The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25

Minnesota, large bands Of reving Indians.
This game has been blocked" and, by the
the treaties indicated above, settlements in
Dakota will necessarily commence on its
eastern portion. Minnesota will thus derive
the benefits Of white population on its
western boundary. A great portion Of the
emigration for Dakota, will undoubtedly
pass through Minnesota.
To induce the Department to take the in
itiative in forming these treaties has been
one Of the most arduous and important du-
ties our delegation has had to perform
The influence OF the treaties upon the pros
perity of Minnesota will be greater than ten
thousand Kansas speeches could produce.
The President to-day signed an order for
the removal of the Land Office at Sank
Rapids to Saint Cloud. As the great body
OF those having business with this Office, re-
side on the west side of the river, the reno
val is regarded as highly advantageous to
the interests OF the settlers in the district.
W. w. WRIGHT has been appointed
Postmaster at Wabashaw, in place Of J. f.
BYRSE, resigned.
Gov. MEDARY arrived here last evening
from Ohio.
In regard to the organization of Dakota
as Territory, there are conflicting opinions.
AS compromise, many think an act organ.
izing Arizona and Dakota will go through
in one bill. A strong influence is ut work
in favor Of both Territories.
The following bill has been introduced in
the Senate by Mr.. STEWART, from the Com.
mittee on Public Lands. 1t will pass that
body, and ! think with amendments more
favorable TO the actual settler. The bill is
a. follows
| A bill to amend all act entitled An act 10 an.
thorize the President Of the United States to
cause to be surveyed the tract of land in the
Territory OF Minnesota, belonging 10 the half
breeds or mixed bloods of the Dakota or
Sioux nation of Indians, and for other pur.
poses approved seventeenth July, eigh.
teen hundred and fifty -four.
Be It enacted, Sc.. &c.
! That the act approved seventeenth July, eigh.
! teen hundred and fifty -four, above referred to,
chapter 50, be, and the same is hereby amend.
ed, so that the body of land known as the half
breed tract, lying on the west side OF Lake Pc
| pin and the Mississippi river, in the Territory Of
Minnesota, aud which is authorized to be SUI.
veyed by the said act of 1854, shall be subject
| to the operation Of the laws regulating the sale
and disposition Of the public lands Provided,
That when any OF the said lands are claimed by
presumption, under settlement and cultivation,
| made prior to the passage Of this act, proof
and payment shall be made within three
| months after its passage, and when any Of said
| lands come within the provisions Of the act of
23d May, 1854, for the relief Of citizens Of towns
upon lands OF the United States under certain
circumstance. such proof aud payment shall
| be made within three months from the passage
Of this act; and in either case, If the entries are
| not made az that time, the claim shall be for.
feited Provided, further, That when two or
more persons are settled upon the same quar-
ter section, they shall be permitted to enter it
| Jointly, the right Of each 10 be in proportion to
: the extent Of his improvements.
SEC. 2. And be II further enacted, That the
| provisions OF this law shall not extend 10 any
tract or subdivision, within the body of lani
aforesaid. which shall have been settled upon,
! in good faith. By, and IL in the OCCUPANCY OF.
any of the said hall. breeds or mixed bloods.
| which lands, so settled upon and occupied by
| the hall, breeds. are hereby expressly declared
to be subject TO no other disposition than loca.
| ton by the " certificates or scrip" author.
| ined to be issued by the said act OF eighteen
| hundred and fifty.four, for the benefit of said
| Indians.
| The proviso in the first section will be
amended bygiving the settler one year instead
of three months, in which to make good his
presumption, and pay for this land An ad.
ditional section will also be added to the
bill, providing that all script laid on lands
after the passags of the act, contrary to the
wish Of the settler, shall be returned to the
owner.
As a matter Of interest to dealers in wild
lands, may state that the reserved sections
belonging TO the United States, on the line
of the Milwaukee and La Crosse Railroad,
between Portage City and Hudson, will he
brought into market in March, and between
Hudson and Superior and bayfield,, in May.
A proposition is before Congress, and has
been very iavorably received, to permit the
right of pre-emption at $3.50 per acre. on
the railroad lands belonging TO the govern.
mcnt
The investigation Of the Fort Smelling
sale is proceeding with as great facility as
the peculiar character Of the fraud to be OK.
amined into viii permit. A number OF Min.
nesotisns have been summoned, and pre-.
sumo the Committee awaits their presence.
The greater portion Of the testimony ELECTED
will 90 TO show that the land brought more
than it was worth, and more than il can
now be sold for. A gentleman examined by
the Committee informs me that many Of the
questions proponnded were very ludicrous
For instance, he was asked whether the