Daily national Republican., 1862-12-13
THE PRESIDENT AND THE MINNIE
sofa INDIANS.

We subjoin the message sent to the Senate
by the President, upon the case of the Mime
sofa Indians. The people Of Minnesota ought
to acquiesce in the decision which the President
has thus arrived at, after laborious and con-
scientious examination Of the whole matter:
MESSAGE.
To TIE Senate Of the United States!
In compliance with your resolution of De-
cember 5th, 1862, requesting the President to
furnish the Senate with all the information In
his possession touching the late Indian barbara
ties In the State Of Minnesota, and also the
evidence in his possession upon which some of
the principal actors and head men were tried
and condemned to death, have the honor to
state that, on receipt Of the said resolution, /
transmitted the same to the Secretary Of the
Interior, accompanied by a note, "a copy of
which is herewith enclosed, marked A, and
in response to which i received, through that
Department, a letter of the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs, a copy Of which is herewith
enclosed (marked B.
further state that, on the Sth Of November
last, received a long telegraphic dispatch from
Major General Pope, at St. Paul, Minn., simply
announcing the names Of the persons sentenced
TO be hanged. Immediately telegraphed 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. In the mean.
time, received, through telegraphic dispatches
and otherwise, appeals in behalf Of the con,
demned, appeals for their execution, and ex.
pressions of opinions as to the proper policy in
| regard to them and to the Indians generally In
that vicinity, none Of which, understand, falls
within the scope Of your inquiries.
After the arrival Of the transcript Of records
but before had sufficient opportunity to exam
inc them, I received a joint letter from one Of
the Senators and several Of the representatives
from Minnesota, which contain some state
ments of fact not found in the records of tn,
trials, and for which reason herewith trans
nit copy (marked c. also, for the sam,
reason, enclose printed memorial of the citl
zens Of ST. Paul, addressed to me and forward
ed with the letter aforesaid.
Anxious TO not act with SO much clemency
as TO encourage another outbreak on the on,
hand, nor with so much severity as to be rea
cruelty on the other, caused careful exami
nation of the records Of the trials to be made
in view of first ordering the execution of sucf
as had been proved guilty of violating females
contrary TO my expectations, only two of tn,
cases were found. then directed a further ex
animation, and classification Of all who wer'
proved to have participated in the massacres
as distinguished from participation In battles
This class numbered forty, and included TIVE
convicted of female violation. One Of the mum
ber is strongly recommended to the commits
sion which tried them, for commutation to tel
years. imprisonment. have ordered the othe
thirty-nine to be executed on Friday, the 19tl
instant. .... ..... ..r .
The order was dispatched from here on Mon
day, the sth instant, by q messenger to Genera
slbley, copy Of which order is herewith trans
mitted, (msrked d. An abstract of the evi
dence as TO the forty, is herewith enclosed
(marked E.) .........-..5..
To avoid the immense amount OF copying,
,laG Gat.a rtf,ta
the records of trials as received by me. Thi
} is as full and complete response to the resolr
( tion as 1t Is in my power to make.
(signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.