The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-19

sage on the lndia1 murders IN Mlnne-
sofa: y sa a@ SIS ~
40 the Senate Of tie United States;
In compliance with your resolution Of
December 8, 1862, requesting the .Presi-
dent to furnish the Senate with ell the
information in his possession touching
the late Indian barbarities in the State Of
Minnesota, and also the evidence in his
possession upon which some of the prin-
cipal actors and head men were tried and
condemned to death, have the honor TO
state that on the receiptof said resolu
ton transmitted the same to the Secre-
tary of the Interior, accompanied by
note, copy of which is herewith enclos-
ed, marked "a, and in response TO which
| received through that department
letter of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, a copy of which is herewith en-
closed, marked 'B.' further state that.
on the 9Th day of November last | re-
ceiyed long telegraphic despatch from
Major. General Pope, at st. Paul, Minne-
sofa, simply announcing the names of the
persons sentenced to be hanged. l i'm
mediately autographed to ave.transcripts
of the records in allthe cases forwarded
to me, which transcripts, however, did
not reach me until two or three DAYS be-
fore the present meeting of Congress.
Meantime, ! received through Tele-
graphic dispatches and otherwise, ap-
peals in behalf of the condemned, appeals
for their execution, and expressions of
opinion as to the proper policy in regard
to them and the Indians generally in that
vicinity, none of which as understand,
falls within the scope of your inquiry.
After the arrival of the transcript of
records, but before had sufficient oppor-
tuBity TO examine them, / received q
joint letter from one of the senators and
both OF the representatives. from Mime
sofa, which contains some statements of
facts not found in the records of the
trials, and for which reason | transmit a
copy, marked &C. l also, for the same
reasons, enclosed printed memorial of
the citizens of st. Paul, addressed TO me
and forwarded with the letter aforesaid.
Anxious TO not act with so much clemency
as 10 encourage another outbreak on the
one hand, nor with so much severity
as to be real cruelty on the other, i
caused careful examination of The
records of the trials to be made, first
ordereing the execution of such as had
been proved guilty of violating females
Contrary TO my expectations, only two
Of this class were found. | then direet-
ed further examination and a classif-
cation of all who We're proven to have
participated in massacres, as distinguish
ed from pal ticipation in battles. This
class numbered forty, and included two
convicted Of female violation. One OF
the number is strongly recommended
to the commission which tried him for
communication to ten years imprisonment.
l have ordered the other thirty mine to be
executed on Friday, 10Th instant. The
order was despatched from here on Mon
day, 9Th instant, by messenger TO Gen
eral Sibley, and a copy of which order is
here with transmitted, marked I'D. An
abstract of the evidence as to the forty
is herewith enclosed marked &C.
ITO avoid the immense amount OF
copying, lay before the Senate the orig
inal transcripts of the records of the
trials as received by me. This is as full
and complete a response TO the resolu-
ton as it is in my power TO make.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.p