The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-18
From Washington.

w AHISGIOS, r eO. &, 1000.
Charges Of most unjust character were
preferred against Col. MOBILES, Superntend-
ant Of the Fort Ridgely and South Pass
Wagon Road several months since, by sub
ordinate in the Interior Department. The
Colonel was accused Of unnecessary delays
in starting with his party from Saint Paul,
Of useless expenditure Of public money. you
remember the Goldfish story and Of disobe-
dience TO his instructions. Without giving
MOBILES an opportunity to be heard, he was
superseded in bis position, and Mr.. MAcAsoY
of Ohio, appointed. You will be glad to
hear that Secretary Thompson, upon an i'm
vestigation of the case, has reappointed Col.
MOBILES, thus treating the charges made
against him as frivilous, and based
grounds Of personal enmity and i'll willupon,
Col MOBILES presents clearer record
than any Of the Wagon Road Superintend-
ants. lie has constructed hundred miles
Of road, while his associates have yet to re-
port single mile completed. The people
Of Minnesota appreciate the fact that the
difficulties attending his departure from st.
Paul last summer were caused by Official
mismanagement in Washington, not in Min
nes0ta.
There is, at present, in this city, depu-
tation of Yankton Sioux, brought on by
Capt. TOP, of Sioux City, to enter into a
treaty with the government for the sale OF
the lands lying between the Big Sioux
and the Missouri, and comprising the
greater portion of what is known as Dakota
Territory. The only obstacle in the way Of
the formation Of the Treaty is, the impress
sion which prevails here, that the deputation
does not fully represent the Yankton nations
It is proposed either to send for other Indians,
or negotiate the treaty in the west. The
latter method, az the least expensive, will
probably be adopted. The purchase OF this
land from the Yanktons will have an effect
upon the prosperity Of the Territory west
oil US, similar TO that produced upon Mime
sofa, by the Sioux treaty, under which the
Indian title to nearly all the land west OF the
Mississippi was extinguished.
The kopriety of negotiating another
Indian treaty, in which Minnesota has
deep interest, is also under consideration at
the Indian Department, and viii! probably
be determined upon this week. The propo-
sition is to extinguish the title Of the Red
Lake band of Chippewas, to all the lands
living east of the Red River Of the North,
and thus open the valley Of that river to
settlement Such treaty has been earnestly
recommended by Superintendent CULLEN.
In case il is determined upon, the leading
Chiefs of that band will be brought to
Washington.
The Fort Smelling Investigating Commit
tee is hard at work. Hon. RoBERr SMITH,
| lwho would have liked O small slice Of the
land himself, but didn't get it, Major
EASTMAN, Mr.. GRAHAM, of Va; Colonel
THOMAS, of the Army, and a few others,
have been examined. Mr.. SMITH, ii is re-
ported drew on his conscience for state
ment that the land was worth from half
million TO a million of dollars The general
opinion is that the investigation will cost
the government thirty thousand dollars, and
develop the astounding fact that Uncle Sam
has cheated Mr.. STEELE. or course. no
body will sympathize with the latter indi-
vidual.
The Fort Ripley sale has not yet been
approved. | understood, to-day, that the
government has determined to permanently
reoccupy that post. This will be good
news TO the settlers in the northern portion
! OF Minnesota.
The most vigorous exertions are being
made to stop the sale OF the hall breed
lands, advertised to come OF next month
and open the tract 70 prescription. The
! effort will undoubtedly he successful, Is the
! Commissioner Of the Land Office manilests
every disposition to promote the interests OF
actual settlers, and our delegation is hard
at work 20 effect the result aimed at. The
settlers on the tract are represented here by
Messrs. MONTGOMERY and SHARP OF Lake
CITY. and gentleman from Wabashaw.
Our delegation is quietly but zealously at
work. cndeavoring Ia secure the immediate
admission of Minnesota. Mr.. krSGsBrRY,
who is very popular here, is also !aboring
TO accomplish the same end The President
expresss himself. in conversation. friendly
to immediate action on our application, and
! also in opposition 20 any attempt to connect
Minnesota with Kansas.
The motion made by Mr.. DorGI.As, yes
terday, TO take up the Minnesota bill was
not acted upon to-day. owing 10 the reception
, of a message from the President. enclosing
the Iecompton pill. The message, you will
OF course receive before this letter. Upon
its reception debate eommencSd on Kansas,
/ ToouRs, Of Ia. fayoring tie iecompton
! Constitution, and TRUxBvII~ Of Illinois,
making a general onslaught; on the policy
and acts OF the Administration. senator
WILSON has the aoor for tomorrow very
much fear that the discussion of the X ansas
question will take providence OF our applr
- 4
either proposition fo' several weeks. Watch
anil pray i very good idea, but damning
and cursing IL maca more in vogue at prs
en-, among the sixty Minncso,ans nov in
this city. NJ
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5, ls5s.
There Is no ase OF Disgusting the tact tha,
the application OF Minnesota tor admission