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

have always been the plant tools of white
men-when such men as ''Little Grow"
and "Hole in the day" desired to open their
budget of griefs- could cite wrongs
enough to stir savage blood to vengeance
There is no man who does not feel that
the savages who have committed these
deeds of violence must meet Their doom.
The law of God and man alike require it.
The stern necessities of self protection
demand it. If our own inefficient system
had not permitted the Spirit Lake murder
ers to go UNPUBLISHED, if we had not refuse
ed to regard them as subjects of law, We
should not have suffered as we have in this
outbreak But while we execute justice,
our consciousness of wrong should lead us
to the strictest scrutiny, lest we punish the
innocent Punishment loses its lessen
where it is the vengeance of O mob. The
mistaken cry to take law into our own
hands, is the essence of rebellion itself.
AS citizens We have the clear right to ask
our rulers to punish the guilty. The State
has the right to arraign these men in her
courts {; but any thing like mob violence
is subversive to all law
1t is question for the judges to weigh
calmly how far any man who was driven
into this by savage leaders, and who COM
mitted no violence or murder himself, shall
be deemed guilty, and whatever that decis-
ion is, we ought to bow before the majesty
of the law. There are others like Waba-
shaw, Taopi, Good Thunder, Other Day,
and LapatiOner, who have peculiar claim
to our protection. Conscious of wrongs
suffered, they resisted the outbreak, and
to the last refused to join it. 1t is due to
them that these captives were rescued and
the guilty delivered up. In the face of
death they were the white mans friend
Are We to reward their fidelity by q cry of
determination ? lido not believe our citi-
zens are capable of such wickedness The
examination of this awful history will show
that the only CLEAN of light on its horrors,
is the influence of the Christian religion.
Even farmer Indians for the most part
stood aloof; Ga man is not civilized because
a government official has cut his hair and
put on him white mans dress.)
AS one whose lite must be spent in Min
nesota, whose home cannot be changed at
will, whose lot for good or i'll must be
identified with her veal or woe, | feel
deep solcitude that our settlement of this
war shall be such as to call down the bles-
sing of God. The nation is passing through
such trials that we cannot afford to be I'M
Just. stand aside for no man in my deep,
heartfelt sympathy for the innocent VIC
tins Of this massacre, or in my deep in
dignation at the guilty actors in this
bloody drama. 1t is because l would for
ever prevent such scenes, that for three
years have plead with the government to
reform system whose perreniel fruit was
blood. Canada has not had an Indian war
since the Revolution We have hardly
passed year without one. The same
tribes there are bound by ties of affection
to the English crown. We spend millions
to suppress Indian wars.
Because We fear God let us fear to cover
up iniquity; because We also hope in His
mercy, let us reform a system which has
proved so pernicious. | have written as
briefly as | could of some of the causes of
the Indian massacre. My object has been
to speak Of q system which has developed
like results under all administrations. l
have waited, hoping that an ADLER hand
would take my place My only excuse for
thus obtrudlng my thoughts upon my
fellow-citizens, is the fear lest passion shall
usurp the place of reason, and we fail to
understand the lesson which has been
written in such sharp school of suffering.
Concerning the propriety and necessity of
the removal of the Indian tribes of Mime
sofa, l will simply say that, if this course
is deemed the true policy for ourselves and
them, it ought not to be done, as it has
often been, without a thought of jnstice.
As to any scheme of concentrating the
thousands Of Indians in one nation, fear
it would only prove a larger powder maya
zine that it would give to bad men the
power to organize larger force to lay
waste the border; and that, under any
system like the present, it would prove
itself mischievous and wicked-alike de-
structive to them and to ourselves
Many of these Indians have been re-
moved again and again, and each time
been solemnly pledged that this should
forever be their home If removal were
to take place, we ought to see that our ma
ton does its whole duty, that they shall
have strong government, an individual
right in the soil, just system, Of trade, a
,,co, c.,cto,,, of c;r;I;z1t;On and inst