, 1862-12-17

Message of tho President to Com
STesEThIrty-nfne Indians Ordered
to be Executed.

WASHINGTON, Dec, II, 1862.
The President to-day sent the following
Message:
To the Senate Of the United states::
In compliance with your resolution Of De-
eember 5th, 1863, requesting the President
to furnish the. Senate With all the infor-
nation in his possession touching the late
Indian barbarities il tile State of Minnesota,
and also the evidence in his possession
ppon which come Of the principal actors and
head men were tried and condemned to
death, ! have the honor to state that on re-
ceipt Of said resolution I transmitted the samc
to the Secretary Of the Interior, accompanied
by note, . copy, Of which is herewith en-
closed, marked "a" and in response to
letter to the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs,
copy Of which il herewith enclosed, marked
=" B." Ealready published.l / further. state
that onthe 8th: day of November last, re-
ceiyed a long telegraphic dispatch from Major
General Pope, at. St. Paul, Mimi, simply an-
nouucing the names Of tile persons sentenced.
to be hanged I Immediately telegraphed to
have transcripts Of the records ofaIl the cases
forwarded to me, which transcripts, however,
did not reach, me until two OF three days
before the present meeting Of Congress.
Meantime, received, through telegraphic
ecution, and expressions of opinion as to the
proper policy ID regard to them and, the In
dams generally ID that vicinity, none Of which
as I understand, falls within the scope of
your inquiry. After the arrival Of the
transcript Of records, but before had su1i-
cleht opportunity to examine them, received
joint letter, from one Of she Senators and
both Of the Representatives from Minnesota,
which contains some statements Of Elct net
found in the records Of the trials, and for
which reason I transmit Il copy marked &C."
LAlready. published I also for the same
reason, inclose o printed memorial: of the
citizens Of st. Paul, addressed to me, and for
warded with the letter aforesaid. Anxious to
not act with 20 much clemeucy as to enceur-
age another outbreak on the one hand, nor
with so much severity as to be real cruelty on
the other, caused 3 careful examination Of
the records Of the trials'to be made, drst:or-
defing the execution Of Euch as had been
proved guilty Of violating females. Contrary
to my expectations, ontFEWo ofthis class were
found: 1thea Gfeeted further examination
and classification Of ill who were proven to
have participated in massacrcgas distinguish
ed from participation in battles: This class
Of female violation. One Of the number is
t strongly recommended to the Commission
which tried him for Communication to ten years
imprisonment. 7 have ordered the other
thirty-nine to be executed on Friday, the 18th
inst. The order was dispatched from here on
Monday, the Sth Inst, by messenger to Gen.
Sibley, and a copy Of which order Is herewith
transmitted, marked D. An abstract Of the
evidences IS to the forty is herewith iilclosed
marked E.. -
To avoid the immense amount Of copying,
lay before the Senate the original transcripts
Of the record Of the trials. as received by me
This is us full and complete response to The
resolution as it is in my. power to make.
(Signed)- ABRAHAM LINCOLN.