The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-19
Hon. Jared Benson,
Sneaker of the House of Reps.


sioner Dole, representing the critical state of
affairs with the Chippewa Indians, and de-.
handing additional force.
The important interests that seem to be in
peril, and the necessity of prompt action, in.
duce me to ask the consent and advice OF
the. Legislature in this emergency.
But five hundred men remain at our dlspo-
sal, and of these but three hundred can be
supplied with effective arms.
At nv urgent request five hundred stand of
arms have been forwarded me by the Govern
Ors of Illinois and Wisconsin. They have but
just arrived, and have not been examined !;
but as have been informed by the Governor
of Illinois, many of them are very inferior.
If this, our entire militia force at present un
employed is dispatched to Fort Ripley, large
portion of our Southwestern frontier, repre-.
scented to be in imminent danger, will be suf-
fered to remain without adequate protection.
In view of the difficulty in procuring trans.
portation, arising from the fact that nearly ev~
ery available team has already been impress
ed into the service, it will be extremely diff
cult, if not impossible, to reach the fort in less
than five days.
In view of the many difficulties which sur.
round us, desire your cooperation in the
adoption of such measures as will most effec-
tually secure the preservation of peace.
Respectfully.
ALEX, RAMSEY.
Fort RIPLEY, Sept. IL, 1862.
To his Excellency the Governor of Mime sofa.
DEAR SIR-I have now been here twelve days
endeavOring to effect an amicable arrange.
ment of the troubles with the Chippewa In
dams, but regret to say that at the time of
writing this | despair of doing so.
When l arrived, Hole-in the Day and a con.
siderable number of his band, were encamped
at Gull Lake, some thirty miles north of this
place. | have sent him repeated messages to
come and meet me in council, and had the in.
vitstion borne to him by different messengers.
For ten days he delayed, evaded and refused.
During this time he was busy gathering and
arm Dg MS men and warriors, and moved his
camp from Gull Lake to within two miles of
Crow Wing. On yesterday he finally consent
ed TO meet me IN council in Crow Wing. In.
stead of bringing with him thirty or forty of
his chiefs and head men, as had been agreed,
he brought near three hundred, all armed,
some with guns, others with bows, hatchets,
clubs and knives. One hundred of them ad-
vanced to meet US in front ; eighty concealed
themselves, made crcuit through the woods,
and at signal from the front, suddenly ap-
peared upon and took possession of the road
behind u.s.. where they detained and took two
white settlers prisoners, and held them until |
ordered their release.
In the council Hole-in.the Day was bold and
impudent, and no result was reached by the
conference. 1t is to be renewed this morning.
but fear collision will take place. l have
sent Captain Burt's company to the Agency,
and stationed Captain Libby's company at
Crow Wing. take another company with me
to-day. to attend the council, and to prevent
another such trick as occurred yesterday.
request that you send Immediately to this
place at least three hundred additional troops.
l regard the danger of an outbreak as being
imminent.
The Indians. in addition to their depreda.
tons at Leech Lake, Rabbit Lake. and at Otter
Tail City, are almost daily entering houses and
shooting cattle in this region.
The force that ask for is needed to protect
this Fort. the Agency and its property, and
the frontier settlements.
Yours in haste,
WILLIAM P. DOLE,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
On motion of Mr.. WISWELL, the mes
sage and accompanying communication was
referred to a special committee of three, to
act jointly with similar committee of the
Senate.
The SPEAKER appointed as such commit
tee on the part of the House, Messrs. Wis
we'll, Cornell and Norton.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
The House then resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole, for the consideration
of the general orders.
The resolution for the admission of Mr..
A. G. Smith as member of the House, to-
gether with the report and the remonstran-
ces against the same, were considered, and
the resolution disagreed to.
The bill to legalize the act of County
Commissioners in the several counties of
the State, in appropriating money for boun-
ties to volunteers, and for the support of
families of volunteers, and to provide for
the same, was recommended to be passed.
On the rising of the committee, Mr..
ROGERS (by unanimous consent) intro
duced bill to appropriate money for the
relief of refugees driven from their homes
on the frontier by the Indians, which was
read and referred to the Committee on In =.
dian Affairs.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Governor transmitted to the House
the report of the Adjutant General, which
was read and ordered printed.
Mr.. TEACHER Introduced a bill to amend
the act to provide for TOWNSHIP organi-
cation.
Mr.. WISWELL, from the Joint commit.
tee to whom was referred the special mes.
sage of the Governor and the communica-
ton of Commissioner Dole, reported by con-
current resolution, as follows, which was
immediatel y passed:
Resolved By the House of Representatives.
the Senate concurrlng. that David CooDer,
Henry NJ Rice, Frederick Ayers and T. A. C.
HNch be ana he same are hereby appointed
CommssiC ners to repair to Fort Ripley. or to
such other point as nay b. most convenient
Tor tnat purpose. and then 20 act for ard on
behalf of this State. and in Conjunction with
the Commissioner OF Indian affairs in any ne,
got.tons with the Chippewa Indians, which
may to tho n, seem best calculated 10 pre-.
serve the peuce arS prevent an outbreak of
the Indians o. our NOrthwe stern frontier
And the said Commissioners are hereby au.
thoriZed to make such representations. end to
give such assurances to said Indians, and, gen.
orally, to adopt such measures on behalf of
this State, as to them may seem best calcu.
lated to seure that object and,
Resolved, further That his EXcelleucy the
Governor, if consistent with the public bust
ness is hereby requested to accompany the
said Commissioners and cooperate with them
in this behalf.
Resolved That the Governor be requested
to send, in his discretion, as to the numbers
and the places to which they should be sent.
such troops as may be necessary for the pro-
lection of our people. and the prevention of
any further outbreak, having due regard to
the several exposed portions of our frontier.
The House than wont into Comu;t+oo III