New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-08
THE INDIAN ATROCITIES IN MIN
NEsOTA.
Memorial Against the Repricvc Of Any Of
the Indiaus.
WARRINGTON. ID. c. Friday.

the Indians.
WAsHrEeTos. ID. G., Friday. Dec s, 1864
The following memorial has been presented TO the
President:
To ne P,sstde~f Of the United ssa.es
We have learned incidentally that you intend to
pardon or reprisve large majority of the Indians
who have been formally condemned for their psrti-
cipation in the brutal massacre Of our people in the
months Of August and September last. II this be
your purpose, as representatives CT that State we
beg leave most respectfully TO protest against it, and
we do 80 for the following reasons:
These Indians condemned most Of them upon
the testimony Of women whom they had carried
into captivity, after having murdered their fathers
husbands and brothers, and who were treated by
these Indians with brutality never known before
in this country equaed in the practices of the
most barbarous nations There were nearly ninety
female captiyes they were the wives and daughters
OF our neighbors and friends. They were intelligent
and vntuous wonen-some OF them were wives and
motlers-others were young and interesting girls.
These savagee 10 whom you purpose to extend
Your Executive clemency, when the whole country
was quiet and the farmers wsro bnsily engaged in
gathering their crops arose with fearful violence,
and travelling from farmhouse TO another indis-
crininatey murdered all the men, boys and little
children they TO- and although they sometimes
spared the poJhers and dausbters, they did only
to take them into captivity which was infinitely
worse than death.
Mr.. President let us state to you some facts with
which we fear you have not heretofore been made
acq uainied. These Indians whom, as We UNDER
stand, you propose ~ pardon and set free, have
murdered in cold blood nearly or quite 900 OF our
people revaged frontiers for distance OF more
than $50 miles north and south and burned tho
homes Of more than 10 900 VI our people. They
seized and carried into captivity nearly loo women
ana young girls, and in nearly every instance treat
ed them with the most fendish brutality. To show
you Sir, the enormity OF their outrages, We beg
leave to state n few facts which vel known 10
cur people; but delicacy forblds that We should
mention the names Of the parties TO whom we refer.
In instance come ten or twelve Of these Indians
visited the house u worthy farmer, who at the
time was engaged with his sons Ia stacking wheat.
They stcalthily approached the place where this
honest farmer at work, and, sezing their oppor
tunity bot the father and hstwo at the stacks.
They then went 10 the house. killed Two little chill
cren in the presence OF their mother who was quite
i'll of consumption aud they took the sick mother and
beautiful daughter, Is years Of age into captivity.
But this is not ALL is it the mosi appalling Ior-
lion Of the awful tragedy. Its horror Is yet 10 be
revealed. After removing these unhappy persons 10
a lodge which was some miles away, these hends
incsrnats, placing guard over the body OF the
weary and exhausted mother, took her little girl
ouiSids VI the lodge, removed all her clothes aud
fastened her upon her back upon the ground. Then
they commenced the work Of brutality upon the
body of this young girl. One by one they violated
the evident signs Of her dissolution. This work
was Continued until her Heavenly Father relieved
her from her suffering They left her dead upon
the ground. This outrage was committed within a
few feet Of sick and dying mother.
There IL another instance OF grl IL years OF age.
We knew her well before ana Gt tie tine IL her
capture. She VIA a. refined aud beauIiisl giri "a
We have Ia the State None bad more or better
iriendf ore was moro worthy Of shein Than she
She was taken captive by tho Indians. She wa'
taksn her arms lied behind hsr; she Wa made fart
TO the groupi and rayished by sonc eight or ten
81 these co,lvicls before the cords were unloossd
from Ter hands. This girl fortunately lives TO testify
against the wretohes who had ttus violated her.
| WITHOUT being more specific, We viii state That
all, or nearly al the wsmen who wero eaitnrei
| wers treated IN tins wAY
Alrin, there was liuIs boy brought 20 Lieut..
Paul whose father and mother had oesn murdered
whosi lie spared az n witas'e OF TIE hoffli
MA sscra HIS nght eve was cut con lotely out, II
had ALLEN fruai ~ speket end had pelishei on his
cheek Ills two little ristefs, aged respectively
ana 4yeaIr, were alsO saved, but 10 An nvfay mutt
Ia cd cot tiou their tender rns hsd been mhns OIL
with the ,avages knrver, and otherwise f-affglIy
wounded aud loi on the Froand for dead. Mr..
President there wns no Jusiihcaucn or pfeteIt even
for thc,e hrutslities. We tiAte what wo know,
when ws SAY that tho Sioax Agent, Maj 0albrHith,
BIZ. behaved faithfully aud eft eDily for the welfare
OF thcse Indians. The Government, rs you know
hns built nouse and opened farm for every one OF
these dams who would resde upon and cultivate H.
! Missionaries, Us our worthy Bishop can TESTIFY,
have abored zcslously among them Tor ihertI Filn.
welfare. There has been paid 10 them ycaIiy 10.
interest upon g. 10000. Farming implements have
been purchased and farmers have teen employed ny
the Government 10 improve and cultivate the land.
Thee indians are called by some prisoners OF war
There was no war about IT, IL was Wholefaie ROD
L,rv r.pe murder. 1Lese Indians were not Al war
Win their murdered victims. The pcollo Of Mime
sota, ar. President, have stood hru ~ you ana ~
YOUR administration. They have given both you
and Il their cordial support. They have not violated
the law. They have borne these buDSiihsS WIN
ratleuce such M but few people ever exhibited unaer
inch ,Xtremites. 1hsfe Indians are now at tier
nercv but our people have not rsen up 70 slaughter
tb.,o because they believe that the President would
deal with them justly. "a.
We are told, Mr.. Pretdent, that Somhii''eo
from, Peunsvlyania whose families arc living hap
uiy in their pleasant homes in that state have called
npon yen aud petiioned you TO pardon thehe Indians
We have a hi n respect for the religious sentiments
of your petitioners but sub nit that u 10 bad taste
Indce ed that il L. entirely lnbecOmng the'n-to IN
terfere m natter with which they little &C
auainied, and which relates 10 the security VI our
own people.
W. PKoIIsT AGAINST THE PARDON Of these In
dams because n II Is done The Indians VIII become
more infoleut and criminal than they ever were be-
fore believing, IA they certainly will believe. that
The Great Father at Washngton either justihos the
act OF il afraid to punish them for their crines
We protest against IT, because If the Precedent
dOes not permit these executions 10 thAe pace uLuer
The forms Of law, tho enraged people OF Minnesota
will dispose Of these wrclches without law. 1he,e
two peoples cannot live together. We do not wish
TO zee mob law uaugugaed in Minnesota, as 1t GER
iainly will lie II you force the people TO It. We
tremjle at the approach Of euch condition OF things
in our Siatey0u give rs peace, or you can give
ia LawleGs violence. We pray you, SIR, in view OF
we have suffered, aud OF the dangers which still
avail. us, let the law DO executed, let justice be
doue our people With high respect. Sir,
Is. WILLIAMSON, CYRUS ALDNCu.
va. WINDOW.