing.-
1t was likewise provided in said law, that the
Warden should not be compelled to maintain
or be held responsible for the safe keeping OF
any prisoner after the expiration OF the time
for which be should have been paid at the
rate aforesaid. There being no money in the
Territorial Treasury for such purpose, it was
urged that such law was necessary to pro-
tect the Warden against the injustice and
responsibility of supporting and taking care
of county prisoners without compensation
Although some law of the kind seemed tenn
porarily demanded, no argument is needed to
show that an entire change should be made
in the organization and government of the
Penitent,ary. The plan which has been gen.
erally adopted in other States, of hiring con-
vict labor by contract to the highest bidder,
will doubtless be followed here. The War
den should have a fixed salary, and no otfi-
Ger in the institution should have az interest
in the contracts, or in the labor of the con-
victs; nor be the owner of any part of the
tools or machinery used in the institution, as
is the case under the pr sent laws.
would recommend that during the pres
ent session of the Legislature, the proper
committees should visit this institution, and
give it's affails such investigation as will ena-
BILE them to report upon its present condition,
and make such recommendations in addition
to those already indicated, as may be neces-
sary for its future government.
The Iadidn Tribes and Condition ofour Frontier
Fzaudreau Pu6ed-CuAen Pu6ed-Erery1odyF Fg6ed
The condition of our frontier, and our re-
latons with the Indian tribes, is matter Of
such deep interest to the immediate growth
and prosperity of our State, that / deem it
proper to lay before you brief statement of
some of the events which have transpired
since the adjournment of the last Territorial
Legislature. A history Of the Spirit Lake
massacre, committed by a maraudng Iand
of Sioux Indians, led by Inkpaduta. was COM
municated to that body at its extra session.
Empowered by their act, procured the nee
essary means and took such steps as | then
deemed would result in the recapture of the
white women, and in successfully carrying
out the wishes of the Legislature and the
people. These measures resulted in the re-
coyery Of two OF the unfor unate captiveS,
the other two having been murdered by the
Indians. In this connection, take pleasure
in stating that to the efforts Of Major Flan-
''reau, then Sioux Agent, l am greatly in
debted for the successful result of the enter
prise.
Since then, all grounds for fear of further
Indian depredations have been removed, and
feel confident that under the present admin
istration of Indian affairs no apprehension
need be entertained of their recurrence.
The state Of affairs existing upon the from
tiers at that time was represented to the In
dian Department at Washington, and orders
were promptly forwarded that the Lower
Sioux annuties should be withheld until the
offending Inlans were delivered up for pun
ishment. On the arrival of Major Cullen, the
present Superintendent of Indian affairs, ac-
tive and vigorous efforts were made to des
troy Ink-pa-du-tah and his band. who were
wandering in the vicinity of the James Riv-
er. Superintendent Cullen withheld from the
Sioux their annuities. and by his persever-
ance and energy a war party of the Lower
Sioux was formed and sent out They met
with portion of the band and destroyed four
of the men; and it has since been learned
from reliable sources, that the rest of Ink-a-
pa.du-tah's party have fled beyond the Mis-
souri,, with the design uf leaving forever
country where they had committed such un-
provoked Outrages.
The Government, on the recommendation
of the Superintendent has supplied the In
dams with an additional amount of provis-
ions, in order to keep them on the Reserve
during the winter, and if our own citizens
will refrain from the traffic with them in liq-
uor, which is SO demoraliZing and degrading
to both races, peace and tranquility may
hereafter exist
The excited state of public feeling during
the early part of the summer, the alarm and
fears of the settlers on our frontiers, the
restless and threatening attitude of the In
dians, have all happily subsided, and peace
and confidence now pervade every portion of
the State Of Minnesota. 1t gives me much
satisfaction to state that these favorable re-
suits are due to the prompt, determined, and
udicious action Of the authorities at Wash
ing officers at the forts, and the untiring ef-
forts of the efficient Superintendent and his
agents.
Congress ought to Fork Orer Expenses.
AS the Territory has incurred an expense
of between four and five thousand dollars in
rescuing three captive women, would re-
commend that memorial be sent to Con-
gress embOdying the facts. and urging the
propriety of reimbursing the amount so cx-
pended. In no aspect of the case is the ex-
penses chargcable upon the Territory. The
sufferers were citizen of another State: and
we, being in no way responsible for the con-
duct of the Indians, were only moved by con-
siderations of humanity to take the mmedi-
ate and initial steps in the matter, and to in
cur the necessary outlay. Such being the
case, have no doubt that the Government
will cheerfully respond to our demand and
not only repay the amount expended by the
Territory, but also make some provision by
which the survivors of this unfortunate af-
fair will receive ample compensation for their
losses.
Starkey's Sunrise Erpedition-"Least Said Soonest
Mended''
The result Of the expedition sent out du-
ring the month ofAUgust to protect the set
tiers in the vicinity of Sunrise, will be made
the subject of a special communication, SO
socn as the expenditures are reported to this
department, in such manner as will enable
me to present them to the Legislature in
definite form.
liberal Salaries Recnannended-"A Fair days acage
fora Fair days Work.
Liberal salaries, and strict accountable
ty, promote the public welfare and official
honesty. Severe penalties for official mis-
conduct, comes with a better grace from
government disposed to pay fair and honest
wages, than from one OF a contracted and
parsimonious character. Inadequate COM
pensation tends to throw government Offices
into the hands of the wealthy, irrespective