The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-05

The system of trade was ruinous to hon.
est traders and pernicious to the Indian.
1tprevented all efforts for personal indie
pendence and acquisition of property.
The debts of the shiftless and INDECENT
were paid out of the sale of the patrimony
of the tribe. If an Indian abandoned his
wild life, built himself house and cult
waited the soil, he had no redress against
the lawlessness of wild men. The Gov
eminent has promised here that his home
should be secured by patent, that he
might feel something of manhood in own
ing it. But no patent has ever been is
sued; every influence which could add to
the degradation of this hapless race SEEM
ed to be the inheritance of themselves and
children.
Such a mistaken policy would be bad
enough in the hands of the wisest and best
men, but it is made an hundred fold worse
by making the office of an Indian Agent
one simply of reward for political services.
1t has been sought not because it was one
of the noblest trusts ever committed to
men to try and redeem heather people,
and lead them out of their darkness to the
light of a christian civilization, but because
upon a pittance of salary, a fortune could
be realized in four years. The voice of
this whole nation has declared that the
Indian Department was the most corrupt
IN the Government. Citizens editors, le-
gislators, heads OF departments, and the
President alike agree, that it has been
characterized by infficiency and fraud.
The nation knowing this has winked at it.
We have lacked the moral courage to stand
up on the fear of God and demand re-
form. More than all, it was not our
money. 1t was sacred trust confded to
us by helpless men where common manli-
ness should have blushed for shame at the
theft.
There have been noble instances of men
who have tried to do their duty; but no
one man could withstand the tide of cor
ruption which pervaded every department
of Indian affairs. Too often government
employees have been notorious for pro-
family, debanchery and dishonesty. School,
and civilization funds have been wasted,
contracts for supplies conceived in fraud,
and even dead mems names placed on the
pay-rolls. 1t hardly needed any great act
of wrong to excite savage natures to MUIR
derous cruelty. But such instances were
not wanting. Four years ago the Sioux
sold the government about eight hundred
thousand acres of land, being a part of
their reservation. The plea for this sale
was the need of more funds to aid them in
civilization. This treaty provided that the
chiefs should return, have and hold an open
council to decide what thould be done with
the money. Three of the principal chiefs,
the ones most deserving Of credit, allege
that they were not present at such council,
and did not know that it had been held.
Of ninety-six thousand dollars due to the
Lower Sioux, they have never received
cent. All has been absorbed in claims.
except eight hundred and eighty dollars
and fifty-eight cents, which is to their
credit on the books at Washington. OF
the portion belonging to the Upper Sioux,
lightweight thousand three hundred and
fitty-one dollars and twelve cents was also
taken for claims. Of the large balance
due the Upper Sioux, neither the agents
nor the Indians knew when or where it was
to be paid. For two years the Indians
have demanded to know what had become
of their money, and again and again have
threatened revenge unless they were salts
fed. Early this last spring the traders in
formed the Indians that the next payment
would only be half of the usual amount,
because the Indian debts had been paid at
Washington. They were in some instances
refused credits on this account. 1t caused
deep and widespread discomfort. The
agent was alarmed, and as early as May he
wrote to me that this new fraud must
bring harvest of sorrow, saying, "God
only knows what will be the result"
In June, at the time fixed by custom, they
came together for the payment. The agent
could give no satisfactory reason for delay.
There was none. The Indians waited at
the Agencies for two months, dissatified,
turbulent, mad, hungry, and then came
the outbreak tale of horrors, enough to
eurdle ones blood. The money reached
Fort Ridgley the day after the outbreak.
A part of the annuity had been taken for
claims, and at the eleventh hour, as the
warrant on the treasury shows, was
made up from other funds to save an Indian
war. It was too late! Who is guilty of
the causes which desolated our borders7
~ 60 A.