The Washington union., 1857-05-20
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

The Pa,onee Indians The Commissioner of Indian AZ
fairs has received highly interesting report from Mr.
Dennison agent for the Otoes, Missourias and Paw
nees in relation to the affairs of his agency Mr.. Den
nison, on his way to Omaha, met by General Rob
ertson agent for the Omaha Indians who informed him
that the settlers Salt creek had been attacked the
18th umo the Pawnecs and driven in upon the Weep
ing Water their houses laid waste their cattle stolen
their provisions carried Off and general warfare declared
He Immediately took steps to hold communication with
the Indians and succeeded the 2lst in holding a
talk with the chiefs of the several bands of the Paw
nees at their village Cottonwood creek He found
these Indians in bad condition barely thing to cat
but corntheir ponies too poor to travel worSwith
powder to shoot gamecerain, in many instances of
castigation if they beg. He would ask therefore, was
it improbable numbering they do between three and
four thousand when pnched by hunger until starvation
stares them in the face brooding all the while on the
wrongs they believe have been pracsed upon them that
they will depredatons upon Thesevcy
circumstances compel them be teacberous and have led
them commit these deeds The settlers themselves had
admitted. that it their starving condition that drove
them to it, and rather than retaate they had submitted
with the hope that government would the necessity
of placing them upon reserve. The fact of the
Davis shooting the Indian caused the settlers on Salt
creek in and about Chester in from their settle
ents and to spread CONSERVATION wherever they stop
ped On the other hand, the few Indians (only one
lodge the other way to escape the whites. The
statement of settlers that they had been driven in their
cattle driven off and their houses ransacked but with
out returning to their settlements to know the actual
state of afars caused great excitement the river
counties and led to the newspaper exaggeraton of the
facts Mr.. Dennison had endeavored state affairs as
he found them, and sugg esed with degree of earnest
which he hoped might attract the attention of the
department. that some steps might be taken
practicable in relation to these Indians.
In the council the chiefs did not deny the fact that
of the young of the tribe had been guilty of
msdemeanors, but of serious nature war
the whites in taking the life of of their chiefs
They were glad that their father had como to visit
them and their deplorable condition They thought
they justly entitled to the lands they occupied but
had been encroached upon by the whites and would be
deavor to make treaty with him. that they might bo
placed equal footing with the Otoes, Missouras,
and 0mahas.
Pre-emphon Claindnts.As cases occur in which the
local land Offices temporarily closed by
the death of the other of the ncumbents from
the pressure of business other causes proper that
settlers should know that such temporary close will not
operate to their prejudice The ruling under the pre-
empon act of 1s41, and its supplement of ls43 is to
this effect That claimant shall be allowed such time
from the date of his application after the reopenng of the
local Office prove up and pay for his claim as when
added to the period which had elapsed from the date Of
his settlement to the closing Of the Office will be equal
twelve months that being the time given him for that
purpose in the statute.
Resignation A. Shndle, of Pennsylvania has
resigned his clerltshp in the Pension Office.
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