The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The Proper Treatment Of Hostile
and Friendly Indians.

anu ITl6uuly 1uUlhuS,
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
HON. JOsRPH q. BROWN.
INDIAN INDEMNITY APPROPRIATIONS.
A Washington dispatch says:
William Burleigh, Indian Agent for the
Yancton Sioux and Dacotas. and delegate
elect from that territory will soon return thith-
er, having succeeded In securing an appropri.
alton of $10, 900 to indemnify them for out
RACES inflicted on their persons and depreda-
tons of their property, and also an appropria-
ton of go 900 for negotiating treaty of
peace with the hostile Sioux of the Upper Mis-.
soun. He has made an elaborate report to the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs on matters con-
nected with his agency from which 1t appears
that the late military expeditions have been q
failure, and that most shameful wrongs have
been committed by the demoralized soldiers on
the riendly Indians In that part of the country.
He says that peace may be secured with the
hostile Indians at comparatively small expea-
diture of money, and the settlement OF the
territory thus promoted.
To lie Editor of tie Pioneer:
The above Is another illustration of the fol.
ly Of our government in Its intercourse with
the Indians. Experience fails to teach wisdom,
and the difference in the relative condition of
the whites and Indians, from that existing q
few years ago. is disregarded.
will say nothing in reference to the
shameful wrongs" which shave been COM
mitted by the demoralized soldiers on the
fdendly Indians" further than that If the
troops wronged them in persons or property,
they should have reparation made them. But
as Gen. sully, employed, armed, clothed and
ted nearly every Yancton (for whom the $10,-
900 appropriation is made0 capable of bearing
arms last summer, think the shameful
wrongs are more ideal than real.
But the cream of the joke by which the gov
eminent and people are the dupes, is embodied
In the appropriation of go, 900 to defray the
expenses of mailing treaty with the hostile
Sioux of the Upper Missouri" This $4,000
mast not be supposed to cover the expenses.b by
which peace Is to be secured. It Is simply TO
meet the outlay necessary to assemble the In
dams and obtain their obligations to keep the
peace in consideration of probably million of
dollars to be paid in annuities.
Abont forty years ago, Gen. Atkinson visited
these same Indians, with q cannon In one hand
and bale of blankets In the other, either or
both of which he proposed to use as circum-
stances might dictate in the attainment of
pe,nsnsent peace and the unmolested navigation
Of the Missouri As the Indians had no use for
the cannon they accepted the blankets, and
gave in return very favorable terms of peace
with the whites-on paper. In ten days after
the departure Of Gen. Atkinson with his treaty
in his pocket, keel-boat heavily freighted
with valuable furs was attacked. and the crew
with the exception of two were killed by these
came Indians.
since that time various treaties have been
held with portions of the hostile Sioux" with
the eame success. Gen. Harvey In 1856 went
into their country with the best appointed
force that bad ever been provided for Indian
service. But instead of fighting, he negotiated
with them and organized Con paper) Yank-
tomas force to protect the whites from the de-
predations of Yanktonais. This was glorious
hea-for the expenditure of $75. 600 of Uncle
Sams money annually. q
In 1857 another treaty was made At Fort La.
rancie with the Sioux bands, by which they prom
ieed to ..be and remain at peace with the whites
for oil time to come" For this promise they
received some S25, 900 In hand and Uncle
SANS obligation to pay them ESQ, 900 annually
for, think, twenty-five years.
To illustrate the advantages which have re-
suited from these treaties, will refer to the
official report Of Agent Latta for 1862 He
says:
We arrived at Fort Pierre on the 9Th (Msy),
where found from two to three thousand In
dams, portions of the Brules, Blackfeet, Sans
are, Minnicongies Unc-pa-pas, Two Kettles and
Yanktonais, all being Dakota Sioux, waiting
for nv arrival I asked the chiefs aud princi-
pal men to meet me in consultation prepare.
tory to receiving their goods, which. after much
hesitation, they did, with the exception Of the
chief Of the Yanktonais, Big Head, and bis par
ty, consisting of twenty-five or thirty men,
who renamed at distance. After closing my
remarks explanatory of my mission and the
object of the annuity goods, the obligations
resting upon them under the Laramie treaty,
&C., / was answered by some ten or twelve
chiefs, then present, in the most earnest and
feeling manner.
They stated that they regretted to see me
without a military force to protect them from
that portion of their several bands who were
hostile to the government; that they were
friends to the white man, and desired to live
on friendly relations with the government and
Harney had promised them aid (they had been
receiving the aid promised by General Harvey
since 1859; that they were greatly in the NIL
nority; that the portion OF their people OPP
posed to the Government were more hostile
than ever; that they must now break of their
friendly relations with the Government aud re-
;oin their respective bands, as they could hold
ont no longer; that their lives and property
were threatened in case they accepted any
more goods; that the small amount Of 0spaaties
Id moi oire satisfaction (Mr. Burleigh proposes
to make up tie deficiency; 1t created discord
rather than harmony; nor would 1t justify
them to come 80 far to receive them; that
they had been friends to the Government and
to all white men; had lived up to their pledges
as far IS it was possible under the circumstan-
ces and still wished to do so. but must hence
forth be excused unless their Great Father
would aid them they requested me to bring
no more goods, nor would they receive those
present.
subsequently Major Latta says the Bears
p;h as an evidence of the Iowa he had for his
80. u.ho, soreed to receive the goods pres