The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-20
Estimates for Chippewa Treaty Of
1863.

Secretary USHER. of the Interior DEPART
ment, on the 26th of April sent letter tn tho
Speaker of the House of Representatives
showing the inadequacy of the sums annronr;'
ated by Congress for carrying out the stipnla-
lions of the Chippewa treaty of 1863, and Civ
ing additional estimates based on the opinions
of Acting Commissioner MIX, CLARK w
THOMPSON and A. G. MORRILL,, Agent of the
Chippewas. We have not room for all these
documents, but a general idea of what they
contain may be gathered from the following
curious protest of Hon. IGNATIUs DoNNELLY:
House OF REPRESENTATIVE
Washington, d. c., May 2, 1864.
Hon. 7Aadleus Stevens, Chairman Committee of
Ways and Means, III. r., Washington, d. c.:
SIR: On the 9th ult there was referred to
the Committee of Ways and Means a letter
from the Secretary of the Interior transmitting
estimates of amounts required to carry out the
stipulations of the Chippewa treaty Of March,
1868.
Although the Indians referred to live Alto
gether in the District which / have the honor
to represent in the House, and although the
appropriations asked for are very large have
never been notified that such steps were being
taken or such appropriations asked for and it
was only by accident that my attention was
called to the same.
I feel that would be false to the plainest
dictates of duty, if I did not, regardless of the
consequences to myself. interpose ar earnest
protest against the appropriations asked for.
1t is proposed, at this time when the nation is
struggling for its life, and when every dollar of
needless expenditure should be avoided, to pay
$157, $3.50 for what your Committee have AREA
dy estimated would be worth $1,000, being a
difference Of $150330.
Some of these items are overcharges Of the
grossest kind. Take the first:
"For breaking and clearing and grub-
bing three hundred acres of land for
Mississippi Indians, per fourth arti-
Gle treaty 1868, 800 per acre.. ..... $15, 000."
Why grubbing? Is it pretended that three
hundred acres of prairie land cannot be found
in that region, but that land must be :" cleared
and grubbed?"
The price asked is $50 per acre for break
ing, clearing and grubbing." In the most
densely settled parts of Minnesota the most
valuable farm land can be bought, broken,
broken, fenced, and with buildings on il for
$25 per acre-one-half what it is here asked
should be given for breaking, clearing and
grubbing alone.
There can be no difficulty in finding abund-
ance of prairie land, and it can be ''broken'
for So per acre; making for the three hundred
acres 5000: difference of $14, 100.
The next item which 1 particularly notice is
this:
"For railroad from Gull lake to Leach
lake,. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $40, 600. y
I am at loss to understand this and sup
pose it to be misprnt. Surely the Govern
ment is not about to build railroads for these
Indians? If it means the construction of a
wagon road the amount seems to me to be
enormous, and think it will be so considered
by any frontier people.
The next item is as follows:
For removing agency to new loca-
Iion. ..$Zo,0 OO.
What can this refer to fit means the bodily
removal OF the buildings of the present agency
to the new agency it is an unnecessary absur-
dlty. Ii it means the removal of the.agent and
his family, books, chairs, and tables, it is a
gross fraud. If it means the construction of
new buildings at the new agency, it is an
enormous overcharge. The sum of $25, 600
would build palace, rather than an agency.
The next item is as follows:
Transportation and subsistence to
their new homes, 1900 Indians at
$lO per head. Observation-Disclosures. $20, OOO'
How do Indians travel? With their ponies
carrying their tents and luggage, the women
on foot carrying their infants on their backs,
and the men and the half-grown children on
foot. In this way they will make journeys Of
hundreds of miles. The average distance which
they are to be removed is I am informed, but
about one hundred and fifty miles. Is it pro-
posed to furnish stages and ambulances for
them? Certainly not They will make the
journey In the same manner in which they
HAYS travelled from time immemorial and the
United States, out of its depleted treasury, is
asked to pay $40, 900 to the men who superin-
tend this movement.
The next and last item is as follows:
Subsistence for 1000 Indians for six
months at fifteen cents per head
1t is herd to analyze this item, as it is impos-
slble to say what kind and amounts of food
will be furnished them, but the sum charged is
very large, and have no doubt the same num-
Der of Indians, part of them being children,
could be supported for six months for one half
that sum.
Iwould, therefore. ask that every item of
this account should be duly scanned, and not
one dollar appropriated that is not absolutely
just and right. Such claims, while they take
from the treasury that which is not due, bene-
fit neither the State nor the Indians.
have the honor to be very truly and re-
spectfully yours,
IGNATIUS DONNELLY.