The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-23
Relief OF Sufferers by Indian Dep-
relations.

The following is the Act for the relief of
sufferers by Sioux depredations, which
passed the House Of Representatives on the
9Th inst, and was introduced into che
Senate Oh the Gth read twice, and referred
to the Committee on Indian Affairs:
Az iC1' for tie reliet' Of pelsoas for ti1moges
sustained By reason Of dclJedaions and injuries
By certain bands Of .Siour Inc!ia1s.
SEC ]. BE it enocted By tie Senate ould House
Of RepresentoticesotM tile LniteG Stotes Of Ame,ica
IN Congress assembled, That, for the purpose of
indeinnifying persons who have suffered dam
ages from depredations committed by the Sis
seton, Wahpaton. MedawakantOn. and Wahpa-
kOOta bands of the Dakota or Sioux Indians
there is hereby appropriated the sum of one
million five hundred thousand dollars. or so
much thereof as may be necessary from the
treasury OF the United States. out of any money
not otherwise appropriated: the said sum, when
so TAKEN to be charged to and to be Il pro tanto
eXtingulShmcnt Of the trust funds Of said In
dams held by the United States pursuant to the
treaties OF the United States with said Indians.
SEC. =. Ind be It .tuther enacted, That for
the purpose OF ascertaining the amount of said
damages, and the persons entitled to be indem-
nitied out OF the mOneyshereby appropriated. it
shall be lawful for the Secretary of the Interior
TO appoint a commission. consisting OF three
discreet persons, who shall take the oath pre-
scribed by the laws of the United States to faith
fully discharge their duties they shall enter
tain and hear the complaints OF all and every
person aggrieved by the depredations of said
Indians they shall have power to compel the
attendance OF witnesses, and to administer the
proper OathS to them to testify the truth: they
shall hold their sessions at such times and
places will give the persons complaining the
tairest opportunity of verifying their claim with
lfncf .l,.Il@ Il
unjust or fictitious claim shall be establishes
and il they have any reason to suppose that any
such claim is presented. they shall have power
and it shall be their duty, to procure any eOun-
tervaiinS proof, to their knowledge that the
same may be finally rejected. The testimony
OF the witnesses shall be reduced to writing,
and signed by them, respectively, and shall,
with the petition and all the papers relating to
each case, with the finding OF The commission.
be transmitted to the Secretary of the Interior
for his approval, rejection, modification, as
to him shall seem just and consistent with the
laws of the United States and the treaty with
said Indians. \ majority Of the commission
shall form quorum and be competent to act
in all cases.
SEC. 3. And be 1t FURTHER cn0cted That if any
witness testifyinS before said commission shall
be guilty OF perjury, said witness shall. upon
conviction in the proper court Of the United
States, suffer the pains and penalties prescribed
by the laws of the United States for that Of
fence. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby
authorized to set apart of the public lands not
otherwise appropriated one hundred and sixty
acres to each individual of the bciOrc-named
bands who eXerted themselves in rescliing the
whites from the late massacre of said Indians;
and, out OF the money hereby appropriated, he
IS hereby authorized to cause such improve
mentS to bc made thereon, and to furnish said
Indians with such implements and domestic
animals as will enable them to sustain them
selves by agriculture. And there shall be
nually paid to each of said Indians, SO long as
he or they live, the sum of fifty dollars. The
land so set apart shall not be subject to any tax.
forfeiture, or sale, by process of law, and shall
not be alienated or devised, except by the con-
sent of the President of the United States, but
shall be an inheritance to said Indians and their
heirs forever.