The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-12

There is reason to believe that a cors;a
cradle number OF these have not participated
IN the raid, but in our efforts to punish
them we may safely count on their united
resistance, reinforced by the Yanktons and
other Missouri Sioux, making an aggregate
force OF three or four thousand. Which we
Will sooner or later have to meet.
The relation of the Sioux and Chinnowa
nations to the State and United States does
not d:ner from that of other aboriginal
tribes. ""'
Retaining no title to the soil which the
government recognizes, except the doubtful
and precarious right of occupancy, thew
have, by the consent of their Great Father.
preserved upon their reservations their an .
cent habits and customs, and a Quasi right
OF seif,government, subject, however, to the
controi and protection of the nation DOS,
saslng few of the characteristics of a for
egn ana independent people, they owe no
aheglance to and are not subject to the iu-
rljolctlon OF the State within whose bound
aries their reservation is located, but are
rather the dependent allies, the wards of the
Natlonai government, which, by numerous
treaties, has assumed the duty Of their pro-
tectlon, and by its constitution reserves to
.tself the exclusive control of trade and in,
tercourse with them, and the sole iuris-
dlction OF all crimes arising out of their
relation with the whites, committed in their
territory. ''
Inc obligations and responsibilities grow.
ing out OF this relation of the general gov.
eminent to the Indian, renders the former
not only his protector, but surety for his
good behavior; and hence arises claim of
the State on behalf OF our citizens, not only
tor reimbursement for the expenses of a war
for the subjugation of these savages, but for
indemnity for the property destroyed by
their incursions.
Inc state government sustains no other
relation to them than that of foreign and
independent State. Its legal process does
not run into their territory. 1t appoints
no agent for their government, protection
or control. 1t establishes no laws and re.
gulations respecting them, and of conse-
quence possesses no means for the protec-
ton and security of its contiguous TERRITORY
by the preservation of friendly relations and
feelings between the two races.
The United States Government. on the
other hand, appoints officers to reside among
them, prescribes regulations for their inter-
course with the whites, reimburses them for
losses occasioned by the injustice of officers,
agents or private citizens, Furnishes aggres,
slons on their part, establishes forts and gar,
risons in their neighborhood, and in short
exercises full and perfect sovereignty over
them, except so far as it tacitly tolerates
their own mode of government as between
themselves.
But this claim so obviously just, does not
rest upon implication alone. By the trade
and intercourse act of 1884, and by the
treaty with the M LIBERALIZATION, Wakpekou.
ia, Wakpeton and Sisseton bands of Dako>
tas, concluded at Washington in 1858, the
government expressly assumed the relation
OF guarantOr for the good conduct of its
wards, and full indemnity was assured to
any person whose property was taken, sto.
len or destroyed by an Indian, and by the
latter, the several bands constituting the
annuity Indians, were bound to preserve
friendly relations with the whites, and to
commit no depredations on their persons or
property, and in case of any such injury or
depreciation, it was agreed that full com.
pensation should be made under the direc.
ton OF the Secretary of the Interior out of
their moneys 10 the hands of the United
States.
In view of these provisions it cannot be
doubted that the Dakota nation has, bv its
fragrant violation of its treaty obligations,
fully and entirely exonerated the govern
ment from all corresponding duties on its
part, Ii this be true, so far as the Sioux
are concerned, the day of annuities and In
dian payments in Minnesota is past. The
government will doubtless refuse 10 pay any
further sums under the treaty to the offend
ing tribes, but the act which has absoved
it from this duty has created another BY the
destruction of property by acts against the
occurrence of which the government had
given the guarantee. 1t is believed that
the authorities at Washington will deny nei.
Their the equity nor the legality of this claim
when the same shall, as trust it promptly
will, be urged upon their attention, but,
while escaping from all future obligations
to those tribes, will regard their claims as
only transferred to the sufferers by their
depredations.
The annuities thus forfeited by the Sioux
amount in all, goods, moneys, and other
classes OF expenditures, to about $1,000.
900.
recommend and urge that you earnestly
memorabilia Congress and the Departments
to usa this sum to promptly indemnify those
whose property has been destroyed or pilla-
ged by these Indians, and for the support of
the widows and orphans of those who have
fallen at their hands. l do not doubt that
if proper represen tations are made, that
this just compensation can be soon secured.
In the extremity to which our military
reverses have reduced the nation, it is in
vain to expect any immediate or sufficient
protection from the General Government.
The material of war, and means for the
payment and subsistence OF troops, will
doubtless be furnished US sooner or later
through the regular channels of military
supply and the required assistance, as it
does not come within the general system of
military operations, under the eye of our
generals, we may expect will often come
tardily and without system, too slowly and
,rregularly for the prompt and decisive &C.
ton rpnuirpd hv tho noouliar ovirono;o, nj