The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-26
THE CHIPPEWA EMBASSY
REPORT OF Gov. RAMSEY, DAVID COOPER,
ESQ, AND MAJOR E. A. G. HATCH, SPECIAL
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO TREAT WITH
THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS.

To the Honorable Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatives of the State of Minnesota:
The Commissioners, appointed by concur
rent resolution of the two houses of your
honorable body, dated September 18th,
1862, beg leave to submit the following res
port
That in pursuance to the resolution, they
left st. Paul at s o'clock P. NJ. of the 18th
inst, for the purpose Of comforting with the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and visit
ing the Indians named in your resolution.
Having arrived at AnOka, they met the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and after
lengthy interview with him respecting the
object of their mission, he declined to re-.
turn with your commissioners, and stated
that he had been unable to effect any ami-
cable adjustment of the existing difficulties
between the Chippewas and citizens of the
United States, but expressed his entire will
lingness to cooperate with your commits
siOners in bringing about such settlement
with the Chippewas as would allay the ex.
citement, restore quiet, and insure peace on
our Northwestern frontier, and thereupon
addressed letter to his excellency the
Governor Of the State, copy of which is
herewith submitted.
During the interview, he expressed hope
that the commission would prove successful,
and stated that it might be accomplished,
perhaps, by making them presents to the
amount of twenty-five thousand dollars, and
entering into new treaty stipulations guar
anteeing to them new reservations at some
point more remote from white settlements.
That be found the Indians, at the only counS
ell he held with them, bold, insolent and
threatening and that, during his stay at
Fort Ripley, amongst other demands, they
had asked for the goods that be had pur-
chased to use in negotiating treaty with
the Red Lake and Pembina bands, which
they alleged amounted TO ten thousand dol
lars and were at st. Cloud; that they
should have new reservations more remote
from the settlements, and an adjustment of
their charges against the United States
officials in the management OF their affairs.
Your Commissioners reached Fort Ripley
on the 18th inst, at 10 o'clock P. NJ, and
having ascertaned that the Indians were
still in the vicinity of Crow Wing in an un-
settled, dissatisfied and excited condition,
and that serious apprebensions of an outs
break still existed among the people, imme-
diately took the necessary steps to collect
the Indians for council.
SON the 18th inst, the Commissioners,
having invited the special agent, MIR. NJ Or
rill, to be present, met in council at Crow
Wing the representatives OF the Mississippi
and PilIager bands of Chippewas.
The council was opened by your commits.
sioners, by stating, that the grand council
Of the State of Minnesota, having learned
that dissa tisfaction existed amongst them,
and slight difficulties had arisen between
citizens of the United States and the Chip
pewas, whom they had always looked upon
as friends, and DESTROYS Of maintaining re-
lations of friendship with them as hereto.
fore, had sent US there to confer with them,
and we had come, bearing with Us the writ.
ten authority of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, to learn the cause OF these troubles,
and, if possible, to remedy them, aud that
we would be glad to hear what they had to
say.
HoIe~in.the Day, the Buffalo and ether
Chiefs representing the Mississippi. and
Pilager Bands of Chippewas, stated, in re.
ply That they had sold their land to gov-
ernment; that they had been promised a
great nauy things in return, but had never
received them; that they had complained
to their Great Father of these things, and
had been promised redress, but it had Lever
come; that they were poor and in rags, as
we could see, the whole wealth of their bands
being upon the backs of those present, and
their families at home naked but if they
had been fairly dealt with, they would not
now be in that miserable condition.
They then stated that they now again
| asked to have some persons appointed to in-
vestigate their affairs, in whose selection
they might have voice. If this was done,
all these troubles might be settled. That
they we're willing that the persons so SCI
lected should investigate every thing-the
charges made against the Indians, as we'll as
those made by them.
Your commissioners adjourned the coun-
Gil, and prepared the draft of a treaty, em~
bracing such stipulat;ons as they thought
would be just, under existing circumstances,
both to the Government and the Indians.
At the second council, this draft was SUBJ
mitted and carefully explained to the In
dams, and met their approval.
The Chiefs then came forward and ex-
pressed their pleasure at meeting your COM
missioners, and their qualification to learn
tudl tEc STduU COuuCll vi IuC SldLC udu
thought OF them in their troubles, and sent
persons there to see and confer with them.
They also, in the strongest and most cordial
terms, stated their wish that the peace and
friendship which bad always heretofore ex-
listed between them ard the white people
might be perpetual; and, as an evidence of
their sincerity, then offered their services,
and if necessary, their lives, to punish the
Sioux, for the inhuman outrages they had
committed. Their request to have voice
in the selection of persons to investigate
the charges by and against the Indians, bav-
ing been assented to by the commissioners,
they then named on the part of the Mssis-
sippi Bands, John M. Gilman, OF St. Paul,
and on the part of the Pillager Band, the
Rev. Frederick Ayres, of Belle Prairie;
and the commissioners named on the part
of the United States, Edmund Rice and E.
A. G.. Hatch.
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