The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05

tinue your associations with thoSe hostile to
the whites, you win be chased as enemies, and
DO followed and punished as such. Those
who persist in continuing hostilities he pro-
poses to regard As enemies, and &c such to pur-
sue, harrass and destroy them, until they yield
offering, In the meantime, the olive branch
of peace TO all who may desire to abandon their
hostility and surrender themselves to the au-
thorities OF the government.
In short, Mr.. Bnrleigh proposes to barter
goods for peace, while Gen. Pope offers peace
and protection to those who desire 1t, and war
to those who desire war. Gen. Pope, by bis
policy, reaches all classes of Indians, while Mr..
Burleigh can only reach that class that has
heretofore disregarded all the obligations they
have assumed in their treaties with the govern
meut. -l,
Had Mr.. Burleigh obtained an appropriation
to advance the agricultural interests of those
Sioux who have maintained their friendship for
the whites and their fealty to the government,
regardless of the insults and outrages to which
they were subjected BY the hostile bands, its
expenditure in that direction would have pro-
NOTED the interests of the government, exhib-
tied to the Indians an appreciation OF their sac
riflces and disposition to reward the merito-
noua Tho diyersion of the appropriations
Pierre and Laramie treaties from the objects
contemplated by them to the one have sug-
gested, would be the means of doing much
good aud the annuities would not be spurned
BY the Indians who neither merit nor openly
accept them. ..
The system of Indian treaties has been the
source Of all our Indian difficulties; It is fraud.
ulent and unjust In all its ramifcations, and
beneath the dignity of this or any other gov.
eminent. It processes to recognize the Indians
as equals on the treaty ground. but they are the
wards of the government in all other places /; it
processes to purchase the land Of the Indian
at price satisfactory to both parties, while In
reality the Indians have Hobeon's choice of
taking what the government ofIers-or moth
ing. 1t Is only when the government asks the
hostile Indians for peace that the Indians have
the advantage and they know 1t; they say to
the government, we will give you peace for
the price we specify, and on no other terms. AS
their wants increase beyond the supply received
they return to hostilities, for the purpose of OBJ
tanning additional compensation, and they gener-
ally get It.
aunuities and the negotiation of treaties, and
this Is the time when his interference Is neces-
sary to tho attainment of peaceful relations
With "the hostile Sioux OF the Upper Mis-.
souri, :" to give the Indians q true Impression
of the justice and poscer of the government;
and to abolish system 20 perniclous to both
whites and Indians.
The time has arrived when the condition and
progress of our frontier settlements, demand
wise and permanent Indian policy. To Sc
cure this, the old system, which time has prov
ed to be failure. must be abandoned, and all
It's prominent features discarded. Let the In
dams understand their true position in,connec-
ton with the government; let the hostile be
promptly punished, and those well disposed
be rewarded Adopt . system of agricultural
improvement, and devote all Indian appropri-
atfons to agricultural and educational purposes.
Recognize the Indian as . man made hun
ter By circumstances, and not by nature, that
possesses oil the elements of civilization, but
Is destitute Of the means necessary to their de
velopmeut; that Is capable of becoming use
full member of community, but remains use
less and troublesome barbarian, by the action
of the government whose interest it Is, and
whose pride ii should be, to promote and facil-
itate their improvement. Let such policy be
adopted and persevered In, and the hostile
Sioux of the Upper Missouri and all other
tribes will soon be at peace with the whites,
and be progressing In civilized habits.
Respectfully yours &c.