The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-21
full we'll that, whether he writes on the sub.
ject Of Red or Black Republicanism, it will
be done up Brown.

ject OF Red or Black Kepubllcanism, it will
be done up BrosDn. i -
JOSEPH R. BROWN TO SECRETARY NELL.
-sag YELLOW MEDICINE, Dec. !. 1860.
Rev. E. D. NELL, Sec'y MINI. His. Society:
SIR: have received yours of the 10th ult.
and, in response, would thank the business
committee of the Society for the honor thew
have conferred upon me, by their invitation to
prepare paper for the archives of the Society,
ION the early settlers and settlements"
l have long been anxious to contribute to the
labors that must perpetuate the early history
of our State, but my time has been SO con.
stantly occupied, with either business or polit.
ical matters, that have not been able to &C.
complish anything in this regard, up to the
present time; and, during this winter, the la.
bors connected with this Office will SO com.
pletely occupy my time. that could not do
myself or the subject justice. You will take
into account, in considering my excuse for not
complying with the invitation of the committee.
that have to put every thing in order, this
winter, for Black Republican successor in the
spring.
The subject you have designated, is one that
has already been deliberately treated upon by
Gov. SHELLEY, whose capacity for its thorough
examination no one will doubt; and by the
side of whose labors mine would make but a
sorry appearance. If mistake not, the sub.
ject of Indian Improvement is yet an open one
in the archives Of the Society. This is one up.
on which have fixed my mind as the most ap-
propriate for me, and, if it is yet untouched,
would gladly contribute my mite in that way
but would not promise anything on that sub.
ject this winter.
expect, during the next four years, to have
some leisure; and have some idea of devoting
part of my time, during that period, to an ex.
animation of the rise, progress, and final ami
hilation of modern Republicanism, commonly
called Black but presume that is not subject
the Society intend to NEEDLE with, and refrain
from proffering anything in that connection.
Very respectfully,
JOSEPH R. BROWN.
SECRETARY NELL TO JOSEPH R. BROWN.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY Room, Dec. II, 1860,
DEAR SIR: In behalf of the Society, l &C
knowledge the receipt of your letter of the first
instant, and assure you that paper on SIN.
dian Improvement" from your pen, would be
received with pleasure as your long and init.
mate acquaintance with the Red race, renders
you eminently fit to touch that subject. Gov.
SHELLEY has done good work in his address be.
fore the Society; but it seems desirable that
we should preserve the "reminiscences of other
early settlers, such as ALEXIS BAILEY, PHIL.
AMBER PRESCOTT, and yourself. You can give
facts in relation to the Saint Croix valley,
which, perhaps, Gov. SHELLEY omitted to men.
ton; and Messrs. BAILEY and PRESCOTT here
after, in papers we propose to request, may
furnish items of information of which you are
not cognizant. Many threads are required for
the variegated wool of history.
II you shall find time, within the next four
years, to prepare sketch of the "rise, prog
ress, and final humiliation of Modern Mepubli
canism, commonly called Black" it will be
received and read by the members, with the
greatest interest. The object of the Historical
Society is broad and catholic. 1t has no opin-
ions. but is simply depository offacts and the
views of its members, from which the future
historian can collate. Hence, it always wei
comes the contributions of men of all colors,
all creeds, all parties.
We shall hold you to the paper on the
"Reds," and leave to your discretion the pre-.
paration of that on the ''Blacks."
At the last meeting of the Committee, the
portraits of all who lived in Minnesota, pre-.
vious to the treaties of ~, were requested, to
hang upon the walls. Hoping soon to see you
there, 'as large as life," am,
Respectfully,
ED. NELL, Secretary.
Hon. JOSEPH R. BROWN,
Agent for the Sioux, Yellow Medicine.