St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-01-08

furnished by the State. The Quartermas-
ers aud Commissaries Of the Militia had
,qually served both classes of troops.
Much Of the transportation originally fur
,ished by the State was retained by the
United States and employed in its service
Tor nearly three months, after Major Cen
sral Pope took command in this Military
Department. ,......a.- ,~-s
Every effort was made with the authori-
Ties at Washington to have these expenses
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fected it would have superseded the neces-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
ized.p m Gal"9.-d.5.gti! tsass415 -.Li IL tt-
In answer to my several applications to
the Secretary of War on this subject, he
has transmitted to me among other papers,
q 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 g.
.QUAa1EasAsrxR GENERALS OlrlcE, :
= Washington City, Oct. 81. 1852. q
Hon. EDWIN NJ STANTON, .= ~ 800, = "t.,.3
a.. II Secretary Of War, Washington, D. c.;
slR:-1 have the honor 70 acknowledge the receipt
Of a communication from the Hon. Alexander RAM
sey, Governor Of Minnesota, In reference to the ex
penses incurred in that State, account Of the
cent outbreak Of the Sioux Indians referred by you
for report on the following points:
l. Whether there is any appropriation out Of which
2. II there BE- such appropriation, what sum should
be paid! III. ,,.e...-. .,-.,c....'.
The following report is respectfully submitted: ,
Department are based upon estimates made in accord
with existing acts OF 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
Quartermaster's Department. from which the expenses
incurred for such State troops can be paid. Elk.
volunteer drafted militia mustered into the SER
vise of the United States under existing laws, and
used in the 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 act
act Of Feb. 14th 1851, Wol. 9, p. 5se) 'To settle
and adjust the expenses Of the people Of Oregon in
defending themselves from the attacks and hostties
Of Cayuse Indians and Feb 2Sth. 1851, (vol. 9,
money advanced and paid, and for expensesincurred
ard Obligations contracted by said State for subsist
eree supplies and services of local troops called into
service" .!... .',.-
2ud. It 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, whichstatement should be accompanied by
proper vouchers and satisfactory proof of the correct
ness thereof, authenticated in conformity with the
usages Of the department
The communication Of Governor Ramsey is here
with respectfully returned.
remain -
.@ Very re.pectfuNy,
Your ob'd't serv't,
NJ. c. MEIGS,
Quartennaster General
On learning that the State must of ne
cessity seek On appropriation from Con-
gress for the payment Of the Indian war
expenses, an approximate estimate, which
wa, 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 J.
/. The accounts and vouchers, in all these
cases, will, as soon as possible, be trans
mitted to Washington, and if, as I trust
soon will be the case, al appropriation il
made for the payment of them, we shall be
enabled to settle the balance Of the claims
unpaid. -.....
l. By the act of the 9th OF September, the
Governor was authorized to appoint three
discreet and trustworthy citizens Of thu
State, to act as Commissioners, to inquire
into and ascertain, as far as practicable the
number, names and other interesting fact:
concerning the parties killed, and the value
| ownership, kinds and other statistical in
formation in regard to the property d s.
troyed by the Indians. The act provided
| that in case any agent or commissions
was appointed by the United States au
thorities, then no commissioner shonld b.
appointed under this act" Voc. ~
At an early day, after the adjournment
of the late extra session of the Legislature
addressed o communication to the Presi
dent, on the subject Of the proposed Boart
of Commissioners, and. was Informed b,
him in reply, that he did not purpose "a
that time to make any appointments: bu
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 til,
preference of the Legislature, and especialI,
for the reason that such action on the pnrl
of the Government would be tacit admis
sion Of its obligation to compensate thu
unfortunate sufferers The report Of it.
agent also, for obvious reasons, would OBJ
tain more credence at Washington thar
would that Of an agent acting under thu
authority Of the State. -. -. !. :.
! Still, as the delay involved would .neces
sarily impair the evidence it is desirable tt
have perpetuated, ! attempted to organize
q Board under the act, aud rendered to
three several gentlemen place on the
Commission. But they in every case de
clined serving, for the reason that they did
not deem the per diem Of three dollars in
State scrip a sufficient compensation fol
the services to be rendered, and for so brieI
q period of time q to the first of January;
Under these circumstances I would re-
snectfnllv refer the srh;ecf for = vonr fnrthe,