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

equipped awaits the opening Of early sprin,
to dash across the plains and visit swift
vengeance npon the few who have escaped
in the asylums to which they have retreated
AN INDIAN POLICY. -'''+-'..
But while sense of perfect security
from all outrage, now pervades our mos
exposed frontiers, while the sword Of thu
military power is suspended above the
heads Of the offenders, the occurrences d
the last few months have taught our peo
pie new demands, and the authorities o
the State and Nation new theories of Indi.
all treatment and government 1fN"
The absolute and immediate removal Of
these sayagcs beyond our borders has be
come I'll imperative social necessity. Ii2s
The moral and physical safety Of the In.
dian urges it: the rising fortunes of ou1
State require it !; and the united voice oil
our people demand it. f1 'a- 1.aH
The recognition Of these savages as in
dependent nations, competent to declare
war, to make laws for their own guidance,
and to hold and dispose Of property, has
always been fraud upon the Indians. 1t
is an attempt to raise these ignorant saw
ages to a position, to which their wild and
rowing habits and their child-like ignorance
necessarily units them, and while affortling
abundant opportunity for the frauds OF
the designing has taught the Indian only
arrogance in his demands, contempt for
the authority, and suspicion of the integ-
rity of the Government. ''." ~ .FtEr! :.
1t is at least certain, that the existence
OF tribes Of barbarians, as independent ma
tons within the territorial limits of state,
in the tracts Of country carved out of the
most beautiful portion Of its territory, sur
rounded by populous communities and
busy towns and villages. over which an
Independent jurisdiction exerts its authori-
ty and within whose limits all State laws
are nugatOry, cannot continue without Sc
rious injury to the growth and prosperity,
OF the rising community within whose linn
its they are located. 4' ~
TO prompt and vigorous effort to Sc
cure the termination of this state of affairs,
the attention Of the Legislature is earnestly
solicited. T. .1s F.
Among the captives taken by Colonel
Sibley were many of the most remorseless
assassins Of our citizens those who led
the attack at New Ulm and Fort Ridgley
and whose hands were deeply imbrued in
the blood Of women and children OF
these some three hundred men were tried
and convicted by IL military commission
promptly organized. A detachment of
these, thi,ty-eight in number, have received
by order Of the President a merited pun
ishment for their attrocious crimes The
remainder are still prisoners.
The nervous anxiety Of our people in
reference totheir execution, land conviction
that justice and policy demanded it, in
duced me twice to telegraph the President
as follows
STATE or MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
SAINT PAUL, Nov. 9th, 1862. e
10 His EUcellency the P,esident
hope that the execution of every Sioux Indian
condemned by the military court, will be at once
dered. 1t would be wrong upon principle and policy
10 refuse this. Private revenge would all the Dor
Ter, take the place Of official judgment these In.
aans. '..
ALEX. RAMSEY,
Governor.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
SAINT PAUL NOV. Is, 1862
y tic President Of the United States:
Nothing but the speedy execution OF the tried and
convicted Sioux Indians will u.s. here, from
outrage. II you prefer it, turn them over to me
ALEX. RAMSEY,
What action, if any, may be advisable
IN the part of the State with reference to
hose convicted and still in durance, and
such others as may be found, on trial, to
have participated in the outrages upon
our people, will afford matter for your care
full consideration.
The relation which these tribes sustain
to the State and National government has
ever been fruitful topic Of discussion by
courts and legislatures And after the lapse
Of years, the precise line which separates
the action of the State and National SOW
ereignties, in their relations in peace and
war, with the Indian nations within their
borders, cannot, perhaps, be regarded as
definitely settled.
The exclusive power to regulate COM
merce, aud under and with reference to this,
to control all ordinary intercourse with
them, must be conceded to congress. IT
may also be admitted that the power to
declare and conduct war, and Of conse-
quence the right to deal with all persons
taken in arms against the nation, as prison.
ers Of war are, with one important exception,
also vested in the nation. II this be true it
may also follow that the final determine
ton of the United States relative to the
disposal Of prisoners, their trial and SEN
tence, pardon or punishment is conclusive
upon the State, and that a sentence of
United States tribunal of competent juris-
diction, or the pardon of the President
may be ef1ectually pl' o led in bar Of the
prosecution instituted in our own courts.
1t is, however, by no means conceded
that court martial, acting upon persons
not members OF the army or navy,is such II
tribunal, or that Presidential pardon can,
in every instance, deprive State Of all
power Of visiting bands of murderers, al
though not her own citizens, invading her
soil and destroying the lives Of her people,
with q merited punishment. State sove-
reignty, without this would be mere bau-
bic, OF no avail for the protection Of her
own dignity, Or the defence Of her citizens.
The trainers of our constitution felt this,
and with express reference to the not in
frequent incursions of savagcs on the from
tier settlements, in the early history Of the
country, inserted on important exception to
the exclusive power Of making war vested
in Congress, viz mo State shall engage
h war unless actually invaded or in such
iminent danger as will not admit of delay
Hence, upon the INVASION Of Virginia by
John Brown and his associates, that State
ainhaaifafinnlv acslln,ad tho rnwor Of fr,,inn