St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-05-30

doubtful compliment.
! That Twenty Thousand.
We are informed on good authority that
the Winuebago claim Of s. B. Lowry was
not allowed, Notwithstanding his statement
that he had an order for $4,000 Of it.
The Winnebago treaty was confirmed by
Senate. That treaty provides for the sale
Of the Winnebago Lands, for their benefit,
i. c. for the benefit of old traders of whom
Lowry is one, who may have trumped up
claims against them for whisky, beads,
looking glasses, &C., &c. The treaty pro-
vides that claims against them are to be
audited by the Winnebago Agent, Clark
w. Thompson and Lowry's statement of
having an order for $4,000 is nothing
more nor less than charge upon tho in
tegrity Of Mr.. Thompson, who according
to this had pledged the Indians for this
amount long before he entered upon the
duties of his Office. Some color is given
to this view of the case by the fact that
Mr.. Lowry called upon Messrs Wilkinson
and Thompson last fall when they were on
their electioneering tour in St. Cloud was
particularly and specially, atten.
tive, attended their meeting, and was pub
Iicly recognized by the speakers, that be-
ing the only meeting he attended, during
the campaign. He being the old Winnie
bago Interpreter, Thompson, the embryo
Winuebago agent. his making public ar
ransements to control the appointments
here-his going on and coming back with
the statement that he had succeeded; and
had his claim allowed into the bargain, all
looked like private understanding. But
in no way could his claim be allowed but
through Mr.. Thompson, who has but en-
tered upon the duties of his Office. It &C.
ours to us that that treaty wants looking
after to sell the lands of the Winnebagoes
for the benefit of old traders who may have
entrapped them into debt in the flush Of
speculation rife in 81, IS, and SO, or
sooner, is a doubtful measure as to its
benefits to the Indians, and Mr.. Thompson
will need to have sterling integrity to re.
sist the temptations Of his Office. For in.
stance niere is one claim Of: $40, 900 to be
decided by him alone.
If the claim run against white men II
would be audited by court AID !"ry.-
The defendants would be heard in their
own language, by those who understood
them, and the claim would have to be
proved valid. It would not be easy to
bride judges and jurymeu to give a wrong
decision; but in this case, if Mr.. Thomp.
son be in any sense open to the luxt Of gain
what effect would it have to propose DO.
nus of $4,000 for allowing the CLAIM
Perhaps not more than one man in a hun
dred would be proof against such temp
tation. White men generally have an idea
that they have an inalienable right to ap'
propriate to their own use any Indian pos.
session; and many man who would scorn
to wrong pale face, would not hesitate Ia
enrich himself at the expense Of tribe Of
Indians. AS the Winnebago lands are to
be swallowed by claims Of old traders, Mr.
Thompson will need to be model polite
ian to ensure little Of justice to Red Man
One comfort, the claim can only be paid as
tho lands arc sold and with the Free
Homestead, to which our Republican Ad'
ministrotion is pledged they will not likely
be sold to any but claimants, who holding
them in large bodies unimproved, they will
yet remain hunting grounds for the origin
al owners. So that 40, 900, on which Mr.
Lowry Is eo~nspning business, is till ia,
in the perspssy9 '.@ ..-:-