The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15


accordingly opened last September, but
for mutes alone, for want of a sufficient
appropriation, in building hired for the
purpose, under the auspices of an expert
enoed gentleman, and with flaitering prom
Use Of success. The care and education
of this unfortunate class of our people, is
. sacred trust which this State will never
hesitate to accept and discharge, much less
abandon after having entered upon the
work. The amount asked by the COM
missioners for the ensuing year is 81, 100,
which seems to me reasonable estimate.
and recommend the appropriation
1t is hardly creditable to our State that
no steps have yet been taken towards es-
tablishing an asylum for the INDECENT In
sane, and that We are dependent upon the
charity of neighboring State for the
means of providing temporary relief for
limited number of these unfortunates. We
are also warned that the only State which
gave favorable response to our applies
ton to receive the Insane of this State will
soon have no room in its asylum for our
use; SO that, unless you make some pro-
vision fer their relief, this afflicted class OF
our population, demanding your warmest
sympathy and tenderest care, will be left
to suffer on miserably and hopelessly. 1t
is high time that Minnesota should take
some steps dictated by Christian civilization
and humanity, towards establishing, build
ing up and fostering such asylums and
charitable institutions, as are the pride and
enduring glory of her sister States OF this
Union.
I ask your favorable consideration of the
recommendation of the Auditor of State,
that one mill of the tax for school purposes
should be transferred to the general reve-
nue. fund for the support of the insane, and
the blind, and deaf mutes.
desire here to add my own commend
ton to the oft-repeated inculcations of my
predecessor, whose unceasing devotion to
the welfare of the State, and vigilant zeal
in establishing and unfolding its financial
honor and credit, as well as his energetic
and successful labors in developing and
organizing the patriotism of our people on
the breaking out of the war, made his ad-
ministration an era in our history, and to
urge upon the legislature the policy of re-
serving the swamp lands for the support
of benevolent institutions, and resist all
attempts to squander them on enterprises
which, however useful, can always find
adequate support in other directions.
The Reports of the Warden and Inspee-
tors of the State Prison give satisfactory
exhibit of the condition, and an assurance
of the excellent management of that in
stitution. I feel it my duty to join i'll the
recommendation of the Inspectors for an
appropriation sufficient to complete the
cells in the new building erected by your
authority last summer.
Conspicuous among the barbingers of
rejoicing which usher in the new year is
the improved condition of our frontier.
The tempest of savage violence which Sc
venteen months ago burst over the de-
fenceless settlements of our western Dor
der, has, for the present, and it is to be
hoped permanently, subsidized.
Though the expeditions under Generals
Sibley and Sully failed, partly at least
from causes beyond their control, to &C.
complish all the results which were ex.
| pected from the magnitude Of the prepare
tons, or to infict upon our savage enemies
the full punishment which their atrocious
crimes deserve, they have, by the fOrmid-
able and imposing armament which, not
withstanding unusual and almost insur-
mountable natural obstacles, pursued them
to the banks of the Missouri River, and by
the gallant bearing OF our troops, who, in
the few opportunities afforded them, dis
played those qualities of valor which the
training of the savage teaches them to
fear and respect, at least been taught their
inability to resist the power or escape the
sleepless vengeance Of the Government,
from whose armies they have fed in the
vain attempt to elude the consequences of
their unprovoked cruelties. Hunger and
restitution have followed like avenging
angels upon the track of the fugitive assas-
sins, to insure the punishment left incom-
plete by the forces sent out against them.
In all probability many of them will perish
this winter from cold and starvation, and
it should not be forgotten that, under the
circumstances, the destruction of large
quantities of provisions and clothing upon
which they had relied for their winters
support and protection, by the troops un-
der Generals Sibley and Sally, must be re-
garded as scarcely less fatal to them than
the more sudden and sanguinary havoc of
| the sword
Without the means of replenishing their
exhausted supplies of ammunition. it NAV be
presumed that they are in no condition to re-
new the war in force upon our frontier settle
| ments while our present attitude of defence is
maintained. But there can be no complete
security for our bo-der population until these
bands of murderers are confined within limits
| government, or extirpated from the face of the
| earth. - WIZ
| Tie vigorous prosecution of hostilities
against these Indians is as indispensable to the
saiety-o1 our border. as the maintenance of a
strong and vigilant defensive guard on the line
| of outposts now established by the Militarv
Department OF this District. Experience has
already taught US that the very wretchedness
of their condition. supplies them with motives
stronger even than the savage lust of revenge.
for marauding excursions upon our settlements