The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-17

Continued From Page One.
fore the congressional committees and
the consent Of the claimants was
sought through Court. The North
Dakota Indian reservation refused to
give his consent to any such action,
either personally or as a representa-
tive Of the Devils Lake reservation
Indians until a poW-wow had been
held at home and a referendum vote
had been taken by the braves.
Il don't believe the Indians will
agree to any such procedure" declares
Court. What we want is action. We
believe that if our claim Is transferred
to the court of claims that it will be
two or three years before we are able
to get any action. 1t is likely that
some Of the old Indians who. have
intimate knowledge of the facts that
prevailed at the signing of the treaty
of 1851, would be dead before they
would have a chance to get before the
court"
Ignatius Courts grandfather was
one of the original signers of the first
Yellow Medicine treaty. There were
ffty-one signers to this document by
which the Indians were to receive ST.
4l0,O0 from the government for waiv-
ing their claim to the lands along the
Minnesota river. By act of July 81,
1854 the president was authorized "to
confirm to the Sioux Indians of Min
nesota forever, the reserve. on the
Minnesota river now occupied by
them, upon such conditions as he may
deem just" By senate resolution of
1860 these were coded by the Indians
who were paid 80 cents on acre. ,
Just about half Of the original sign
- ,oF thu troafx, op3 10Ef ,;,-.~l ~.
document which provided for the final
settlement with the government. and
it is on this point that the Devils Lake
Indians, hope to force the government
to pay claims which, they assert will
mount, close to $4,000, 900. Besides
the balance which they claim on the
original treaty, the Indians claim al
monies that have been paid in taxes
on the lands in question. Whether
the United States government or the
state Of Minnesota will be forced tc
stand the claim for taxes in case it is
allowed, is a question that has not
been touched upon.
In the report of A. A. Jones, first
assistant secretary Of the interior de-
partment to the chairman Of the com
mittee on Indian affairs, attention is
called to the Minnesota massacre OF
1852 and to the fact that in
SO provided for the removal Of the
Indians beyond the limits, of any
state and for the disposition Of their
remaining lands in Minnesota - the
proceeds thereof to be applied for their
benefit under the direction of the
secretary Of interior in their new
home. BY act OF Feb. 16, 1853, con-
gress, as a punishment for the out
break mentioned declared that al
treaties with Minnesota Indians BIZ
abrogated so far further obligatine
the government, and that ali, annuities
and claims accrued to the Indians be
forfeited to the government.
When the final sentiment of tn,
reservation Indians on the question Of
allowing the case to be substituted tt
the court Of claims in place Of pro.
viding al special commission. has beer
secured the claim of the Indians will
be placed in the hands Of an attorney
There is little question but that the
Indians will stand unanimously FOL
the provisions OF the original house
bill calling for a special commission
1t is quite possible that Ignatiu.
Court will be- delegated to return IL
Washington with the verdict Of hi,
people and to press their claim befor,
the committees