The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-19
the Commissioner of Indian affairs, as ap-
pears in the report of that year, that


Three of the upper bands still remain off the
Reserve, and IN the midst of the white settle
ments, giving occasion to constant complaints.
Their chiefs. at the last council held with them,
say positively they will not come to the Re.
serve, but are willing to do so whenever the
united States Government performs its prom
lses to them. 1t is, indeed, absurd to suppose
that any good can be accomplished unless the
Indian Department is prepared to execute ev-
cry part of the treaty.
1t thus appears that the great cause of
irritation and complaint among the Sioux
Indians has been that they never were paid
for the lands bought of them by Superin.
tendent Ramsey in 1851. The complaint
is we'll founded. They have not been paid
Governor Ramsey, who was entrusted with
the money, paid it through an agent, d.
rectly to the traders-less Is per cent, pub.
licly deducted, and how much privately
s'excuded" from what traders received, is
unknown.
This transaction was made known to the
government at Washington, There was an
investigation, and a senatorial whitewash-
ing of the whole affair. There seems to
have been in this community an overflow.
ing pity for his Excellency--a general de,
sire among men of all parties to csst a veil
of oblivion over this Sioux business. He
was whitewashed by silence out of the Sem
ate investigation. He was apparently let
off by common consent.
And now when his acts have eliminated
in a Sioux war; now when the chickens,
from eggs of his own Matching, have come
home to roost, be meanly attempts to cast
the blame upon others.
With much difficulty we have been able
to procure copy of the Sioux Payment
Investigation Report. (Tbe report seems
to have been suppressed From some-
what careful examination of its contents, OF
the documentary and personal evidence, OF
the conclusions arrived at by the Commits
sicners charged with the investigation, we
are unable to find any excuse for having let
the Governor off Sc easily.
We copy the following extracts from the
Report of Judge YoUNG, Commissioner to
investigate the charges against Governor
RAMSEY. Judge YoUNG's conclusions seem
to be fully warranted by the evidence.
What has Governor RAMSEY to say in
reply?
Governor Ramsey Is next charged with hav-
ing paid over the greater part Of the money,
appropriated under the fourth articles of the
treaties of July % and August 5, 1851, to one
Hugh Tyler, for payment or distribution to
the traders and half Breeds" contrary
to the wishes and remonstrances of the Indi.
ans; and in violation of law and the stipula.
lions contained in said treaties: and also in
violation of his own solemn pledges, previously
made to them, in regard to said payments.
Of the two hundred and seventy.five thous.
and dollars ($275, aCO) stipulated to be paid
under the first clause of the fourth article of
the treaty of TRAVERSE des Sioux" of july
"a, 1851, the sum of two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars $3.50, 0O0) was delivered over
to Hugh Tyler by Governor Ramsey, for dis.
trbution among the ''traders" and half.
Breeds" according to the arrangement made
by the schedule to the Traders Paper This
payment or delivery of the money to the said
Tyler was made on two powers of attorney.
executed to him by the GRADERS" and halt.
breeds, "-the first at Travers des Sioux. on
December !, 1852, and the second at Mendoza.
on December H. lS52-both of which were
predicated upon the authority of the 'Tra
ders' Paper" dated at Travers des Sioux. Ju.
ly %. 1851.
For this large sum of money Hugh Tyler ex.
ecuted two receipts to Governor Ramsey, as
the attorney for the traders" and ''half-
Breeds" the one for two hundred and ten
thousand dollars (2lO,0O0) on account of the
dollars 100000 on account of the half.
breeds" the first dated at st. Paul, December
8. 1852 and the second at Mendoza, December
ii, 1852.
And of the sum of one hundred and ten thou
sand dollars. (Sll0,000,) stipulated to be paid
fourth article off, the 'treaty" of August 5.
1851, the sum of seventy thousand dollars
(S7O,O0O was in like manner paid over to the
said Tyler, on power of attorney executed to
him by the traders and claimants under the
said latter treaty on December II, 1852. The
receipt of the said Tyler to Governor Ramsey
for this money, ($7O,oo0,) is dated at st. Paul,
December Ii, 1852.
Making together the sum of three hundred
and twenty thousand dollars, (s32O, O0O.) This
has been shown to have been contrary to the
wishes and rem0nStrances of large majority
of the Indians, in the first instance, MANY of
whom still continue dissatisfied with the ar.
rangements as they were made.
1t is also believed to be in violation of the
treaty stipulations, as well as of the law max.
ing the appropriations under them.
The treaty stipulations required the money
to be paid for the several purposes specified
"to the chiefs in such manner as they here.
after, in open council shall request; and az
soon after the removal of said Indians to the
homes set apart for them, as the necessary an.
preparation therefor shall be made by Con.
gress."
The two clauses referred to are similar in
this respect. and both alike contemplate the
holding of these "councils " after the treaties
should be ratified. They also imply the right
of the Indians to settle their own affairs. and
to comply with their present just engage.
ments in their own way as they might re.
quest and, also, to exercise some control over
the amounts to be set apart for their removal
and subsistence.
But in these matters it seems that they have
not been consulted at all in open council
after the ratification of the treaties, as was in.
tended but, on the contrary, arbitrary divis.
ions and distributions have been made of the
entire funds, and their right denied to direct
the manner in which they should be appro.
priated.
The appropriations for the fulflment of
these treaty stipulations will be found in the
act of Congress of August 30, 1852.