The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-10-08

Superintendent OF Indian Affairs. The let
ter explains itself;
HALEwooD, Minnesota,
Scpt. %, 1867.
Hon. W. J. CULLEN-My Dear SIR: My
attention has been called to some remarks
in the Henderson Democrat Of the ,th inst,
under the head of The Upper Sioux The
correspondent of the PIONEER AND DEMO
Graf, as quoted in these remarks, writing
from the Sioux Agency obtained his impress
sions, | suppose from some reports which
were brought down some weeks ago 1t
was then stated that the corn crop Of the
upper Sisiionwas had failed, and conse-
quen,ly, there being no corn to harvest, they
could come down to receive their annuities
at any time. am happy to say that re
cent fact have not verified this report. As
you yourself know, but very few whole FAM
lies came Town 10 tie payment as gener-
al thing onl one or two from each family
were here. The others remained at home
to take care Of the corn. have made care
full inquiry of a number Of their principal
men, such as the Orphan Wamde no
tonma-nc, and Others, AMI the result is, that
although their corn crop is a light one, ow-
ing to dry weather, grasshoppers, black
birds, &c, still it is respectable. Besides,
they made very prosperous hunt just be-
for the corn was iii to eat. The North
Sistonwas who came to TIE payment,
brought with them plenty Of dried buffalo
meat indeed, more than they disposed Of 80
that they have not been under the necessity
Of stealing from our potato fields.
The correspondent oilhe PIONEER ANDDEM
ocRAr has drawn very sad picture OF al In.
dian creeping among the weeds, seeking.
with bow and arrow, Tor ducks It doubt
less may have been true in some stark
rakcd instances, but il it is meant to por-
tray the circumstances of the northern Sisi-
tonwans in general, it lacks all the elements
of truth. What will be their circumstan-
ces next winter, think none Of US can tell
now; but to me the prospect il certainly as
good rs il has been for many years past
Much Of this annuity money they have laid
out in powder and Ieal. Ii the buffalo are
at all accessible, they have every prospect
Of passing the winter without starving. At
tacquiparlc, understand, the corn crop is
turning ont very well, although there was
thu usual amount Of croakin" about it before
hand We can say the same Of the Indians
who have planted for several years in this
neighborhood their corn crop il abundant.
as You yourself have with s,cd Those who
were removed into this part # the country
last spring, have many Of them but little.
chiefly through their own stubborn deter
mInatl0n no, to plant; where they were told
to plant by the agent. A number oi th.se.
| understand, intend goiu. to the buffalo
hunt. II they do this ami succeed. 10 no,
apprthond any starvation among these IN
per Dak0taS. 1t Is generally conceded that
here AT yellow MldIc.ne alone, there is more
corn than all that has been harvested hy the
Mdt-wak kan ton vans. Mr. Cullen. our In.
dams can sell yon corn and perhaps po,a-
toes too, though fear the potato or p will
be much under what it was last year.
trust then, my dear Sir. that | have
shown TO your satisfaction, that there is no
such necessity as the Demolrat supposes. for
trtspassipg on the school fund t. feed their
bodies. Bat they ID need education. and
that fund should BE- speedily us,d for that
purpose. There are some mcn who seem
10 think that the chief end of man is to On,
and drink. They ign"r" the f,c' 'ha. u
dians, as well as other mon. have a higher
natarc to be cultivated. They ignore all
other fact which Is patent to all oIsn eyes,
that those Dakotas who are the best eluca.
ted intellectually, have for years past made
the BEST provision for their bodily wants.
How do those who are opposed to educat-
ing Indians account for this?
With sentiments Of very kind regard !
remain. Yours very truly. :. L. Rlnns.