The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-19
VOL. XIV.-NO. ID.
SAINT FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 49, 1862


Letter from Major Il. j. Galbraitl.
From the st. Paul Press, Saturday.
ST: PAUL, Sept IL, 1862.
To the Editor of the Saint Paul Daily Press
In The St. Paul Daily Press of this morn
ing there is an editorial article headed
I" The Question Of Responsibility" in which
occurs the sentence following " You rails
ed the question, Mr.. Agent, answer it :"
and " Who then is responsible? You have
raised the question, Mr.. Agent, answer it
now if you dare - and " The Indian Agents,
through the organ which they have subsi-
died to represent them and other attaches
of Cyrus Aldrich, have chosen to raise the
question of official responsibility in connec-
ton with the outbreak OF the Sioux. They
have dared to raise the question, now let
them answer it,"
Now, who the Indian agents and other
attaches of Cyrus Aldrich are l do not
know. But do know who "Alr. agent 4"
is. 1t is my humble self, and "dars /"
answer it.
In the first place, then, never, through
any newspaper, or "organ," or otherwise,
raised the Question of Responsibility above
referred to; nor have l any connection, d.
rect or indirect, with any " organ" or any
such question; nor bad any knowledge in
regard to said Que tions of Responsibility
whatever.
I, therefore, as far as l am concerned.
pronounce the above quoted paragraphs
purely and simply imaginary and false. and
the writers and dlctators of them calumni-
ators and falsi6ers.
In the same article occurs the following {:
"Families persisted from starvation. cold
and hunger, and inhuman neglect, while In.
dian traders and officials were growing fat
and insolent on the spoils pillaged from the
Indian.
Indian "famiies" are of course intended
above.
AS to Indian traders and other officials I
have nothing to say. They can do their
own business. As far as the paragraph
quoted refers to me it is simply and purely
false.
assert this, and that too without subsi.
dizing, or even consulting with any one,
that can prove that never at any time in
their history have the Sioux of the Missis,
sippi been better supplied with provisions,
clothing, implements, seeds and aids to
plant than during my administration new.
er have their crops promised as well, and
never has an agent of theirs attended more
exclusively and faithfully to their wants. l
never neglected or forgot the words
of my charge. To their interest and well
fare every nerve was strained and devoted.
For the truth of this, and more, I refer to
every man and woman who possesses person
al knowledge of the facts.
For my conduct, as Sioux Agent, I am
responsible to the people of the State and
country, and to the Government of the
| United States and from that responsible.
| ity / have no desire to shirk.
l invite the fullest and strictest investiga
tion OF my every act and deed in connection
with the Agency and l pledge myself that
l never shall 'subsidize" the committee or
commission which hope will Don investi.
gate my conduct as public official. l
hall patiently abide the result without
her fear or trembling.
our whole article appears to be la.
bored justification of the atrocities of the
savages, coupled with a sort of covert de
fence of somebody whom it would seem
have in, or through my "organ" charged
with being the cause of the terrible Indian
outbreak. AS have said, l again reite.
rate that l never charged anybody with
being the cause of the outbreak, nor
would l.
There is not only cause. but there are
causes; and nothing but a searching, candid
and faithful investigation can develop these
causes. Let, that investigation come, and
shall ask that it be thorough and radical
that it commence with the treaties of 1851
and be conducted, step by step, up to the
present time, and then, il myself or nybody
else is guilty, let an indignant people hang
the guilty villain or villains, be they whom
they may.
Again, this sentence occurs: "Not till
-. disturbance had already broken out at
Yellow Medicine did they ask for an in,
crease of force" And then this: at was
sent them-every soldier there was, though
it left Fort Ripley without guard"
This is meaos to me-. When a0Gs this, aud
how many soldiers were sent? This is fOggy
very, and needs some details. Shall the in
dignant and outraged public have them
On the 10th day Of August, 1862, and aftel
he had advice of the difficulties at tn
Agency direct from me, Commissioner Doll
made the following requisition on Governor
Ramsey:
OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS. I
ST. PAUL, August l6, 1862.
! SIR: have to request that you order tire.
! hundred troops to report to Thomas J. Gal
| braith. United States Indian Agent, at yellow
Medicine, at once. to preserve order and guart
the Govs rnment funds at that place.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
WILLIAM p. DOLE,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.