The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-04-11
The Half Breed Scrip.

We have received from Gen. Shields
Commissioner in relation to the Half Breet
Scrip, tie following copy of letter in reply
to one addressed to Gen. s., by Thoma:
/ Cowan, Esq, of Traverse DIES Sioux. The
letter gives valuable information in reference
to the policy of the Commissioner in grant
ing scrip to applicants:
WABAsnAw, NJ. T., March 20, 1857.
SIR Il hasten to reply to the following
enquiries contained in your letter of the %
inst, addressed to me at this place.
QUESTION lst. "Will you recognize as
guardian, brother of full age, for family
of minors, the father being dead, and the
mother being alive, but full blooded In
dian woman?
ANswER.--Th .ti.tter is the natural guar
dian, and will be recognized as snch without
any appointment. The father being dead OF
incompetent. to act from insanity, mental in
capacity, habitual drunkenness or any other
disqualfying cause, the mother, as natural
I guardian, will be next recognized, also with
out appointment. When the parents are
both dead, absent or disqualified to actor
in the particular case presented by your en-
qniry-the brother, or any other person to
be recognized as guardian, must exhibit proof
Of legal appointment.
QUESTION Cd. "Will white man duly
appointed by the Probate Court, be recog-
nized as guardian for minor, the parents
being alive but residing at a great distance
and the children being actually in charge OF
. the guar dian at this place."
ANswER.-In all cases where the parents
reside at distance, I will recognize any
competent person as guardian, who has been
duly appointed, and who has charge of the
MINOR children.
QUESTION Sd. " Does the paragraph in
the Hon. G. W. Manypenny's proclamation
allowing any half b. eed or white man the
husband of a mixed blood, to act as the at
tOrncy of a mixed blood who may not be
able to attend in person. exclude any other
white man properly appointed to act and re-
| linquish?'
ANswER.-To prevent injustice to distant
parties, will recognize any white man or
mixed blood, when duly appointed to act as
attorney for such parties.
The power of attorney will be in the usu-
al form authorizing the agent or attorney to
execute in the name of the person giving it,
a full REIMBURSEMENT to the United States of
all the right, title or interest of such person
to the half breed tract or reservation lying
west of Lake Pepin, in the Territory of Min
nesota, and to receive the certificates Of Scrip
to which such person may be entitled, as
provided by the act Of Congress approved
July 18th, 1854, and sign receipt or re.
ceipts fer, and locate the same, and do all
other acts that arc necessary and proper in
relation to said matter.
The execution of the power must be at
tested By two witnesses, and acknowledged
before any officer authorized to take acknowl-
cdgments. Wien the party taking the ac-
acknowledgements d; es not use public seal
the usual certificate of his authority under
the seal of the proper officer will be neces-
sary.
The declaration of credible persons as to
the identity Of applicants for Scrip, will be
sufficient.
| leave for Faribant tomorrow, where
will remain and issue Scrip to any one who
may call upon me until the rivers open and
the travelling inpr yes, when I will visit ST.
Paul. or some other accessible place, to Issue
the remainder Of the Scrip. The public will
have due notice OF the time and place.
Your ob't ser,'t.
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