The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-12
The Minnesota Indian Massacres.
LETTER FROM COMMISSIONER DOLE.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Office of Indian Affairs,
n

IMPAIRMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Office of Indian Affairs, :
November 10, 1862 }
SIR My attention has been called to
a statement in the newspapers to the effect
that some 800 Sioux Indians have been
tried by court martial and condemned to be
hanged for murder committed during the
late outbreak in Minnesota and that the
execution Of the sentence only awaits the
approval ofthe President.
l should have addressed you on the sub
ject sooner, but for the fact that the As
sistant Secretary is now in that country
upon business understood among other
thing to embrace the adjustment of the
difficulties growing out ofthis outbreak.
cannot reconcile it to my sense of du-
ty to remain silent while measures of the
character indicated in the statement above
mentioned are being executed. / lam fully
aware that in the prosecution of their hos
tilities these Indians perpetrated most hor-
rible and atrOciOus crimes, and were guilty
of barbarities which shocked every feeling
of humanity and are only known in Indian
warfare. The whole country is justly in
censed and exasperated by their conduct
but Notwithstanding this, it seems to me
that an indiscriminate punishment of men
who have laid down their arms and sur
rendered themselves as prisoners partakes
more of the character of revenge than
the infection of deserved punishment
that it is contrary to the spirit of the age
and our character as great, magnani-
nous and Christian people; nor would it,
in my opinion, be attended with beneficial
results. These people are a wild, barbar-
GUS and benighted race, and are, perhaps,
under the influence of their chiefs, head
men and prophets. A blow, then, which
falls upon and Furnishes their leaders, by
whom they have been instigated, and
whose commands they almost supersti-
tiously obey, will be recognized by them
as falling upon the authors of their crimes
as a just vindication of the majesty of
our laws and as an exhibition of the mag
nanimity of our people. On the other
hand, a punishment which falls alike upon
those who instigated and led them on, and
those who followed through blind and
superstitious instinct of obedience, will
beget a bitter feeling of revenge which,
though it may be smothered, will uever
be extinguished.
No people were ever more Justly exas-
perated than are those of Minnesota; nor
did circumstances ever more nearly justify
retallatory and vindictive measures.
am not surprised at the finding of the
court, and do not desire to be understood
as condemning the course of the officers
engaged in the court martial. | believe
that under their oaths and the requirements
of the articles of war, they could not do
otherwise; but their sentence may be mo-
dified by the President, and for the rea-
sons above imperfectly and hastily set
forth. trust that you will lay the subject
before him, together with his letter, or a
copy thereof, and if possible prevent the
consummation of an act which cannot be-
lieve would be otherwise than stain upon
our national character and source of flu
ture regret.
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
VIM. P. DOLE, Commissioner.
Hon. c. B. SMITH, Secretary of the Interior.