The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-26
The Indian COnyicts.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS

MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS.
Annexed will be found the message of
the President transmitted to Congress, on
the 18th inst, in relation to the condemned
Indians.
The President was anxious not to act
with so much clemency as to encourage
another outbreak of the savages, nor with
degree of severity which should be real
cruelty, and therefore at first ordered only
the execution of such Indians as chad been
proved guilty of violating females" but
only t,cO of this class were found. lie then
directed that out of the three hundred con-
demned men, such should be selected as
were proved to have participated in massa
ores as distinguished from participation in
battles. These amounted to forty, Gin
Guiding the two of the tirst-class,) but as
one Of them had been strongly recon-
mended to mercy, he ordered that only
thirty-nine should suffer the death penalty
The President does not make any sug-
gestion in regard to the disposition of the
26O out of the 800 condemned Indians
whom he may be said to have reprieved,
nor in regard to the remaining parts of the
Sioux tribe, who have incurred the ever
lasting hatred of the settlers of Minnesota,
and who will almost certainly be sacrificed
if permitted to remain in the State.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
To the Senate ofthe United States:
In compliance with your resolution of Dec.
5, 1862, requesting the President to furnish the
Senate with all the information in his posses
sion touching the late Indian barbarites in the
State OF Minnesota, and also the evidence in
his possession upon which some of the prnci-
pal actors and head men were tried and con-
demned to death. l have the honor to state
that on receipt of said resolution l transmitted
the same to the Secretary of the Interior ac-
companied by note, 4 copy of which is here
with inclosed, marked "A, and in response to
which / received through that Department
copy of which is herewith inclosed marked
" B. (alrcady published.) l further state
that on the eighth day of November
last l received a long Geographic dispatch
from Major Gen. Pope, of st. Paul, Minnesota,
simply announcing the names of the persons
sentenced to be hanged. l Immediately tele-
graphed to have transcripts of the records in all
the cases forwarded to me, which transcripts,
however. did not reach me until two or three
days before the present meeting of Congress.
Meantime, l received, through Geographic dis
patches and otherwise, appeals in behalf of the
condemned, appeals for their execution and
expressions of opinion rs to the proper policy
in regard to them, and the Indians generally in
that vicinity, none of which, as understand,
falls within the scope of your inquiry. After
the arrival of the transcript of records but be-
fore had sufficient opportunity to examine
them, l received a joint letter from one of the
Senators and both of the Representatives from
Minnesota, which contains some statements of
fact not found in the records of the trials, and
for which reason 1 transmit a copy marked
SC" Already published.I 1 also for the
same reason inclose printed memorial of the
citizens of st. Paul, addressed to me, and for
warded with the letter aforesaid Anxious to
not act with so much clemency as to encourage
another outbreak on the one hand, nor with
so much severity Us to be real cruelty on the
other, | caused Il careful examination
of the records of the trials to be made, first
deriny the execution of such rs had been proved
guilty of violating females. Contrary to my eX-
pectations, only two OF this class were found.
| then directed further examination and CLASH
tication of all who were proven to have partici
pated in massacrcs rs distinguished from par
tcipaton in battles This class numbered forty,
and included two convicted of female violation.
One OF the number is strongly recommended by
the Commission which tried him for commute
ton to ten years imprisonment. have ordered
the other thirty nine to be executed on Friday,
the 10Th inst The order was dispatched from
here Oh Monday, the Sth inst, by Il messenger
TO Gen. Sibley, and copy Of which order is
herewith transmitted, marked d. An abstract
of the evidence rs to the forty is herewith in
closed marked Z.
To avoid the immense amount OF copying, |
lay before the Senate the original transcripts OF
the records OF the trials. rs received by me.
This is as lui and complete response to the
resolution Us it is in my power to make.
TSigncd ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Congressional: Election i'll New Or