The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-09

arising out of the Indian raid promptly met
by the General Government; and could
that desirable arrangement have been ef-
fected it would have superseded the neces-
sity of negotiating the war loan author
lied.
In answer to my several applications to
the Secretary Of War on this subject. he
has transmitted to me- among other papers,
letter of Quartmaster General Meigs, to
whom the Honorable Secretary had refer
red my request for an opinion, as to the
authority of the Department in the prem
ises
The letter very clearly states the rea-
sons why the Department could not, at
that time, provide for the payment of the
claims and expenses and is as follows
QuARrERN.srER GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington City, Oct 81 1862.
HoN. EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War, Washington, d. c.
of a communication from the Hon. Alexander Ram
sey, Governor of Minnesota, in reference to the
penses incurred in that State, account of the re-
cent outbreak of the Sioux Indians referred by you
for report on the following points:
l. Whether there is any appropriation out of which
the claim be paid
2. If there be such appropriation, what sum should
be paid?
The following report is respectfully submitted:
1st. The appropriations for the Quartermaster's
Department based upon estimates made i'm accord
with existing acts of Congress and the regulations
of the War Department, authorized by those acts.
These do not provide for the expenses of State
troops not called into the service of the United States
There is no appropriation under the control of the
incurred for such State troops can be paid. EX-
penses incurred for the movement and operation Of
volunteer or drafted militia mustered into the
vice of the United States under existing laws, and
used in the war against the Sioux can be paid from
the existing appropriation.
Therefore, when the Government Of State or Ter
rtory has incurred expenses in defending the people
of said State Territory from the attacks of Indians
Congress has provided after the events by special
and appropriation for the settlement Of the claim See
act of Feb. 14th. 1851, VOL 9, p. 566) g To settle
defending themselves from the attacks and hosties
of Cayuse Indians =" and Feb. 21th 1851, (Vol. 9,
p. 573) For reimbursing the State of Florida for
money advanced and paid and for expensesincurred
and obligations contracted by said State for subsst
ence supplies and services OF local troops called into
service"
2nd 1t cannot be determined what sum should be
paid in this case until full and detailed statement of
the actual and necessary expenses incurred has been
presented, which statement should be accompanied by
proper vouchers and satisfactory proof of the correct
thereof, authenticated in conformity with the
usages Of the department.
The communication of Governor Ramsey is here
with respectfully returned.
! remain,
Very respectfully,
Your obd't serv't,
NJ. G. MEIGS,
Quartermaster General.
On learning that the State must of ne
cessity seek an appropriation from Con-
gress for the payment of the Indian war
expenses, an approximate estimate. which
was all that it was possible, at that time to
obtain, was made of the amount that would
be required to meet the obligations which
had been incurred by the State. and which
it was her bounden duty to have discharged.
That estimate amounted to the sum of
two hundred thousand dollars: the items of
which were promptly furnished to the
Secretary of War, in season to have the
amount included in his estimate of War
expenses, preparing for the action of Con-
gress; and it is hoped an early appropria-
ton will be made by that body to relieve
US from embarrassment.
The Board of Auditors of War Claims
have been IN session since the 18TH day of
October, and have allowed claims to the
amount of
The accounts and vouchers in all these
cases, will, as soon as possible, be trans
mitted to Washington, and if, as l trust
soon will be the case, an appropriation is
made for the payment Of them, we shall be
enabled to settle the balance of the claims
unpaid.
THE COMMISSION TO ASCERTAIN DAMAGES.
By the act of the 9th of September, the
Governor was authorized to appoint three
discreet and trustworthy citizens of the
State, to act as Commissioners, to inquire
into and ascertain, as far as practicable the
number names and other interesting facts
concerning the parties killed, and the value,
ownership, kinds and other statistical in
formation in regard to the property des
troyed by the Indians The act provided
that in case any agent or commissioner
was appointed by the United States au-
thorities, then no commissioner shOnld be
appointed under this act.
At an early day, after the adjournment
of the late extra session of the Legislature,
addressed communication to the Presi-
dent, on the subject of the proposed Board
of Commissioners, and was informed by
him in reply, that he did not purpose at
that time to make any appointments: but
subsequently, the Secretary of the Interior
informed me that he would apply to Con-
gress for authority to appoint such agent
I preferred that the Commissioners
should be appointed by the United States
Government as such apparently was the
preference of the Legislature, and especially
for the reason that such action on the part
of the Government would be tacit admis-
sion of its obligation to compensate the
unfortunate sufferers. The report of its
agent, also, for obvious reasons, would OBJ
tain more credence at Washington than
would that of an agent acting under the
authority of the State.
Still, as the delay involved would neces-