Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-11-26
THE INDIAN MURDERERs.


Among the large number Of Indian prison
era taken in the recent campaign il Minneso-
"a. sone three hundred have been, upon trial,
found guilty of participating. in the msssa-
cres on the border, and sentenced to be hung.
Their sentence was telegraphed to FRESH
DENT Lincoln three weeks ago, in the general
- oactatiou that he would Immediately APP
prove it, and that the punishment of these
at4ocious wretches would follow so swift and
TERRIBLE upon the heels of their crimes, ne
would at once strike terror among all the hos
tile Sands Of the Sioux, aud assure the people
Of Minnesota that the Government was de-
term ned to do something decisive to prevent
a recurrence ofsimilar outrages.
This hope seems likely TO be disappointed.
No action has yet been taken by the Presi-
slast. and from his silence and the tone of the
sf~astern press, it seems that it is al least an
sfai, question with our Government whether
these ffends shall not be treated as prisoners
of war; and finally let loose, upon the con-
summation of some new treaty with the Sioux
The people of the No rthwest are struck
with amazement at the bare suggestion of such
policy. For these incarnate fends who
plunge the knife into the mothers bosom
and tomahayk her shrieking children before
her eyes,-who strike down whole families,
and apply the torch TO their dwellings, adding
the tortures of fire TO. their dying aSonies,
who scalp and MAIN their helpless victims,
showing no mercy till their thirst for torture
is satiated, and who have lit mp whole settle.
ments in Minnesota with the flames of accu-
INFLATED horrors,-it seems incredible that the
Government should allow plea There is
but one fate for them consistent with justice
or the future security of our frontier. and that
is their immediate execution by the most ig-
nominious method known to our laws.
The hanging of these three hundred mis-
creams would have more salutary influence
upon the remaining Indians than any mere
display of military strength, or even any de-
struction in battle 1t would show them not
only the power of the Government. but it's
determination TO punish them for their afro
cities in the way most dreaded by their race.
The people of the Northwest are law
abiding people, but s9ch have been the terri
BILE scenes in the last few months Of massacre
and confiagration. and widespread alarm, and
such their fears for the future when the re-
straininc presence of the soldiers shall be re-
moved. that they ale becoming exds, Grated
at the tenderness aud delay in the treatment
of these convicted Indians. They demand
that the strong arm of the Government
shall mcte out the punishment of death. The
Indian murderers must be executed by the
Government or all confidence in It's protec-
ton will be gone. The President will infict
/. staggering blow to the prosperity of the
Northwes. if he permits them to escape. We
cannot believe he will do it but steps should
be taken TO memorabilia him upon the subject
that he may know the views and temper Of
the people Public meetings are being held
for this purpose in Minnesota. and the Toice
of Northwestern Wisconsin should be added
TO the appeal.