, 1862-12-11

the ground, and ravished by some eight or
ten of these convicts, before the cords were
unloosed from her hands. The girl Fortunate
had thus yiolated her.
Without being more specific, VIC will state
that all, or nearly all Of the women who we're
captured were treated in this way.
Again, there was a little boy brought to
tlcntenant Paul, whose father and mother
had been murdered, whose life was spared as
q witness Of the llorrid massacre. His right
eye was cut completely out, it had fallen from
its socket, and had perishcd on his check.
Lis Two little slsteEs, aged respectively six
and four years, were also saved, but in awfully
muttlated condition; their tender arms had
been nangled with the sayages' knives, and
otherwise tea'tully wounded and left on the
Mr. President, there was no justification or
preie2t even for these brutaiities. We state
Wat ne EnuE, when Te saT that the Sioux
Agent, Ma1o: Gi!os2ith, has behaved faithfully
ard ct1icicntly for the welfare Of these Indians
Lie Government, as Tou know, has built
house and opened farm for every one ftbese
Indians WHO would reside upon and cult
rate it.
missionaries, as our worthy Bishop eau tcs-
thy, have laborcd Zealously among them fur
their spiritual welfare. There las been paid
to them yearly the interest upon S2,0o0,Ooo.
farming implements haze been purchased aud
farmers have been employed by tile govern
ment to improve and cultivate the land,
Ihces Indians are called By some prisoners Of
var: There was 10 war about it, It was
wholesale robbery, rape, murder These In
dams were not at war with their murdered
victims. The people Of Minnesota, Mr. Pres
icent, have stood firm By you and by your ad-
ministratiop. They have given both you and
it their cordial support they have not rio-
lated the law. They have borne these suffer-
lngs with patience such as but few people
Indians are now at their mercy, but our peo-
pie have not risen up to slaughter them, be-
cause they believed that the President would
deal with them justly.
We are told, Mr.. President, that commit
mittee from Pennsylvania, whose families are
living happily in their pleasant homes in that
State, have called upon you and petitioned
you to pardon these Indians. We lave high
respect for the religious sentiments Of your
petitioners, but we submit that it is bad taste
indeed, that it is entirely uubeeoming them
to interfere in matters with which they are
so little acquainted, and which relate to the
security Of our own people.
We protest against the pardon Of these In
dians, because, if it is done, the indians will
become more insolent and criminal than they
| ever were before, believing, as they ccrtaiiilr
| will believe, that the Great Father ut Wash
| iugaon either justiles the act OF is afraid to
| punish them for their crimes,
| VIC protest against it, because if the Presi-
dent docs not permit these executions to take
| place under The forms Of law, the enrascd
| people Of Minnesota will dispose Of these
wSetehes without law. These TWO people:
cannot live together. We do not wish to see
mob law iraugNrated in Minnesota, as it Ger
tainlS will be if you force the people to it
We trenlble al the approach Of such Il condl
lion Of things i'll our State--you CAN give us
| ptacc, or yuu Gail giye us laWlcss violence
! We pray you, Sir, il view Of al We have sui
tered, and Of t.c dangers which still await us
| let tie la1: be executed, let justice be don.
our people. With high respect, Sir,
r. S. WILKINSON,
CYRUS ALpk1cu,
MN W1SnOM