Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-06-13
[PrBI.IC-No. 2S.

An ACT for the relief of persons for damages
sustained by reason of depredations and
injuries by certain bands of Sioux Indians.
WuEpEAs tho United States heretofore be.
came bound by treaty stipulations to the
Sisseton, Wahpaton, Medawakanton. and
W-[hlpakoota bands of theDakota or Sioux
Indians to pay large sums OF money and
annuities, the greater portion of which re-
mains unpaid according to the terms of
said treaty stipulations; and whereas du.
ring the past year the aforesaid bands OF
Indians made an unprovoked. aggressive,
and most savage war upon the United
States, and massacred large number OF
men, women, and children within the State
of Minnesota, and destroyed and damaged
large amount of property, and thereby
have forfeited all just claim to the said
moneys and ann,iies to the United States !;
and whereas it is just and equitable that
the persons whose property has been de-
stroyed or damaged by the said Indians,
or DESTROYED or damaged by the troops Of
the United States in said war, should be
Unidentified in whole or in part out of the
indebtedness and annuities SO forfeited as
aforesaid: Therefore,
BE 1t snactedby the Senate and House Of
REPRESENTATIVES of the United States Of Amer
;ca. in Congress assembled, That. all trea-
ties heretofore made and entered into by the
Sisseton, Wahpaton. Medawakanton, and
Wahpakoota bands of Sioux or Dakota In
dians, or any of them, with the United States,
are hereby declared to be abrogated and an
nulled. so far as said treaties or any of them
purport to impose any future obligation on
the United States, and all lands and rights OF
occupancy within the State of Minnesota, and
all annuities and claims heretofore accorded
to said Indians, Or any Of them, to be forfeit
ed to the United States.
Sec. 2. And be It further enactea, That
two-thirds of the balance remaining unexpen-
ded of annuities due and payable to said In
.iians for the present fiscal year. not exceed
ing one hundred thons dollars. and the
further sum Of one hundred thousand dollars,
being two-thirds of the annuites becoming
due and payable to said Indians during the
next fiscal year, is hereby appropriated. and
shall be paid from the Treasury of the United
States out of any moneys not otherwise ap'
propriated, to the commissioners hereinafter
provided for, to be apportioned by them among
the heads of families, or, in case OF their de-
cease, among the surviving members of fami-
lies of the State of Minnesota who suffered
damage by the deprcdations Of the Sisseton,
Wahpaton. Medawakantol,, and Wa lpakoo'
ia bands of Sioux or Dakota Indians. or by
the troops of the United States in the late
Indian war in the State Of Minnesota. not
exceeding the sum Of two hundred dollars to
any one family, nor the actual damages afore-
said, and no moneys shall be paid under this
section except upon those claims which shall
be presented to said commissioners on or before
tho first day of june next, for the payment
of which the said commissioners shall take
and return to the Secretary of the Interior
and to the Secretary Of the Treasury dupli-
cate vouchers therefor, certified by them.
Sec. 3. And be It further enacted. That. for
the purpose of making the proper distribu-
tion Of the moneys hereby appropriated for
the present relief Of such families, and for
the purpose Of ascertaining the whole amount
of said damages and the persons who have
suffered the same, it shall be lawful for the
President by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate. to appoint three commits
sioners, not more than one Of whom shall be