Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-12-17
Communicated !

rOunu sioux City as base tor the two
past Summers, have been com eu,ed on
at home and abroad with various conclu-
sions. Our immediate neighbors in the
Villages Of Omaha and Council Bluffs
to judge from the tone Of their public
press-seem to think that citizens here
have been crying "Wolf," as did the boy
in the fable, when no wolf was there, and
that we have induced Government, under
false pretences, to expend much treasure
and valuable military strength in pursuing
a phantom in the wilderness aud even
there are Of our own citizens who, hearing
this view of the question frequently stated
seemed not sure but that our Indian
troubles were a deusion, and Indian Ex.
petitions humbug. People here have
been too long accustomed to hear matters
OF d'sparagement concerning Northwest
tern Iowa eminating from river villages
below, to be greatly surprised at such i'll
natured remarks but it is a matter of
surprise that any one who has Seen con-
versant with the history of the Upper
Missouri for the past four years, should in
the least doubt the wisdom of that policy
which set on foot the Expeditions of 1868
and 1864 against the Indians of the north
west. When in 1862 the growing disaf
lection Of the great Sioux and Dakota
tribe eliminated in the Minnesota mas
sacre, the villainous outcasts und murder.
ing vagabonds concerned in that mon.
strous barbari,y sough. on the Upper
Missouri secure retreat, from whence it
would be easy in small sum mer excursions
to plunder, murder and rob with IMMUNITY
the sparse settlements in Dakota, Nebraska
and Iowa. God knows that we suffered
enough in 1857 and 1861 in hearing the
heart'ren1ing tales Of murder, rape and
arson at Spirit Lake, aud in our own i'm.
mediate vicinity. Within the sound Of
church bells, our next neighbors were muir.
dered at neon day, and this too when com
para'ive quiet prevailed amongst the
whole border tribes of the north.
There can be no doub. but tina, rebel
emissaries and secret British influence
sou ght to provoke the feroci,y Of the saw.
age and supplied them with warlke mu-
nitions. All this we presume was taken
into consideration by the powers that be
in organizing the Expeditions in question
And it was really question OF depopu.
lation of the whole Northwest or some
efficient military operations.
A parcel Of old grannies Of the male
sex or ease loving invalids desiring to
serve their country in some gcn,eel wav,
may characterize Dakota and the region
hereabout as worthless iu soil aud in cli
mate, unf, for any purposes of civilization
but it is only necessary to remember
that all new countries in their FIRST settle.
ment see hard times, short crops and
various drawbacks which sturdy piuneer
hard'hood is only equal to endure and
overcome. The Pilgrims, of Plymouth,
mad as severe a climate and much
worse soil and many more difficulties to
conterd with than have we; and vet thew
made the wilderness blossom as the rose
and 1t IS not exagsera'ing to say that no
better soil exist anywhere than is found in
our yaIlles and upland, aud for a series
Of years our crops will be as certain as
those OF most other new Countries. and j,
will be evident TO II candid enquirer that
this country possesses more advantages
for an industrious migrant than any
other that is open for homes,eads-
let no one be deferred by the past sum.
mer with all its drouth, from choosing a
bone here; God sends rain on th. lust
and unj us', aud lie sends famine and
plenty as seems good to infinite wisdom.
For the past nine summers one has seen
a total failure as to crops, but each Of the
other was cqua! to the average of any fruit
tuf country in as new and in rude a state
OF agriculture as was this. Let it be known
that tens Of thousands Of acres Of the best
of lands are offered to ac,ual settlers free
Of cos! in healthful climate, peaceful
communities, away from war, with gold on
the north flowing in an increasing stream
down the Missouri, where Guerillas nor
Aboliliouists, nor Knights Of the Golden
Circle, nor Sons of Liberty, nor any BODY
else disturb the foundations OF public and
private life
The conduct of the Expeditions may not
in all mnutia have been just the best or
most economical, bnt taken as q whole
there can be no doub but that good iudy.
ment has been displayed in each of them,
and they will bear comparison with any
EXPEDITIONS Of similar character which
have ever been undertaken on our con,;
nent, as we'll in energy and hardihood, "a
in judgment and lorccaste-rememberin