The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-20
Relations Of the Government to the
Indian Tribes.
Letter to Hon. James DOOlittle, U. ;.
Senator from Wisconsin.
BY REV. EDWARD d. NELL.

ificatiOn at the position taken by the Senate
Committee of Indian affairs in their sub
stitute for the Bill originating in the House,
to indemnify those who have suffered from
the late Sioux raid on the frontier settle
ments of Minnesota, and also to thank
you for the clear and practical remarks in
advocacy of the same, which | find re-
ported in the Congressional Globe.
While now a resident with my family, in
this my native city, yet for more than
twelve years lived in Minnesota, and was
acquainted with more than one of the
slaughtered sires. Knowing full well the
necessities of the living who escaped the
sealping knife, and sympathizing with
those whose lives have been darkened by
so much sorrow, | have been very anxious
that Congress should administer iudicions
relief.
The substitute meets my approval, be-
cause it does not appropriate as the House
Bill dld, one million and half of dollars,
before the amount of claims is ascertained,
but only one or two hundred thousand dol
lars Tor present exigencies, and provides
for three commissioners, two of whom shall
not live in the State, to be appointed by
i
obtain list, and the nature and amount
OF all claims, and report in time for further
action by the next Congress.
In no other way than this it seems to the
writer. can full Justice be done to the hon
est trontiersman, and the treasury of the
country be properly guarded.
In the debate which grew out of the
presentation of the substitute ny the Com
mittee, remarks were made by several
Senators on the suggestion in the Presi-
dents Message, as to the necessity of
different Indian policy.
1t appears now to be conceded by every
trader, agent, military officer, and mis-
sionary acquainted with the Indian tribes,
that the hour has arrived when the Indian
system should be remodeled.
The whole past exhibits a sincere desire
upon the part ofthe Government to elevate
and civilize the Aborigines, but thus far
we have been short sighted in the means
employed. To improve the condition of
the wandering Arab is considered imprac-
ticable, because they are nomades, and no
missionary organization believe has at
tempted it, yet both the Church and Gov
eminent of this country have striven to
clvlllze tribes who 'Out-Arab the Arab"
If may coin an expression, trying to tame
hare before he is caught.
Washington and Jefferson both called
the attention of Congress to the desire
ableness of training the Indians as an agri-
cultural people, and the establishment of
trading houses with goods for sale at
price TO cover cost and transportation was
Sta ir,o MI 4,
plan was imperfect in detail and execution
No doubt it was in a measure the fOunda-
ton Of the domestic and agricultural life
OF the southwestern tribes, the Greeks,
Choctaws, and Chikasaws.
The employment of the Government
factors in the northwest proved unsuccess-
full for several reasons. Their posts were
few and far between. For the Valley of
the Minnesota and the Upper Mississippi,
after the late war with England, there was
but one Government house, and that at
Prairie du Chen, near the mouth of the
Wisconsin, and difficult of access over a
road of war for the northern nations.
Again the old British subjects and trad
ers, the Dixons. Dousmans, and Rolettes
intermarried and followed the Indian to
his remote hunting ground and supplied
him with British blankets. axes, and pow
der cheaper ard better than the United
States could furnish. After several years
of discussion in Congress, and under a
pressure such as traders can bring, the i'll
regulated Government establishments were
abolished, and in lieu licenses were issued
allowing any citizen to reside and traffic
with the tribes.
This system has proved iniquitOus, and
is yet in force. The Hon. H. NJ. Rice, in
some forcble remarks during the debate,
charges the Government as cooperating
with the trader in pandering to the low
taste of the savage which leads him to de-
mand vermillion at any price, with which
to daub himself, brass wire and bells and
other gew gaws for ornaments, and scalp p
ing knives for the exciting hunt after men
and beaH. With such tastes developed he
never fails to return from the winters
chase, and remain lounger around some
trading house, waiting for the next pay
ment, a lazy, dirty, smoking and thieving
vagabond, a perfect Cain in all his instincts
AS a consequence of the present system,
the Sioux, Ojbways, and Winnebagoes of
Minnesota have been animalized and VIC
timized, and the labors of missionaries al
most neutraliZed.
LIE Sueur, the discoverer and explorer
of the Minnesota valley, who assisted in
building one Of the very first European
houses on the Mississippi, just below Lake
Pepin, in 1884, and constructed tort
near Hastings in 1896, and still another in
100 at Mankato, which is not many miles
from the scene of the late massacre, urged
on his Government that ''no Frenchman
should be allowed to tfoUo,o tie Indians in
their hunts, as it tends to keep them hun-
ters, and when they are in the woods they
do not desire to become HUe,.s of the soil. :"
Mr.. Calhoun, when Secretary of War,
was very earnest in desire to reform our
Indian policy, and contended that as long
as anybody encouraged the savage to hunt,
he would trample on the law of society,
and refuse to eat any bread earned with
the sweat of his face. ,a.,
-. A Stockbridge chief once told me that
he thought it was wrong to allow white
men to intermarry with, and afterwards
reside among Indians, for his experience