The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-20
lPUBLIC, No. d I
aaoy PUBLIC, No. 2S H.
An Act for the relief of persons for
Damages sustained by reason of
Depredations and injuries by certain
bands of Sioux Indians.

Depre00t1OnS ana injuries by certain
bands of Sioux Indians.
WHEREAS, The United States heretofore be-
came bound by treaty stipulations to the Sisse-
ton, Wahpaton, Medawakanton, and Wahpa-
koOta bands of the Dakota or Sioux Indians to
pay large sums of money and annuities, the
greater portion of which remains unpaid &C
cording to the terms of said treaty stipulatiOns;
and whereas during the past year the aforesaid
bands of Indians made an unprovoked, aggres-
sive, and most savage war upon the United
States, and massacred q larc number OF men,
women, and children, within the State of Min
nesOta, and destroyed and damaged large
amount OF property, and thereby have forfeited
all just claim to the said moneys and annuities
to the United States; and whereas it is just and
equitable that the persons whose property has
been destroyed or damaged by the said Indians,
or destroyed or damaged by the troops of the
Uuited States in said war, should be indemni-
fled in whole or in part out OF the Indebtedness
and annuitieS SO forfeited as aforesaid there
fore
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives OF the United States of Amer
lea in Congress assembled, That all treaties
heretofore made and entered into by the Sisse-
tons, WahpetOn, Medawakanton, and Wahpa-
kOOta bands of Sioux or Dakotah Indians or
any of them, with the United States, are here
by declared to be abrOgated and annulled so far
as said treaties, or any of them, purpOrt to i'm
pose 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. 10 be forfeited to the United
States
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That two
thirds OF the balance remaining uneYpended of
annuities due and payable to said Indians for
the present fiscal year, not exceeding one hun
rod thfpSa md II aud tha frrt .,f
one hundred thousand dollars, being two-thirds
of the annuities becoming due and payable to
said Indians during the next fiscal year, is here
by appropriated, and shall be paid, from the
Treasury OF the United States, out of any mon
eys not otherwise appropriated, to the Com
missiOners hereinafter provided for, to be APP
pOrtiOned by them, among the heads of fam;s
lies, or, In case OF their decease, among the sur
viving members of families of the STATE of Min
nesota who suffered damage by the depreda-
lions of the SissctOn, WahpatOn, Medawakan-
ton, and WahpakoOta bands of Sioux or Dako-
tab 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 hum
dred dollars to any one family, nor the actual
damages aforesaid, and no moneys shall be paid
under this section except upon those claims
which shall be presented to said Commissioners
on or before the 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, duplicate
vouchers, therefor, certified by them.
Sec. B. And be it further enacted. That, for
the purpose of making the proper distribution
Of the moneys hereby appropriated for the
present relief of such families, and for the pur-
pose 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 consent OF the Sem
ate, to appoint three Commissioners, not more
than one of whom shall be resident of Min
neSOta. who shall take IN oath in the manner
prescribed 10y the laws of the United States to
faithfully discharge their duties they shall en-
terrain and hear the complaints Gin writings
duly verified on oath of all and every person
aggrieved by the depredatiOns of said Indians,
and by the troops OF the United States in said
war; they shall have power to compel the 1t
tendance Of witnesses, and to administer the
proper Oaths to them to testify the truth; they
shall have power to compel the claimants to
be examined and crOss-eNamined on oath, to be
administered by them, Us to their said claim:
they shall hold their sessions at such times
and places as will give the persons complain
ing the fairest opportunity Of verifying their
claim with the least expense: they shall take
care that no lln lust fictitious claim shall be
established: and if they have any reason to
suppose that any such claim is presented, they
shall have power. and it shall be their duty, to
knowledge that the same may be finally re-
jected. The testimony OF the witnesses and
the examination OF the complainant. shall be
reduced to writing, signed and certified 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 or modification. To be by him laid be-
fore the next Congress. \ majority of the
Commission may select their presiding officer
and shall be competent to decide all questions
arising before them.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That said
Commissioners shall hold their first session at
st. Peter, in the State of Minnesota, on or be-
fore the first day OF April next. for the hearing of
claimants. and that all claims must be presented
to saldConmisSiOners on or before the LIST day of
September next, or the same shall not be heard
by them; and the said Commissioners shall
make and return their finding, and all the pa,
perS relating thereto, Oh or before the first day
of December next.
Sec. >. And be it further enacted. That said
Commissioners shall receive for their services
and expenses the sum OF two thousand five
hundred dollars each. And they are authorized
to deputc IL proper perSorftO summon witnesses
who shall be entitled to receive his actual eX
penses, to be allowed by said Commissioners,
and the sum of three dollars per day for his
services. Witnesses subpGnaed in behalf of the
United States shall receive pay for attendance
not to exceed the fees allowed by the laws OF
Minnesota for witnesses attending justices
courts And for paying the expenses of said
Commission, the further sum of ten thousand
dollars is hereby appropriated out Of the said
annuties in the treasury of the United States.
or so much thereof It's may bc necessary to paw
the same.
Sec g. And be it further enacted That the
Secretary Of the Interior Immediately after the
passage of this act, shall cause the same to be
published in four of the newspapers of the
State OF Minnesota which in his opinion, will
give the most publicity to the same among the
people who have suffered by said depredations,
and give notice of the first meeting of said
Commissioners, the expenses to be paid out of
the sum appropriated in the next preceding
section.
Sec. Z. And be it further enacted, That if
the complainant or any witness testifying
before said commissioners, shall be guilty of
perjury, upon conviction thereof in the proper
court of the United Suites, he shall suffer the
pains and penalties prescribed by the laws of the
United States for that offence.
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That the
said Commissioners, may make rules not ncon-
sistent with this act, prescribing the order and
mode of presenting, prosecuting, and proving
said claims before them, which rules shall be
published in one newspaper in the City OF st.
Paul, and one in St. Peter, for at least two
weeks prior to the first session of said Commits
sion. to be held at St. Peter as directed in the