The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-01
The state Of our Fr0rsier-The Sank-
toouals and Teet0na.


given yesterday in the communication OF
Mr. De Wrrr, demands prompt treatment o.
some sort, to arres. the dangers which
threaten our own frontier, il is excessive
folly to doubt.
The Hippant report OF the committee ap-
pointed to consider the recommendation Of
the Governor for an appropriation of slo,-
600 to meet any contingency demanding the
interposition Of the authorities, probably
expresses the current estimate Of the value
of rumors from the Indian country, and
shows how efiectually long series Of news
paper hoaxes and exaggerations has cured
the public mind OF any tendency to creduli-
~ in these matters. 1t is the old fable of
the shephcrd-boy and the wolf. 1t is as
ridiculous TO believe nothing without excep
ton. as to believe everything without dis
elimination; and the committee should have
taken some pains to ascertain the facts
which gave occasion to the message OF the
Governor, before dismissing the case with
/ such inconsiderate levity
Gov. SIBLEY is perhaps better capable,
/ from the nature of his antecedents, OF esti-
mating the amount Of credence TO be award
ed to rumors Of this sort, and the real ma
ture of the exigency which they por,end-
than any other man in Minnesota and his
/ suggestions, therefore, ought at least to have
had sufficient weight with the Committee TO
/ inspire them with some interest in the facts
on which they were based. II they had
taken any trouble in the premises, they
would have found the Governor had rather
under-estimated than exaggerated the ur-
gency Of the crisis.
The fact is, that the cloud which has at
last broken on the settlements, at Medary
and elsewhere, has been long gathering and
long predicted. That there is a serious
cause of alarm in the depredations already
committed, and that the probable safety Of
our own frontier depends on the prompt
measures which the authorities Of the State
or Federal Government may take, will be
seen from glance at Our complicated rela-
tions with the intrusive tribes.
By the Sioux treaty Of 1851, the Sssiton
and Wahpeton bands relinqushed their IT,
tie to oil Sioux territory lying east OF the
Big Sioux but these bands were not sole
proprietors of the territory thus ceded, but
held it in joint ownership with the Yank-
tonnais, who rere not represented at thus
treaty, and who have never relinquished
their title to the lands. When the treaty
was made SLEEPY EYES, noted chief Of
the Wahpetons, explained to the Commits
sioners that the Sioux bands who were par
ties to it, merely relnquished their interest
in the lands in question. The YaDktonnais
therefore, claim that the country belongs to
them, as far east as Traverse des Sioux, on
the Minnesota. Annually, since the treaty,
they have pressed their demands at the In
dian Agencies for share Of the annuities,
which the Sissitons were properly unwilling
to divide with them. IAt,erly, however,
this demand has been converted into a claim
for new treaty with them, and separate
compensation which has been urged with
every variety of complaint and menace. To
appease their clamors the Superintendent,
some time since, informed them that their
claims should be adjusted. Impatient and
suspicious Of the delays which always at
tend negotiations Of this sort, their discors-
tents have at last broken ont into overt acts
Of hostility.
Information obtained from reliable sources
Of Expectations committed by these Indians
at Medary, and elsewhere, was forwarded to
Washington by WV. II. FoRBEs Of this city,
as early as the 9Th Of June, which was ad-
ded to mas Of information on the same
subject in the files Of the Department, and
was made the basis Of a recommendation by
the Secretary Of War for an appropriation
$4,000, for the purpose OF appeasipg the
discontented Indians by presents, etc, for
the time being. Since then corroborative
accounts Of the continued Expectations Of
the Yanktonnas have come in, Of which the
burning and sack Of Medary, and the expu-
sion Of the white settlers, Is but an episode
While the legislature Il in waiting for facts,
j, ia not improbable that these sayages are
diligently adding the destruction Of the Vel
low Medicine. and Red Wood A gencies 10
the buget Of facts they have already aecunu-
lated bat which il not sufficient TO excite
the in,eres. Of our phIegmatic Legislators. A
circumstance which gives q still more serious
aspect 10 the matter, is, that the Teetons are
said to be united with the YanktOnnais in