Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-08-05
REPLY OF THE GOVERNOR.
EXECUTIVE OFFICR.
T. WINsoR, County Judge


Hon. f. WINSoR, County Judge, Mansion,
Juneau Co.:
DEAR SIR: Your communication of the
! 9th inst, relative to the Indians stated to
be held il custody at New Lisbon, by or
der OF Gen. Smith, Is received. In compli.
ance with your suggestion, | have for
warded to that officer a copy of your let
ter recommending to him such action as
may be deemed most advisable Tor the
purpose of restoring and preserving quiet
among the people, and preventing further
difficulty.
There appears to exist among portion
OF the people of the counties frequented by
the Indians, a great misrepresentation as to
the duties, as well as the power, of the
Executive in regard to them. From such
information as | have been able to obtain,
| understand the Indians TO be a portion
of the Winnebagoes, for the most part,
who formerly owned the lands which they
now frequent, and that some of them re-
fused to migrate when their tribe was re-
moved TO the we est, while Others returned
after having been removed, preterring to
sacrifice their annuities rather than re-
main West. Having thus no rights in
this State, and being a constant source of
vexatlon and annoyance, the occasion Of
trouble, and the standing reason for excite,
ment and panlcS among the people of that
part of the State, / have, some weeks
since urged upon the Department OF the
Interior that measures onght to be taken
to remove them to the reservation OF their
tribe, taking the ground that the Govern
ment having purchased the lands, and
opened them for purchase and settlement,
it is bound to protect the settlers in the
afr,la r.in ~ 20 - al,
they have bought. | regret to be obliged
to say that, thus far, have not found the
Department disposed to take immediate
action but | still hope for success, and
shall not spare the necessary efforts to
cause the removal of this futile source of
trouble.
But many of the people of your section
of the State seem TO imagine that |, as the
executive, have but to command these In
dians 10 leave the country, in order to
bring aboUt the desired result; and have
been sOmewhatl surprised at the tenor OF
sundry complaints forwarded to this office
as well a. some to be found In the public
prints. The people who make these COM
plants surely do not reflect that | can do
nothing in reference to their Indians, ex-
cept to assist the people of the several To-
calitieS to defend themselves in case of a
serious attack. l have no army at my
disposal to be stationed in those counties,
and have thus far failed to see any good
reason for the alarm manifested The
murder of Mrs. Salter appears TO have
been the work of a few OF the savages.
maddened by liquor furnished them ut the
very place where the deed was commit.
ted, but such an occurrence surely gives
no good ground for the excitement crea-
ted. Still, III order to prevent and remove
all possible occasion for such occurrences
and the resulting panics, the Indians sho'd
be removed.
| find it difficult to account, to my own
satisfaction, tor the different tone exhibit
ed with regard TO those vagrsnt sayages,
in different communications received by
me, and in the press OF the locality
While some letters, petitions and CONVEX
Stations come, highly excited, estimating
tie number of Indians a. from 700 TO 1000,
and assert that they are constantly muir
dering and plundering the people, and
causing the inhabitants OF whole town
ships to abandon their homes in terror.
others come, laughing at what are termed
the absurd fears of the first, asserting that
the panic is manufactured in the interest
OF parties who are Jealous of the Indians,
privilege OF hunting and picking berries
and that there Is no such fear OF the Indi-
ans as the Others represent, and that there
Will be no difficulty If the savages are let
alone.
Under these circumstances, | can only
do what | have done,--csll upon the gov
eminent to remove the nuisance,-urge
the people to foruI companies under the |
militia law, so that they will at least have |
the feeling of security arising from having |
legally armed bodies of men among them. |
who can be called out in case of emergency /
and await the evident occasion for fur |
Their action. At the call OF the sheriff | 1
have sent supply of arms TO The county, /
but even these | cannot lawfully allow TO .
remain beyond the immediate emergency
unless companies are formed under the I
militia law 10 receive them. OF course
such comanies would not be called AWAY
from their locality st any time. so long as
there was any possible need for them as
home.
| cannot remove the Indians, having no
place to remove them to, snd must act
through the General Government. I GER
Jainly do not see the occseion for such