The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-21
VOI.3

necessary as the basis OF any action on the
subject that may be deemed desirable.
By the act of Congress admitting Iowa into
the Union, approved March Sd, 1S45, it Is de-
clared 'that five per cent. of the net proceeds
Of sales of all public lands lying within the
said State, which have been or shall be sold
by Congress from and after the admission Of
said State. after deductiug all the expenses in
client TO the same. shall be appropriated for
making public roads and canals within the said
State, as the Legislature may direct" This
act OF admission was accented by the State on
The 18th Of January, 1s47, with the provision
that ''the General Assembly shall have the
right, in accor dance with the provisions of the
second section Of the 10th article Of The Con-
stitution of iowa, to appropriate the five per
cent. of the net proceeds of sales of all public
lands lying within the State which have been
or shall be sold by Congress from and after the
admission of said State, after deducting all ex-
penses incident to the same, to The support Of
common schools"
At the time this contract was made between
the State and the United States--for it can he
regarded in no other light than contract-the
United States disposed of the public lands in
no other way than by bona .fide sales for money.
This obligation on the part of the Federal
Government was based upor the obligation on
the part of the State that lands belonging to
the United States should not not be taxed, and
that the lands Of non. residents should not be
taxed higher than the lands Of residents.
The State had reason 10 believe that the
same policy would be continued Since that
time. however. the policy has been changed,
and immense quantities OF land have been en-
tered by military land warrants, issued TO form
er soldiers in the United States army. The law
authorizing them to be issued, provides that
these warrants shall be received in payment
for lands. The Government, therefore, re-
ceIves consideration for the land thus enter
ed. in the discharge of its obligation upon the
warrants. 1t is exceedingly unjust for the gov.
eminent to destroy the fund which it holds in
trust from the Sta'e, for the purpose of rewari-
ing those who have rendered il service. Be-
tween private persons, the same state of facts
would Justify recovery in court IF law
II seems to me that the same principle should
prevail between the two governments The
military land warrants located in this State nm
to the Both June, 1856, covered 10. 929 692. 30
acres. The per centage due to the State there
on is $6S2,980 90 have no means Of know
ing the number of acres located in tina fisca
year ending Both June, 1857, hut judge that
the aggregate per centage now due to the State
approaches very near ST O0O,OO0
recommend that Congress be again me-
morialised on this subject. and that sut be
authorised to be instituted against the United
States, for the recovery of the amount due,
in the Court of Claims.
During rhe past three wears. my attention
has been frequently called to the probability
or collision between the Indians and the
settlers in the west aud northwestern 'coun-
ties of the State. | have repeatedly address.
sed the President Of the United States, the
Secretary of War, and the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs; warning them of the appre
hended dagger, and urging that immediate
steps be taken to remove the Indians beyond
our limits. Copies Of my letters to the mem
bers in Congress from the State of lowe, under
date Of 3Oth January. 1855, and to the Pres,-
dent of the United States, under date of 81
December, 1875, herewith transmits:
Without any military organization in the
State, and without any power to act, except
in the event of an actual hostile invasion: re.
siding remote from the scene of anticipated
difficulty, snd fearful that some exigency
might arise that would require prompt and
energetic action; IN January. 1855, l reques-
ted Maj. VIM. Williams, of Fort Dodge. t.
assume general charge of this subject. and
authorized him as far as had power 10 do So
to act in nv behalf, in any contingency that
might arise in connection with the Indians.
In February last, Ink pa du-tah's band of
Sioux Indians made hostile incurson into
the State, and perpetrated most horrible
atrocities in Dickinson county. When intel
ligence OF this event reached Fort Dodge.
Maj. Williams at once enrolled three compa-
MES OF men under Capt's. Richards and Dun
comb, OF Webster county, and Captain John.
son, OF Hamilton county, and proceeded to the
scene of difficulty. These heroic men left
their homes in the most Indictment season of
the year, and endured almost unheard of suf-
fer'ngs and prvations; crossing swollen
streams flooded with ice, and traversing min
habited prairies in the most tempestnous
weather, that they might save their fellow
creatures from savage hatchery, or rescue
them from captivity worse than death
Two of their number, Capt. j. C.. johnson.
OF Hamilton county, and William Burkhoider.
OF Webster county, persisted on the mrrch -
Others returned frozen and MANNED. The ex-
ped,tlon did not overtake the Indians; but they
reached the scene of their barbarities. gave 10
the dead christian burial, and brought back
with them, two children, the sole survivors of
the slaughtered settlement
The men who thus. gallantly and huu,anely
perilled their lives, have received O compen-
sation for the time employed in the expedition
or for their outfit. The Federal Government
is in equity bound for their compensation
The Indian tribes are under its protection and
control. It has allotted to each tribe scope
of country for its exclusive occupation. 1t
has sold lands to settlers in this State with the
understanding that these tribes shall be con-
fined to their respective limits, AMI that the
possession of the lani purchased shall never
be disturbed by the Government, or those I'M
der its manag ement. If the savages break
over their bounds and inflct injury upon 9TH
ers. the Government should respond Ia the
parties injured, for the damages sustained.
and for the expenses incurred in protecting
themselves against repetition Of the r,iury
10 this end, / recommend thai. a memorial be
addressed to the Congress of the United
States.
But many Of the members Of Mai. Williams,
command are unable TO await the tardy action
OF Congress, and l therefore advise that the
State assume the payment. and reserve the
made.
Accompanying this. will be fond the re-
port OF Commissary General C. B Richards
showing the amount expended on account of
this expedition, &C.:
l submit TO the general Assembly, whether
some public recognition Of the noble gallantry
and untimely death of Messrs. johnson and
Burkholder. is not alike due to their memory.
and TO the gratitude of the State.
do not anticipate any further trouble from
the indians. The rumors pnt anoat in regard
to future difficulty can generally be traced to
Interested persons who seek by their circula-
ton to accomplish some ultenor purpose. To
be prepared for any such emergency, however.
have established depot for arms and anu
milton at Fort Dodge, and have procured a
"a toto 80. n