The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-26

MESSAGE OF THE rarsrDrsr 70 oosenEss.

Annexed will be found the message Of
the President transmitted to Congress, on
the 18th inst, in relation to the condemned
Indians.
The President was anxious not to act
with SO much clemency as to encourage
another outbreak of the savages, nor with
degree of severity which should be real
cruelty, and therefore at first ordered only
the execution of such Indians as chad been
proved guilty of violating females" but
only too of this class were found. He then
directed that out of the three hundred con-
demned men, such should be selected as
were proved to have participated in massa-
cres as distinguished from participation in
battles. These amounted to forty, Gin
Guiding the two of the first-class,) but as
one of them had been strongly recon-
mended to mercy, he ordered that only
thirty mine should snffer the death penalty.
The President does not make any sug-
gestion in regard to the disposition of the
26O out of the 800 condemned Indians
whom he may be said to have reprieved,
nor in regard to the remaining parts of the
Sioux tribe, who have incurred the ever
lasting hatred of the settlers of Minnesota,
and who will almost certainly be sacrificed
if permitted to remain in the State.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
To the Senate o,'the United States:
In compliance with your resolution of Dec.
5, 1862, requesting the President to furnish the
Senate with all the information in his posses
sion touching the late Indian barbarities in the
State OF Minnesota, and also the evidence in
his possession upon which some of the princi-
pal actors and head men were tried and con-
demned to death. have the honor to state
that on receipt Of said resolution transmitted
the same to the Secretary of the Interior, &C
companied by note, copy of which is here
with inclosed, marked "a, -" and in response to
which received through that Department a
letter of the Commissioner of Indian affairs, a
copy of which is herewith inclosed marked
"B," (already published.) I further state
that on the eighth day of November
last received long Geographic dispatch
from Major Gen. Pope, of st. Paul, Minnesota,
simply announcing the names of the persons
sentenced to be hanged. l Immediately tele-
graphed to have transcripts of the records in all
the cases forwarded to me, which transcripts,
however, did not reach me until two or three
days before the present meeting of Congress
Meantime, received, through Geographic dis
patches and otherwise, appeals in behalf of the
condemned, appeals for their execution, and
of opinion as to the proper policy |
in regard to them, and the Indians generally in
that vicinity, none of which, as I understand,
falls within the scope of your inquiry. After
the arrival of the transcript of records, but be-
fore had sufficient opportunity to examine
Them received joint letter from one of the
Senators and both Of the Representatives from
Minnesota, which contains some statements of
fact not found in the records of the trials and
for which reason transmit copy marked
&C." ALREADY published.] I also for the
same reason inclose printed memorial of the
citizens of St. Paul, addressed to me, and for
warded with the letter aforesaid. Anxious to
not act with so much clemency as to encourage
another outbreak on the one hand, nor with
so much severity as to be real cruelty on the
other, caused careful examination
of the records of the trials to be made, first Or
dering the execution of such as had been proved
guilty of violating females. Contrary to my ex
only two of this class were found
l then directed further examination and CLASH
fication of all who were proven to have partici
pated in massacres as distinguished from par
ticipation in battles. This class numbered forty
and included two convicted of female violation.
One of the number is strongly recommended by
the Commission which tried him for commuta-
ton to ten years imprisonment. have ordered
the other thirty-nine to be executed on Friday,
the 10Th inst. The order was dispatched from
here on Monday, the 9Th inst, by messenger
to Gen. Sibley, and a copy of which order is
herewith transmitted, marked D. An abstract
of the evidence as to the forty is herewith in
closed, marked E.
To avoid the immense amount of copying, I
lay before the Senate the original transcripts of
the records of the trials, as received by me.
This is as full and complete response to the
resolution as it is in my power to make.
GSigned ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Congressional Election in New Or
leans.