The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-02-06
REMOVAL OF THE SIOUX and WINNIE
... BAGO INDIANS.

BAG0 INDlANS.
REPORT OF TlIF COMMITTEE ON
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Letter from the Secretary Of the Interior.
In the House of Representatives on the
2Gth ult., Mr. ALDRIoH, from the Commit
tee on Indian Affairs, submitted the fol-
towing report, which was ordered to be
printed:
REPORT.
The Committed on Iadicn AGiars, to schoo, tie
subject @Gs referred, uou!d respectfully re-
! part:
That by resolution introduced by Mr..
Window, and adopted by the House on
the 1st January, this committee was di-
rected to inquire into and report ''the
most speedy and economical mode of re-
moving from the State of Minnesota all
the Indians within her borders" The
committee referred said resolution to the
Secretary OF the Interior, requesting him
to examine the matter and recommend to
the committee some plan for their re-
moval.
In compliance with the request of the
committee, the Secretary submitted a re-
port suggesting a plan for their removal,
which has been approved and adopted by
your committee, and is herewith submit
ted, with q bill providing for the removal
of the Sioux or Dakota Indians, and ano-
ther for the removal OF the Winnebagoes.
| DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
| Washington, Dec. IL, 1922
SIR: Your communication of the 18th
| instant, enclosing the resolution of the
House of Representatives, directing inquiry
by the Committee on Indian Affairs to be
made as to the most speedy and economi-
cal mode of removing beyond the limits
of the State of Minnesota all the Indian
tribes within the State and also inform
ing Inc that you had been directed by the
Committee On Indian Affairs to refer the
resolution to me, asking q plan for their
removal, has been considered
In reply, ! have to state that after q
careful investigation OF the subject, made
necessary by the recent difficulties in Min
nesOta, it has been found ineXpedient to
attempt the removal of the Chippewas
from the State. 1t is believed that their
permanent home may, with more proprie-
ty, be established in that State than in any
other State or Territory.
There has been 10 complaint OF the
Chippewas OF the Superior, and it is not
contemplated by this department to take
any extraordinary action with reference to
them. Some Of the bands of the Chip
pewas OF the Mississippi have been guilty
of depredations of an aggravated charac
ter, lrsOmuch that measures Of some Sc
verify have become necessary, one of
which is the removal Of all Of the scattered
bands of these Indians to the vicinity of
Leach Lake, where they may he under the
| immediate observation Of their agent, and
the more easily controlled.
A treaty has been prepared under the
direction of this department, to be submit
ted to said Indians, which, it is believed
they will assent to, and that the same may
be ready for submission to the Senate for
| It's action at its present session. Should
the Indians execute the treaty on their
part, it is believed tnat there will be no
further complaint OF them Their home
around the waters of the lakes, near the
source of the Mississippi, is so far removed
from the whites, and their routes to the
Red River on the one hand, and to Lake
Superior on the other, that it can hardly
be supposed that the whites will ever
make any encroachments upon these Indi-
ans With the Chippewas OF Red lake and
river, we have 10 treaty stipulations, and
they scarcely recognize the authority OF
the Uuted States. An earnest effort is
now making to effect a treaty with them,
by which they will agree to abandon the
Red River country. 1t is hoped that the
effort will soon be crowned with success.
The Chippewas cannot be removed from
the State without the employment of
large military force; neither would any
substantial good be gained by their remov-
al. They will be better located for their
own comfort and security, and less injuri-
ious to the whites, in the State Of Mlnne-
sofa, than they possibly can be elsewhere.
There are small tracts of fertile lands in the
locality intended for them, sufficient for all
the agricultural wants of these Indians;
the lakes are well stocked with fish, and
the wild rice is found in abundance in the
lakes and marshes.
The Winnebagoes have small territory
of four and half townships of land, de-
signed for their permanent homes It is
situated in the county of Blue Earth, sur
rounded by settlers, with no natural boun-
Diary. These Indians are constantly ex-
posed to collision with the whites, who
now entertain, it appears, hostile feelings
towards all Indians. 1t is due, however,
to these Indians to say, that recent inves-
LEGATIONS have failed to show that any act
has been committed by them at all Justify
ing the ill-will existing against them, and
| it is only for their security and advantage