Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-01
ANXIOUS INDIANS.

For several weeks past there have been ru-
| mors of serious disaffection among the Indi.
ans OF the White Earth agency. resulting
| from the awards of the commissioners ap-
pointed By the general government to assess
damages caused by the erection of dams at the
outlet of Lake Wfnnebagoshish, the fountain
head of the so-called reservoir system. So
| serious did these rumots become that Gov.
| Hubbard decided to investigate. the matter,
and to that end appointed Major G. A.
Ruffee, OF Brainerd, formerly in charge of the
| agency, personally acquainted with the head
men of the tribe, and thoroughly conversani
with the terms OF the treaty stipulations be-
| tween them and the general government, to
visit the locality and personally investigate
and report as to the situation. Major Ruffee
has performed the duty assigned him, and his
report to the governor, together with CORE
| spondence touching the same, appears below,
commenting with the letter of the governor
| appointing Major Huffee to the service, as fol.
| lows:
STATE OF MINNESOTA,
| EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, May Is, 1882.
| Maj. c. A. Ruffte, Brainerd, MIMI
Dear Sir: In view of the discomfort mani
tested by the Indians at the White Earth
| agency and vicinity. Occasioned apparently by
the government work in progress at Lake
Winnebagoshish, and the reported consequent
uneasiness of the people living in the adjacent
settlements, 1 desire. in behalf OF the
| state, that you visit the reserya.
tions occupied by these Indians
and ascertain as far as possible the character
Of their complaints and the facts in regard to
threatened trouble. Please extend your in.
quiries as far as you deem necessary, and visit
any camp other than the White Earth and
Leech Lake IHdians, that you may think de-
sirable, IN order TO ascertain full knowledge
In off I'D h. r.
investigation to me at az early date as pos
sible. Very respectfully, L. F. HUBBARD,
Governor.
MAJOR RUFFEE's REPORT.
BRAINERD, MIMI, June IS, 1852.
His Excellency, l.. F. Hubbard, Governor OF
Minnesota:
SIR: have the honor to report that pur-
suant to your letter of instruction of date
May 25th ult, directing me to ascertain as far
as possible the character OF the complaints
and The facts in regard to the threatened
trouble of the Chippewa Indians, in con-
sequence of the United States taking posses
sion OF portion of the land reserved to said
Indians by treaty, and constructing
thereon reservoirs, / visited the Indians
directly interested, and had full consultation
with the principal chiefs and head men, aud
find the condition OF things as hereinafter
stated:
First-The Indians believe they have the
absolute possessionary right to the reserva.
ton, and are entitled to the fun enjoyment OF
the same, to the exclusion of all other per-
sons, except their consent thereto be first OBJ
tanned, and that they have been assured OF this
by many solemn treaties made with the gov
eminent, which treaties they claim to have
kept and observed
Second-That in taking possession of por-
ton of their reservations without consent, is
violation of good faith on the part OF the
government and without justification.
Third-That the arbitrary awards of the So
called commission of damages (see exhibit A
attached), is in all respects unjust and made
quate as we'll as er parte, and without notice
to or the consent of the adams effected
thereby.
FOurth-That the construction of the re-
servoirs as contemplated would be an irrepar-
able injury to large number of their people,
and deprive them of their ordinary and only
means OF livelihood, as we'll as destroying
their homes and the graves of their kindred.
Fifth.-That if they quitely submit to this
act, which they deem an uDjustifable invasion
of their rights, they may reasonably expect
that in all future time they would have to
submit without protest to any aggression the
government may undertake.
Sixth.-That they have right to be heard
in the matter, and that the refusal of the gov
SO to be heard, was an invasion OF the rights
of the weak and helpless by the strong and
powerful.
Seventh-That in consequence of the belief
of the Indians, as above stated, much dissatis-
faction exists, and feeling obtained among
them that the government no longer respected
either their rights or its treaty obligations,
Eighth-That no hostility is or has been
contemplated by any OF the Indians to-
ward any persons of their reservations, nor
anything further than to give emphasis to
their disapprobatiOn of the course pursued by
the government toward them in the matter,
and that there is no danger whatever to the
citizens of Minnesota from any act or thing
which will be done by these Indians. They
tiers, and clearly understanding that the gov
eminent alone Is responsible for any infringe
ment of their treaty rights.
Ninth-That as much as the Indians deem
themselves injured, that they have refused to
receive any portion of the so-called award
for damages assessed Dv the COM
mission designated for that purpose by the de-
partment last year. A fair exponent Of the
views of the Indians is found in the address
made to me by White Cloud, head chief of the
Mississippi bands of Chippewas, whose peo-
pie are more numerous, and perhaps more
largely interested than those Of any other
band. The address has been reduced to Eng
lish, by Paul H Beaudieu, at my request,
and hereto attached:
SPEECH OF WHITE CLOUD.
My friend, shake hands with you i'll re-
spect to the authorities who sent you here
We are pleased to have you read and to lister
to the letter of the governor, which shows
that some action is being taken in our affairs
My friend, you will certainly find what 1:
| troubling US, and you can take it to the gov
ernor. Has the great father forgotten thai
he is infringing on the rights which he gave
US when we visited him IN Washington, anG
has he forgotten his words to that treaty?
We always had extreme faith in the justice
Of the government. and we are startled by this
movement to rob us of our rights in this mat
| ter. We heard last summer that you were
sent to follow the traclngs of the land to be
overlooked I and some of the Leech Lake
chiefs accom- panied you. am going some
out Of my way, but it is for the purpose oil
explanation. Last fall you will remember
| the time) commission was sent here in re.
| ference to the building OF the dam at Winnie
| bagoshish We had talk with them, and
our words were written. They must have
been lost, or the commission would not have
done what it did, aud sent those words or
which the money for damages has been for
warded.
You told us yourself that you would repre-
sent our wishes, that it was necessary for q
| fair understanding. After waiting some time
we thought these questions were moving
| slowly, and we requested Kay-mah (Col. Beau
| dieu) to write in reference to this, and asking
| YOU to write letter to Washington for So t.