The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-09


It is estimated that the surplus product of
Minnesota, the present year, will yield
revenue of over 100000. A sum eqnal
to ten per cent. of the taxable property in
the State.
LOWER SIOUX AGENCY,
IA November, 1859.
Editors Pioneer and Democrat.
Not knowing whether you would care
about hearing from this out of the way
place, I have still ventured to forward you
few items as l have gathered them up.
The Indians have all left the reservation
to hunt for sustenance. The failure of
the corn crop, and the large amount Of game
in the big woods, on Grow river, being the
principal reason. The corn was planted
too late, and most of their crops were killed
by the early frost in September. They
were paid their annuities in full this spring
and not semi-annual as heretofore-g giving
them an opportunity to leave early, without
waiting for the second payment. see by
your correspondents from the Upper Mis-
sissippi, that some have been committing
depredations among their white neighbors,
a circumstance much to be deprecated, but
l am of opinion that the depredations have
not been to the extent that your correspon-
dents have stated it certainly would have
been better, could they be retained on their
Reservation, but as they are merely on the
borders of civilization, Tor being civilized,)
some allowance must be made, which in time
when they commence to raise sufficient for
their support, their leaving the homes will
not be requisite. At present those who
have adopted the habits and customs (par.
tally of the whites are not yet far enough
advanced to raise stock suficient-suc as
hogs, etc., to enable them to carry them
selves through the long winter, even suppos-
ing they had corn and vegetables enough,
from the fact that they have no market for
the latter-the difficulty in the way of rails
ing stock is the depredations committed on
these, by those who have not succumbed to
the progress of civilization, and the want of
law whose jurisdiction might extend over
the Indian, to punish according to our GUS
toms the depredations. Much praise is due
to the efficient Superintendent, Maj. CULLEN
and Maj. J. R. BROWN, the Sioux Agent,
for the result of their endeavors to civilize
and make them understand the necessity of
cultivating and acquiring the habits of the
white man, as far at least as the rights of
individual possessions are concerned. The
Sioux Indian is an exception to most all of
the tribes of the Northwest. His race is
warike, and his pursuits are the chase, an
" Ishmalite," his hand is raised against every
other tribe, and they against him, surround
ed on all sides by Hostile nations, war is the
first instinct he acquires from his mother, an
Indian woman raises her child until he
arrives at the age of three or four years, and
he must naturally acquire all the peculiari-
ties and prejudices of his forefathers and
then again the Wakkon" or religious
superstition is great bar to his change,
the fear of his medicine sack being inter-
fered with, and thereby entailing the anger
of his Deity which would cause his death or
some other frightful alternative, all these
causes have worked against the desired
civilization of the Sioux. The Missionaries
having invariably attacked his religious
prejudices, will account for their want of
success compared with our efficient Indian
officers Maj. CULLEN and Brown. I am
well aware that it is not pleasant for our
frontier settlers to have bands of wandering
Indians about in quest of game. The fears
generally entertained against the savage by
our people, especially strangers from the
east makes it universal wish that they
should be kept on their reserve, and it would
be probably the best method, but still it
seems hard when game is as plenty as it is
in the wilds of the country surrendered by
them for "song" that they should be
debarred feasting for while thereon-as a
general thing the annuity Indian is peaceful
and quiet, except when maddened BY liquor,
given to them by those who are the first
to cry out about depredations, hoping to
make haul out of the money paid yearly
and still settle down on his Reserve, and the
whiskey shark win follow to the very line
tempting what, as general thing the Sioux