The weekly Minnesotian. [volume], December 25, 1852, Image 2

About The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858

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THE MINNESOTIAN.
f tiut Srcembec 25, 1852
Governor Ramsey and the Uilbar
the Sionx Treaties.
Let us brush away the cobwebs that venom
ous spiders have interwoven around this sub
ject. Let us lay the cloud of dust that the
rampant heels of idiotism and malignity have
kicked up on the public highway, Binding the
public eye in a mist of lies and falsehoods,
base insinuations, vile calumnies—the filth of
disappointed money-grabliers. and of infinitessi
mal intellects seeking otticc, notoriety, and the
public printing!
Wherein lies the pith of all this fuss and
fury ? Wherein the gist of this tea-pot tem
pest?—this mock-Boreas, that puffs out its
checks with unwholesome wind, and cracks its
tuberculous lungs with groanings, and that
rolls up the whites of its blessed eyes, briny with
horrific tears, and which ever and anon wheaz
cs out the words “fraud,” “rascality,” and
“ a’ that.”
Fraud, indeed! Rascality, indeed! This
from a man—from men—who have for months
been demoralizing the Indian mind! —teaching
the poor, ignoraut savages that it was wise and
honest and praiseworthy not to pay their just
debts —telling them that the goods which in
times past had clothed them, and the provis
ions which had kept them from starving,—
were now worn out—were now eaten up—and
it would profit them more to kick their old
debts into oblivion, and making new credits
with new traders, and pay for them by grabbing
the money set apart for and rightfully belong
ing to their older and long tried friends!
lt is because Governor Ramsey would not
favor this dishonest, this rascally, this fraudu
lent scheme, that he is denounced and misrep
resented by the dirty conspirators, small unli
censed traders, and mean, petty-minded politi
cians, who surround the .Democrat establish
ment.
In this lies the kernel of the whole difficulty.
“Ilis offence hath this extent, no more.”
Turn it over, examine it, look at it well—
survey it, measure it, sound it with the deepest
plummet-line—and this must be the conclusion
of all impartial minds. Money—large sums of
money—who should possess them?—whether the
old traders who had given value, or new tra
ders, politicians and needy financiers who had
given nothing?—this was the real issue.
And does not everybody see—docs not
everybody feel—that no noise, no clamor, no
hypocritical sympathy for the “poor Indian."
no frothing of the mouth with rage, nor inde
cent, unmanly, disreputable assaults upon a
high-minded, just-acting public officer, would
have been heard, seen, or whispered—but en
tirely the contrary—had his Excellency but
chimed in with the plotters, who were doubly
scheming to cheat the old traders out of their
just debts, and the Indians out of their money.
’Tis plain—'tis self evident—not to be doubt
ed or denied.
Had he even stood still and done nothing,
they would have been satisfied with him. They
could easily have managed the Indians, to suit
themselves! Honesty, is a virtue of education
and civilization. Even among white men. “dead
horse often goes to the wall Itefore “cash in
hand.” But with ludians, destitute entirely of
moral training, to tempt them to dishonesty is
“easy as lying,” and Sweetser, Robertson &
Co., know experimentally how easy that is.
Passiveness, therefore, to their schemes was
all that the fraud-mongers needed or asked.
Governor Ramsey, however, took a nobler, a
higher view of the duties demanded of him bv
his position, tri-equally to the government, the
Indians, and the whites.
This was, to shirk no responsibility—toshrink
from no position his instructions as an officer of
the Indian Department, and his sense of duty,
required him to assume; but to act —act bold
ly—act in such a manner that the pledges of
the government to Indians and whites should
both be redeemed; and red man and white
man be alike secured from beiDg defrauded by
the other.
Notwithstanding, a more pleasant course for
himself was a timid, do-nothing policy, had it
been open to his choice. He might then have
said, —“ Gentlemen, I plainly see, that if Ido
anything in this matter, I will inevitably be
made the target of the losing party, whoever
that may be—disappointment will most assur
edly point all its bullets against my breast—l
prefer a whole skin to performing my duty, and
endeavoring to see justice done, and the right
prevail—therefore, fight it out among your
selves—there's no hurry about the payment—
you can wait,—the country can wait, —I can
wait,—the money in the meantime will be safe
with me—by and by I will lie out of office and
then somebody else can burn his fingers with
this red hot poker.”
Such, in effect, might have been Gov. R's
language, and so saved himself from vitupera
tion at the cost of justice and right.
But, as we said before, higher anti nobler and
more courageous sentiments animated him, and
he took the honest, straightforward, course
which he has taken, and for taking which tons
of filth arc continually showered upon bis devo
ted head.
In taking this course.—in making all these
' asl Payments, —investigation the most search
ing is challenged to show, (not by idle charges
and trumpery verbiage, but by substantial
proof) that one dollar has stuck to his palm :
and we unhesitatingly assert that not one un
prejudiced mind, or disinterested observer, on
a full and fair exhibition of all the factsbut will
pronounce the opinion, that right and justice
would have been disregarded by him, had he
pursued any other course than that which he
has pursued.
What are the facts?—facts we mean, sustain
ed by documentary evidence, and irrefragable
testimony— not the chaotic charges, and false
assertions with which the Democrat obfuscates
its editor and readers. Let us therefore reca
pitulate :
rKF.UMIN.vnY,
M Alexander Ramsey was appointed the
fa r ,t ( S 0 ( o CrQOr ,° f . OUr WuUf " l T - rri ‘ory, and
tasked to gu.de its infancy t„ the of
emptre, he found on his arrival here, our youth
ful progress restricted to the narrow limits of a
small strip of country on the cast side of the
Mississippi. Beyond, however, on the west side
of the Great River, he beheld a rich and fertile
land, of vast extent, roamed over by the Indian,
bnt nearly useless to the savages from its pres
ent destitution of game, but full of promise to
the earth-tilling, city-building white man. In
concert w.th the Delegate of the Territory, and
* hCr ? ,ttzea *> be turned his attention to the
acquisition of thi, land of promise-to open it
for settlement by the extinguishment of t£ In
dian title. How incessantly be has toiled for
this devoutly-wished-for consummation all can
bear witness—it has been a matter for public
rejoicing, and should be of public gratitude.—
The labors and difficulties of the enterprise,
few, however, will ever adequately appreciate.
Through his constant representations to the
authorities at Washington, and the untiring
exertions of Delegate Sibley, and of Mr. Hugh
Tyler, backed by other citizens and many
friends of our Territory. Congress at length
consented to open negotiations with the Sioux,
and made an appropriation for that purpose.
Accordingly the Indians, remote savages of
the Upper St. Peters, unacquainted with the
forms of business, and difficult to control, were
assembled at Traverse des Sioux, where Col.
Luke Lea and Gov. Ramsey, Commissioners on
the part of the United States, met with them on
the 30th of June. 1851.
TnE NEGOTIATIONS AT TRAVERSE DES SIOCX.
At the outset it appeared, that about one
half the Indians were indisposed to treat at all,
and the other half imbued with extravagant
ideas of the price which should lie paid for their
land—either of which feelings threatened to
render any purchase at all, impracticable: for
the commissioners were limited in the price they
were authorized to give.
It appeared, moreover, that the white men
present who had acquired great influence over
them, from speaking their language, living
amongst them, and trading with them for years,
—to wit: their traders —were unwilling to aid
government in effectinga purchase, unless pay
ment of their debts and claims, teas secured by
the provisions of the Treaty
Thus stood the case:
On the one hand*—the Government by its
Commissioners—the missionaries urnong the
Indians, —the citizens of the Territory—every
body, in fact—were deeply anxious to effect the
Treaty—the future prosperity of Minnesota and
the well being of the Indians likewise, depend
ing upon it.
On the other hand, the Indians were cither
indifferent to a Treaty, or extravagant in their
demands.
—Meanwhile, the intermediate power,—the
traders—would not move hand or foot to aid
the government, unless by so doing they could
have their debts secured and paid.
Who could blame the traders for their posi
tion ? What could be more natural ?
Some of them had spent twenty, thir
ty, and even forty years in the trade. The
country becoming almost denuded of game,
and these upper Bands receiving no annuities
from government, the traders, from time to
time and year after year, had l»een obliged to
advance them clothing for themselves and
families, and guns and ammunition and provis
ions, without which supplies these poor crea
tures would inevitably have perished. The
furs returned by the Indian hunts in payment
of their credits, each year grew less and less,
and left a constantly increasing lialance un
paid ; yet each fall and spring the credits ta
ken by the Indians were as large as ever. The
system once commenced, was continued per
force ; and the traders were trailed on to per
sist in the losing business, by the assurances op
the Indians themselves, that ample provision
should be made to meet their demand whenev
er a Treaty was effected with the government,
!—a mode of payment for which there is any
| amount of precedent.
I This long promised treaty from which they
, : were to obtain remuneration, was now about to
j t*e made—the time had come for them to receive
j a reward for their long course of losses and
I sacrifices; and it was to be evpooiod, that,
deeply in debt ns they were, and utterly impov-
I erished by their advances of goods in the
i trade, they would resolutely oppose any treaty
■ which did not provide for the liquidation of
their claims, in whole or in part.
They therefore took the stand before the Uni
ted States Commissioners, we have mentioned.
Their ultimatum was—“ let the government se
cure to us what are our just rights, as conce
ded by the Indians themselves, and we will aid
the government to make an equitable bargain
with the Indians for their lands.'’
Now all this struck the Commissioners un
| pleasantly. They were more than half indig
j nant. They had come to treat with Indians—
| not with white men. Still the difficulty inter
| posed was a real and substantial one. There
| was no shoving it aside. It was a fixed fact
| that the Indians were disinclined to do any
\ thing without the advice of their traders and
half-breeds. What was Col. Lea and Gov.
I Ramsey to do under the circumstances? Break
up in a pet ? Abandon the enterprise as im
practicable, and go home’ What citizen of
Minnesota would not have condemned such a
I policy as that—would not have keenly deplor
ed such a rctrogade step on the part of the
| Commissioners, which for a score of years
would have confined our prosperity to the nar
row limits east of the Mississippi?
i The Commissioners adopted a wiser course.
They set themselves at work to remove the ob
■ staclc they could not overcome. _ On comiidcra
i tion they concluded that mji'onty exfietHency
I but equal and exact yi/j/ice-uemaWi'fftliM tVe'
| Indians should not «dx .be»permitted,* but en
couraged to scf.a"paet in Treaty A sum, fa
! liquidate their honest 'dolits-i-to start them
, fresh and clear in the world under the new
1 condition of things that would ensue for them
after the Treaty, if any treaty was made.
The)- accordingly signified to the traders
and half-breeds their willingness to comply
with their demand, and to secure by the terms
of the Treaty, any provision which the Indians
might desire to set apart to pay in full their
just debts and engagements, up to that time t
On this understanding all hands went to
, work, aud with much exertion brought the In
dians to terms; and at the request af the Indi
ans themselves, and under their full compre
hension of the whole subject, frequently dis
j CUSBOd an<l faithfully interpreted to them'there
| was inserted in the Ist clause of the 4th article
; of the treaty, the following provisions:
j “ Ist. To the Chiefs of the said Bands, to cn
| able them to settle their affairs and comply
i with their present jnst engagements,” Ac.. * •
“the sum of $275,000. Provided , That said
sum shall be paid to the Chiefs in such manner
as they hereafter in open council shall request.”
Now, mark this! A provision of the treaty
—a stipulation of the covenant between the In
dians and the Government—acknowledges that
the former have debts to settle, and sets apart
a certain sum for that purpose. From the mo
ment the treaty was signed (unless thrown out i
y the Senate,) that amount was solemnly
pledged—irrevocably set apart—for the pur- ,
poses specified ; and every then creditor of the ’
Indmns, hml an undoubted lien upon it. Nei- i
ther the officers of the Government, nor the In
dians themselves, could wrest it from its pre- t
destined purpose. It did not belong to the In
dians any more—it could not rightfully be re
ceived by them—they could only designate in
open council “hereafter,” the manner, or, in
other words, the persons to whom, and in what
proportion severally, this mortgaged money
should be paid.
The same day upon which the treaty was
signed, immediately afterwards, on the same
ground, but on a different side of it, the “here
after open council” spoken of in the clause of
the Ith article, was held. At this council, in
the presence of Agent M'Lcan, of the Govern
ment interpreters, and of numerous witnesses,
the last link required to make the lien of the
traders specific as well as general, was added,
by the Chiefs signing the following paper, hav
ing appended thereto the names of their traders
and half-breeds, and the amounts which they
“requested” they should severally receive :
“ We, the undersigned Chiefs, Soldiers and
Braves of the See-sce-toan and Wah-pay-toan
Bands of Dakota or Sioux Indians, being desir
ous to pay to our Traders and Half Breeds, the
sums of money which ice acknowledge to be
justly due to them , do hereby obligate and
bind ourselves as the authorized representa
tives of the aforesaid bands, to pay to the indi
viduals hereinafter designated, the sums of
money set opposite to their respective names,
so soon as the same shall be paid us in accord
ance with the 4th article of the Treaty aforesaid,
! * * * * and it being therein specified that
the said sum (of $275,000) shall be paid in such
i manner as requested by the Chiefs in open
j Council thereafter, we do hereby in open Coun
cil ; request •' and desire that the said sums be
low specified, shall lie paid to the persons desig
nated, as soon as practicable, Ac., * * *:
and for the payment well an«l truly to be made,
we do hereby solemnly pledge ourselves and
the faith of our nation, and we do hereby re
lease and acquit the United States, upon the
payment of the sums aforesaid as herein speci
fied, of any further liability to us or our na
tion, for so much of the amount so to be paid as
is provided for in the 4th article of the treaty
aforesaid.” J
[Signed by 29 Chiefs and Braves dated
July 23, 1851.]
The persons designated to be paid, in the
schedule attached, were 25 traders, and fifty
half-breeds and their families. The document
is witnessed by the Rev. Stephen JR. Higgs.
who an that occasion, acted as Government
Interpreter, by W. G. LeDue, 11. Jackson, Jas.
MeC. Boal, Thomas Foster, Col. W. C. Hender
son, and others.
Thus concluded the negotiations at Traverse
des Sioux.
They embraced in their progress to comple
tion, these several points : Ist. The difficulty
of treating with the Indians at all. 2d. The
absolute impossibility of doing so, without the
consent and assistance of the traders and half
breeds. 3d. Their refusal to assist unless their
debts were guaranteed. 4th. The agreement,
bargain, covenant, or understanding, on the
part of the Government Commissioners, that,
with the consent of the Indians, they should be
so guaranteed. sth. The obtaining of a treaty
in great part through the exertions of the tra
ders and half breeds. Cth, The setting apart
in the 4th article, of a sum to pay the creditors
of the Indians, in pursuance of the tripartite
understanding lief ween the Government, the In
dians and the traders. 7th. The designation,
by the Indians, in pursuance of the treaty, in
open council, of the manner in which the mon
ey so set apart should be paid to the traders
and half-breeds.
: Could a chain of evidence lie stronger to show
j alike the obligation of the Indians to pay the
\ money in question in liquidation of their debts;
and of the equal obligation of Government to
see that they were paid ?
And this brings us back to tho position we
•o* out «itn—mat Governor Ramsey having
been one of the Commissioners to negotiate the
i treaty—having been cognizant of all that took
place at the Traverse, and being well aware of
the tacit and implied as well as expressed obli
gations of Government to both trailers and In
dians—would have been false to his trust
false to justice and fair-dealing, and unworthy
of his position, had he faltered one instant in
securing to these people the sum set apart sole
ly for their behoof, and rightfully their due.
M. SWEETSER CONCEIVETII AN AFFECTION FOR
the $275,000!
Let us pass on to another scene in this
“ drama,” as the Democrat calls it. The scene
under consideration, however, will be rather of
a melo-draraatic nature, embracing as much ot
the comic as the tragic—the feats in fact of a
buffoon or harlequin, who now makes merry
the crowd by his veracious stories, and “fan
tstic tricks before high Heaven” and anon
brings down the house in the lachrymose
character of the “poor Indian” trader, whose
sympathies for the red man are so acute and
excrutiating, as benevolently to desire to pro
tect him from “fraud” l>y pocketing all bis
“ monish” himself—the effect of this last rep
resentation being enhanced by the performer
shedding “real tears” at the ill success of his
humane speculation.
_ But ra ' se the curtain and let the show begin.
Enter M. Sweetser (does M stand for Moses ?)
fresh from Indiana, a brother-in-law of the tra-
intent upon grabbing that big
p:b‘ f>f Jiff S et apart by treaty to pay the
creditors ot the (sjojvx . J’rsocuring a license to
tr-ide. with /hi tlpijttr Linjs, and having first
-bod ah? Tad'Waidli.g wlth- Robertson A Com
pany here in St. Paul,about dividing the spoils
—when they got them!—he proceeded some
time in October of 1851, to Traverse des Sioux,
and began operations.
HE DEMORALIZES THE “ POOR INDIAN. ”
M’e wish we could treat this portion of the
performance in a gay vein. But we can bring
ourselves to regard, only in a serious light,
this bold unblushing attempt to demoral
ize the Indians; Hud make them drunk with
avaricious longings for that which even their
feeble sense of what was right and just, had
only three months before assigned and set
apart to meet their “present just engage
ments” to their long enduring creditors. The
man who furnishes liquor to Indians to brutify
their intellects and dcvelope their fiercest pas
sions. is a despicable creature who deserves the
penitentiary. Not less despicable, certainlv,
and deserving the condemnation and execra
tion of all right thinking men, must he be held,
who inflicts upon the Indian the more perma
nent degradation that ensues from teaching
him dishonesty— using his superior intelligence
and education, for the base purposes of fraud
and speculation, to darken the red man s
moral light, which at best is but a feeble glim
mer. requiring careful trimming and sedulous
tending to make it ever brighten into a blaze
The course pursued by Mr. Swcetser, is well
described by a distinguished citizen of the
North-west, Mr. Dousman, in his letter to the
U. S. Senate:
“ Although Mr. Swcetser was an utter stran
ger to the Sioux, never having previously vis
ited their country, or had any dealing with
them, directly or indirectly, yet haring been
connected in trade with the Miamis and other
tribes in Indiana, (as I have lieen informed) he
was well acquainted with Indian character, and
he forthwith commenced operations by endeav
oring to produce dissatisfaction among the In
dians, and induce them to repudiate their obli
gations. In the absence of those interested,
and by making profuse expenditure of pres
ents. together with an appeal to their cupidity
by stating that if they would sign his papers
they should receive a much larger sumot mon
ey than they otherwise would, a part of them
were persuaded to sign a protest against their
previous obligation, also a power-of-attorney,
granting him. the said Sweetzer. unlimited
control over all their money to be received
from the upper treaty, if ratified, except their
annuities.”
M. SWEETSER ON THE HIGH ROAD FOR A BIG GRAB.
To exhibit more clearly and plainly M.
Sweetser's bold stroke for a fortune (deducting
of course a moiety of the plunder for Robert
son A Co., as per agreement,) we have taken
the trouble to procure, and insert below, this
“power of attorney ” which he obtained bv de
ceit and falsehood and bribery, and liy teachin<'
them moral dishonesty. It is really a most
rare and precious document, and is an exact
transcript from the original on file at Washing
ton.
“Whereas, the Seesectenn anrl WApaytoan hands of the
Sioux or Dakota nation of Indians did, on the 23.1 of Julv
r,' o’ ,'* 1 : c " nclu ' l '“ * tr <‘ at - v with the government of the
l nlted States, acting throught their accredited chiefs
headmen and braves, with the Hon. I.uke l.ea and Uov
l ™°„ r . V Hornsey, acting as commissioners on ilie hart of
the lulled Slates; and *
“s'iw.T*” 18 provided In said treaty that the sum of
S-.5,0UU is set apart to be paid to our said hands, after
their removal to their new home* on the Minnesota, and
to be expended for the benefit of said bands, as provided
for by said treaty. After signing said treaty aforesaid
we were asked hyonr traders, and did sign a paper, which
we supposed at the time to he acopyof the treaty, or some
other paper necessary to the carrying out the agreement
between our people and our Great Father, the President
of tilt? L niteu States, in the sale of our land-. AVY have
sluce teamed, with surprise „„d astonishment, that we
were deceived, misled, Imposed upon, and wronged, bv
our said pretended friends and traders, In relation to the
purport and meaning of said paper; that we have by said
act agreed and bound ourselves and our people to pay to
our assumed traders a sum nearly or quite «i uni toH22n mi
out of the $275,000 set apart In sal I treatv, iL afSeS
And while we are not only witling and desimus to pay ail
Zfyjjr'Z’
any such sum ot uion y for the payment of •>’ 'n, ST J
against our people, neither th,U !
for our people to owe one-fourth the amount tl usa-smned
to be due to our creditors aforesaid. The procurim- from
us a paper authorizing the payment or am Midi 1, ,!
a frauil am! an outrage u;m,ii n* and „ur ,i.„.i- f V
be - »«««
“Know oilmen by these presents,Tim we, the under
signed, Chiefs, headmen and braves of the Seeseebtan am I
Wapaytoan hands of the Si-ux or ?
dlans, being a imtjorliv of “id
braves, and as such fully competent to "nat’lomal
business for Ihe above-named hands of rhe Sion* or i> lk ‘?
ta nation of Indians, for the nurnJo ,1 D k
virtue of said agrevment afomsaM o" -^’ ' : U ''
nient, w ith our said traders, ~r in im *Ol JS . u * rcc ‘
nnv other pretext or ajn-eenient h iv** m/i iuanne f sor
constituted and appointed, and by th-sc |!re‘enuT/make’
nominate, constitute, appoint and coniimi \i« u U J n,i * ’
ser our true and lawful attorney inf mV
and with full ,K,werof ,r irrevocably,
names and stead, as the coiwimt-d oUr
of said bands and nation, mIJ ,"“£2 S
bands and nail.,., against the pavment o/am and a
wS’S »*"1. or people by virtue ot auv
pie t« said claimants, by full and umpiestlonatdc proof of
their jusd.ee, and by said claimants exhibiting i mouer
to n ttefaUtfZ-tT^ofnu h /'* ur y°ni;ation shall be
or «£££'“u , bsm'um'"’m’!; >r a,H d '"' ;sa,e
1 against our w»i i i,.„ Y .. V- lUau,U " bicli may ho made
proper authority 'to defend an!i”;!?oYbYo„r«iid , "!a,tis'or
inl’u-d States,'ami S mrmYnnd
that may be saved bv our said „ r * U, V S Ifm n '
With our said Y C ;, ,n oYnm
tlou, or ill shape of arrearauee uinlor am r t J,
«nn.cm{' , t or'n r, o'; V t - A,s> ' '»*«tlati will, saldT'ov
i riiniuu, for and in our behalf, in r.-tvn-.i ...... •-n
other matters that appertain lo th,- general welmrY f .e r
sanl nation of Indians, or that „,„v be bv our dat rev
from us, for ourselves and dur !“|!Yo'J
might or could do were we personam- ~0 011' ?
SEE** U? »H acts' that oir S
voking and annulling 'ilUmwen of Ytb.'rnev To
“ ) T"' r “ y " ‘
glf en (or am of u.-) to any person or persons h. act for m
and In our behalf in and about the premises, it is ,x
--"'“to testimIlnyd!Tsi,l"n 1 l ny d !T si,l " n ° f "" r r, ' K,,1,,r a'o'oitb-sf ""
the said Seeseetoan ™mt?ofX Sioux ol
Dakota nation of Indians, liinu a mainritv »
snnZ'V'i t hrav '' s ’' Ul ' l as "Kh fully romtH-tcnt to°trans
mi-l onrn r ’.Tn"’* f'"' 1 !U " 1 »«tlon, now in full
an I open council assembled at St. Peter’s agency have
leS"Dds mb o ",!; ha '/"; ,is »» material aY and
deed, this 6ih day ol December, A. D. 1 Soi
That exception al.out the “ regular annui
ties is a singular feature in the above inter
esting document: and needs explanation. It
has doubtless been introduced by “fraud " into
tho paper ; as the Indians would never think of
withholding from their two-montlis-old-friend,
their entire confidence in this point, after hav
ing so liberally bestowed it ujion so many oth
cr -', having given him for instance, an “irre
vocable"’ control of all other money mat
ters, including the right to receive, receipt for
and disburse as he pleased, the small sum of
$275,090 only, without responsibility, orguar
antv, to any one. That “properly constituted
tribunal, which in its orgaization shall be to the
satisfaction of our said attorney,” would have
l>cen a sight of sights, doubtless—pity that
events have prevented the birth of a child whose
inception was so felicitous. We can imagine
Messrs. Robertson, Willes, and Webb, “a proper
ty constituted tribunal satisfvetory to our at
torney!”
. But joking aside—is not such a development
, of deliberately intended fraud, on both traders
: an d Indians, as this document exhibits upon its
. face, humiliating as well as detestable ?—espe
i cially in view of the clamor and abuse of Gov.
Ramsey for merely performing his duty, by the
very crew who expected to profit by the suc
cess of this villainy!
M. SWEETSKIt KI.OI IttsllKS LIKE A GREEN BAY TREE
IN WASHINGTON.
Our remarks arc extending beyond our avail
able space, and wc must hurry on. This time
we will accompany Mr. Swcetser to Washing
ton, where he repaired about the first of the
year IR»2, and had the impudence to file his
‘•irrevocable power-of-attorney” with the In
dian Department, by whom it was communica
ted to the Senate in secret session, not by anv
means, to the enhancement of Mr. Swcetser's
reputation for honesty or veracity among that
august body.
Mr. S. straightway engaged in many machi
nations and schemes to forward his own for
tunes, and injure those of the other Sioux tra
ders, both with the government in general, and
the members of the U. S. Senate in particular,
lie had the misfortune to find himself check
mated in every quarter; and perhaps to this
day, is hardly aware “what hurt him.’’
HI'GH TYI.ER ATTENDS TO M. SWEKTSEU's CASE.
Docs he know Hugh Tyler, Esq.? We do, and
have since 1549, when he first tame to our Ter
ritory. Hugh is one of the cleverest, whole
souled fellows that ever stepped, and an acute
lawyer into the bargain, who finds his ad
vantage in spending his time in Washington
during the sessions of Congress, and in the in- I
tervals returnsjo the Territory, mostly stop- i
ping wilh his friend. Mr. Sibley, at Mendota.— •
Since '49 he has occupied the self-imposed po
sition of an extra or outside Delegate for Min
nesota at Washington, working earnestly with
Mr. Sibley for every measure likely to benefit
the Territory—and his influence is no small
matter, by all accounts. For Hugh possesses
the suaviter in words in perfection, ami being
besides ever ready to oblige and accommodate
his friends and acquaintances, has acquired a
popularity ami an influence second to none
about the Capitol. The way lie came to oppose
Mr. Sweetser was simply as a matter of busi
ness. When at Traverse des Sioux during the
Treaty negotiations, Tyler was retained with a
contingent fee, as attorney for the Sioux claim
ants, to watch over their interests at Washing
ton, and urge the ratification of the Treaties
before the Senate. Mr. Tyler in guarding the
interests of his clients, found it requisite to
counteract, in his quiet way, Mr. Swcetser's
mameuvers, until that interesting gentleman
must have thought it very queer, that all his
gaseous and eloquent ami philanthropic, not to
say disinterested speeches, to all men and every
body. had so little effect.
H. L. IKH'SVfAX EXTIXCJn.SUES M. SWKKTSKR.
Among other means of counteracting Mr. S.'s
talk, Mr. Tyler availed himself of the presence
of a gentleman in Washington, whose character
and position as one of the most experienced
and eminent citizens of the North-west, was
calculated to give whatever he said an over
whelming weight and influence. This was Col.
H. L. Doustuan, of Prairie du Chien, who having
been at Traverse des Sioux during the treaty,
could bear testimony to the falsehood of some
of Swcetser's allegations. We give Mr. Dous
man's letter to the Senate in lull, without fur
ther comment. It speaks for itself:
Washington Citv, April 3, isft>.
Sir . lla\inj: Icunit'd tljut tin utt<‘iiipt is bt'inj' iu # i*ly l>v
certain interested parties to prejudice the minds or tour
honorable committee against some ot the provisions con
tamed In the treaties recently made w ith the Dakota or
Sioux Indians, for portions of Ihelr lands in .Minnesota
territory, l have the honor to sulnuit the following brief
statement ol facts connect 'd with those treaties, for tin
entire correctness of which 1 can vouch, having been an
eye-w itness to the whole of tie- proceedings connected
therewith.
11l both of the treaties referred pi, It Is stipulated that
the Indians shall receive a jsutluu of the purchase nnai-'-v
In hand, or upon their establishment In their new homes'
to meet their Just engagements, and for tlielr removal anil
subsistence, it is notorious to every man who has long
resided in the Territory, that those bands interested in the
Traverse des Sioux treaty have, ror mam- years, been sup
ported by the regularly licensed trad-rs.'at a vrrv great
loss and expense to the latter. The countrv being almost
denuded or game, and these hands receiving .Yn-dY-s
from the government, the traders have been ..till t,, „|
van,- them, annually Clothing for them* Ires and tauillics,
and guns and ammunition, mid provisions, w Ithout which
supplies these poor creatures would Inevitably have per-
The Indians, about four thousand in number, connected
with the Upper treaty, well know that tie- resources ot
their country were entirely Inadc,piate to enable them to
pay for these credits in furs an-l skins, but shears assured
their traders that ample provision should be made to meet
their demands whenever a treaty should he effected with
the government. Accordingly, the upper bands and a part
of tie* lower bands did enter into an obligation to set asi-i--
from the amount provided tube paid to them in hand,un
der the treaty, a stun large Indeed hi amount, but v.-rv
much short of ivhat they Justly owe. A part of the hands
| interested in the lower treaty have not signed any obiiga
j tloii. It is now alleged, lun Icr.-tund, that the chiefs and
principal men of the upper bunds signed the obligation
I without knowing its nature, hut with the supposition that
they were affixing their names or marks to a duplicate
copy ol the treaty. This I solemnly assert to be entirely
false. The amount to he allowed for the payment of debts
was a subject of discussion among the Indians an-I tlielr
traders, and the missionaries, for days before tin-treaty
was executed, and 1 was myself present very frequctitlv
when these discussions took place; and w hen the treat,
MILS Interpreted to the Indians, it was expressly explained
l-y the government interpreter. The chiefs and principal
men all expressed their willingness to provide forthe pay
ment of tlielr debts to the traders who were in the coun
try, hut were unwilling to pay the claims of others who
no longer lived among them. Although hv such an ar
rangement those ot the former class could have securest
thenis-dves without difficulty, yet they were too tipri-lit
| to avail tliems.-ives of such an advantage ever non-rest
| dent claimants. They therefore proposed that the Indians
1 should obligate themselves I*• pav the sum designated, and
allow Hie traders to divide in a pm rota proportion among
Uiuse who were really burnt fide creditors of the said
bands, which the chiefs assented to. and the division was
made in a tair and equitable manner. Tie- amount s-t
; aside hv tiie Indians did not suffice to pay more than one
hall of their just indebtedness, hut the traders agreed to
accept it ill lull -r all demands. 1 lu g leave In slab- wlist
1 1 know of the tra-lers among these Indians; Some iff
them have spent twenty, thirty and even forty years in
1 trade, and all, witli scarcely un exception, of tho,
I provided lor in the obligation referred to. are deeply in
j debt ana mien, impoverished 1:1 consequence of their
I goods having heeti advanced, as I hi-r.. r ,. stated, for Hie
I bclictit Of the miserable beings among whom they dwelt.
Among them are old men with targe families of children,
wlio are entirely without the means or support, and „ |, „,-
sob- dependence is upon the provisions made for them bv
! the Indians. Si far were the chiefs from desiring t-re
pudiate their obligation, that the verv individuals who
| have signed the protest, ollered subsequent!,-, at Men,lot 1
1 K" '"''i"''' s*?'' ll " li:U ‘ : “-'""t and slate that they wished
it carried out in good faith ; but that was no; deemed n
cessary. The names ~r t!„. half-I,ncis who were provid
ed lor in Hie same obligation were designated by the chiefs
In , pen council, in presence of a large number of Indians,
and inserted according to their instructions.
1 have thus stated to you, sir, w hat I know to he the
truth in record to the upper „r Traverse des Sioux treat,-
The sequel is yet to come. In the month of October l ist
three months nearly alter the conclusion iff that rie-’otia
tlon. a .Mr. Sweetser arrived at St. Paul with nu alssur't
nieiit ~f goods, and applied to the Indian agent at Fort
Me lting tor a ticellsc to trade with the Sioux, which was
granted, and in- proceeded to Traverse des Sioux. Although
an utter stranger to tile Sons, icvcr bavin • previously
visited their country, or had any dealings, directly or in
directly with them, yet having been connect",] in tiietra-le
with the Miami* and other tribes In Indiana, (as I have
been informed,) lie was well acquainted witli Indian char
acter, and he forthwith commence,] operations In- on ie le
aving hi produce dissatisfaction among the ciders and
principal men w ith tlidr old friends among the traders I
and to induce them to repudiate their obligations, p, It „'.
ah-(lice of those Interested, and l,v making profuse i-xi-eii
diturc Of presents, together with an appeal to tlielr cupid
ity by stating, that if they would sign Ids papers they
should receive a much larger sum of moln-v than the’,-
otherwise would, a part were per.-i a led lo sign a
protest a-ain-t their previous obligation, nlso a power of
attorney, yrantmylo him, the said Sweetser, unlimited
control ore r all their money to be received from the
upper treaty, if ratttled, exept the regular annuities.
And it Is also stated that there was still a third paper ~r
agreement, which is not forthcoming here, and which pro
vides that said BwectscT shall share equally with Hie
other contracting party in v. hat can he secured hv him
from the amount due t„ the traders and ha!!-l,reeds'; and
armed w itli these documents, which the officers -,f the In
dian department in Minnesota would not certify or bare
anything to .lo with, he now presents himself muds citv,
and hopes, with Hie aid of others win, I have reasou to
believe to he contingently interested with him, to induce
your honorable committee to further Ids views hv some
amendment to the treaty which may prevent the rightful
claimants, should the treaty lie ratliied, from receivin',
what is so Justly their due. A more sacred debt was
never incurred than Is owing be the Indians to the tra
ders: and, sir, 1 trust your honorable committee wilt
not permit any change in the phraseology of the trea-
Tli l ' Indian department has the authority, and it Is made
Its duty hy existing law s, to ximril the recipients nr annui
les aya iist imposition and fraud,and (he ucnlh m.m »i
head will no douht ,|e his duty. A, the treaty is worried,
the government recognises no individual claims upon the
Indians, hut very properly leaves the question to be get.
tied between them and their creditors. I ran assert
without fear of contradiction, that muuv of those who are
interested in the obligation B | V ,.|, bv the I pper Sioux, are
tjn n of the highest cbaraccr for honor anti integrity, and
w ho have proved themselves to he the truest and warmest
friends of the poor Indians, an,l who would scorn any at
tempt to take from them one cent which was hot right
fully their own.
In conclusion 1 beg leave to say, that I have lived 25
years oii the I pper Mississippi river, during most of which
time I have been interested in tlie trade with the Nlouv
Indians; i know them and their traders wej), and 1 w ill
do the latter the justice to say, that they have done more
to arrest the introduction of liquor among their red friends
than all others combined. A I have h eft,re state,i. their
claims arc eminently Just, i chile Swcetser’’t pretentions
to interfere ore merely the result of o desire that he
and hit associate* may appropriate Me money to which
they hare no claim whatever. (The same means and
appliances on Hie psrl of any other strancer now, would
Induce the Indians to revoke .Mr. Swcctzer’s power of at
torney at once, and appoint some other man.)
The traders in the country would experience little dlfli
cuity in procuring from the Indians a protest against t|„.
recognition by the government of Mr. Sweotsor’s papers •
hut regarding them as informal and as fraudulent upon
I heir very face, they have not considered them of suffi
cient Importance to deserve any such notice at their hands,
supposing that the Senate would pay no sort of attention
to documents procured obviously for Interested purposes
For information respecting my character and standing
In my own State, I lieg leave to refer you to the acromna
uylng letters from the Hon.!. P. Walker and tl. w. Jones
of the Senate, and Ron. Messrs. IMv and Kastman, of the
House of Representatives, mist of whom have known me
for many yuan*.
I have tlic honor to he, very respectfully, rour obedient
•°r v * nr » U. L. lioiSMAN.
Hon. P. R. Atchison,
Ch’n Com. on Indian A Hairs, IT. s. Senate.
This calm, clear, searching, able letter might
lie considered the extinguisher of Mr. Swectzer
before the Senate.
It is worthy of remark, that this letter shows
the whole subject of the .Sioux debts to have
been before the Senate, and that the proposition
to change the phraseology of the 4th article
was successfully resisted in thatl*odv!
OOV. RAMSEY IS INVESTED BY THE INDIANS WITH
POWER TO RECEI YE AND DISBFRSE TIIE MONEY !
—Well, the treaty was nt length ratified,
with certain amendments, and these were sub
mitted to the Chiefs assembled in Council here
at St. Paul, and on the Bth of September, 1852,
agreed to by them. The same day upon which
the Chiefs ratified the amendments, they held a
grand Council in reference to the receipt anil
disposition of their money accrueing under the
Ist elause of the 4th article. The result of
their deliberations, was a complete power of
attorney to Governor Ramsey to ask and re
ceipt for the $275,000, and the document then
goes on to say :
“And we also authorize, empower, and re
quest him. (tho said Alexander Ramsey,) to do,
or cause to bo done, all the acts contemplated
by the said 4th article for and by us to be done,
to appropriate the said nutney in accordance
with, and for the purpose of carrying out the
equitable and true intent thereof; all such acts
when done to lie final and binding upon us, and
to have the same force and effect as if done by
us.
“And we do hereby revoke and annul all for
mer or other powers of attorney, executed or
given by us with reference to the receipt or
collection of the said sum of money or any part
thereof.”
Signed in open Council, Sept. 8, 1852, in the
presence of Nathaniel M'Lcan, Ind. Agent;
\\ allace B. White, Secretary ; Philander Pres
cott, Interpreter; Jos. Lafrainltoise, Interpre
ter. and Henry M. Rice, by 27 Chiefs and Head
men.
The following is Agent M 'Lean's certificate
appended to tills important document:
“I, Xahianiei. M’l.eas, U. S. Italian Agent, 110
hereby certify that the foregoing named chiefs and head
men of the Seo-see-toan and M’ah-jmy-toan hands of Da
kota or Sioux Indians, (now in full and open council as
sembled, and who constitute and are the proper authori
ties of said bands, being a majority of the chiefs and head
in' n, and as such fully competent to transact any and all
tribal or national business tor and In behalf of said bands
of See-swMoan and Wah-pay-toan Indians,) authorize and
request me as their Agent to state that the annexed and
foregoing authority In writing from them, was signed and
executed by th«*ni In good faith, and with a full and com
plete knowledge of its contents, purport and meaning,and
for the uses and purposes therein named, and the same
having been by me fully explained, they? for themselves
and their bands, approve, ratify and conrhm the same,
and authorize and request me to b**ar written testimony
that the sune is their tribal and national act and deed.
NATHANIEL AI’LKAX,
Indian Agent.”
If any defect existed (and we admit of none)
in the document executed by the Indians at
Traverse des Sioux, assigning the several pro
portions of the hand money among the traders
and half-breeds, the foregoing instrument, in
the wide and full discretion it confers upon
Gov. Ramsey, has completely cured it; leaving
not the shadow of a shade of doubt as to the
legality as well as to the unquestionable justice
of the course he has pursued.
in on TYLER AND HIS POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Another document, only, remains for us to
quote. 11 hen the Governor returned from
Travers ■ des Sioux, followed by the traders and
half-breeds, anxious to receive their pay. lie
found a quantity of office business and corres
pondence accumulated during his absence
which required his first'attention, anti lie there
fore deferred for a few days the proposed pay
ment. But impatient at any further delay,
these people sent their Attorney, Hugh Tyler.
Esq., with a properly executed power of attor
ney, authorizing him to receive and receipt for
the-entire sum due them: and upon this Gov.
R. paid over the money to Mr. Tyler and took
his acquittance for the amount, he and his
clients settling the rest among themselves. Of
j the power of attorney under which Mr. Tyler
received the money, the following is n copy :
“The undersigned claimants under the Treaty
of Traverse des Sioux, concluded on the 23d
•lay of July. A. D. 1851, hereby authorize and
request Alexander Ramsey, Superintendent of
Indian Affair.*, to pay the several amounts due
ns respectively as distributed by the Chiefs at
the time of said Treaty, to our Agent and At
torney. Hugh Tyler, and we do hereby author
ize and empower him to receipt for (he same,
which shall be in full discharge and acquit
tnnee of our claims against the Sissiton and
Wahpayton Bands of Dakota or Sioux Indians,
ti)) to the date of the Treaty.
Traverse ties Sioux, Dec.'l, 1852.”
[Signed by all the traders and half-breeds.]
How Mr. Tvlcr obtained the money, and un
der what authority he disbursed it among the
traders and half-breeds, the above document
satisfactorily shows. He received neither au
thority, appointment, or compensation from
Gov. K., in any shape or form. At the time of
the treaty, the traders and half-breeds engaged
his services to press the ratification ol their
treaty, with the understanding that if the trea
ties were ratified and their claims eventual!v
paid. he was to receive a per centago as com
pensation. There is certainly nothing very
novel or unusual in this—lawyers work for
contingent fees every day, and it is deemed a
matter of course—'tis their vocation. AVliat he
received he and his clients ltost know—whatev
er it may have been, it was made voluntarily
by such as chose to allow it to him—some, we
have heard, refused to pay anything. But
whether it was 5 percent., 10 per cent., or 15
per cent., Gov. Ramsey neither directly nor in
directly paid it to him, nor had directly nor in
directly any lot or part in it whatsoever.
THE KIND OF MONEY PAID,
In regard to the kind of money paid out, one
word will suffice for reasonable people, who do
not slander for the mere love of it, or who have
other ways to make political capital than by
coining falsehoods upon men high in office.
Nothing but gold was paid to the Indians, and
the traders anil half-breeds had the option of
gold, or paper worth a quarter to one per cent,
premium.
THE GOLD AND PAPER Ht'MRCO.
We observe among the allegations of the
Democrat one that Governor Ramsey made an
arrangement for pecuniary profit with respect
able banking houses east, by exchanging gold
for their paper. This is false and ridiculous
both. Gold is almost a drug in the eastern
money market; and first class banks in New
) ork city would not lie likely toexclmnge their
sterling paper on terms other than at par for
gold. But a simple denial of the assertion will
suffice ; there arc the banks—procure their tes
timony, if you think it worthwhile. But we
suppose the editor of the Democrat would scorn
to take that trouble. It is easier to coin false
hoods than to try and prove them.
A FEW WORDS IN CONTUSION
I In closing this article, which (lie insertion of
: the several documents has extended beyond our
1 expectation, we feel a sadness steal over us, as
we reflect upon the fate of public men in this
[country. Their inevitable destiny is slander
and detraction, abuse and vituperation, let
them lte ever so able to perform their duties,
ever so laborious in discharging them, ever so
conscientious in their execution. Facts will be
distorted, motives misrepresented, actions fal
sified, as long as stupidity or venality controls
some printing presses, and that may be to the
end of time. Consider the case of Governor
Ramsey; Ife has now Iteen in ofliee since Mav.
1849 ; and all know that his labors hare lieen
of the most active and incessant kind. No
man can say that he ever flinched from any ex
ertion, in doors or out-of-doors, that was de
manded by an efficient discharge of his duty.
Energy and ability, it must be conceded, have
eminently marked his career. Honesty of in
tention and a straightforward, conscientious
discharge of his duties connot lie denied him.
No man can sustain a charge, even the sligbt
-1 cst, of dishonesty or peculation against him.
' All the characteristics of a good citizen will
lie conceded Him. He is guilty of none of the
small vices—is neither a drunkard nor a gam
bler, and pays his debts anti owes no man any
thing. He has not even indulged in propor
tion to his means and opportunities, in the
common speculations of the day, but has in
vested his means largely in tilling Hie soil,
helping to enhance the value of other people'*
property beside his own. Yet notwithstanding
all this. Gov. Ramsey is the most abused man in
the Territory. The last two “ Democrats” teeitt
with the foulest language ; and the “ boldest,
most extensive and inhuman rascality ” is free
ly charged against him. But is there any evi
| deuce to sustain such horrible charges!—asks
; some one. Not a particle—not an iota. To lie
1 sure he has the assertions of the veracious M.
I Sweetser whose attempt to pocket the money Ite
longing to the Indian creditors, we have expos
ed above. Mr. Robertson, gives him as his au
thority ; and on the bare say-so of this desper
ate man. disappointed in schemes of aggran
dizement, a high minded public officer is sud
t deuly-cl'.tssi'd with felons and criminals !
The editor of the Democrat, some may think
I and say, shows himself remarkably ready to a
j bnsc and defame, on doubtful testimony. True
| —but that is nothing unusual. To accomplish
| au object, lie once before made His press the
i vehicle of the most venomous falsehood against
I Gov. Ramsey. To accomplish some other ob
jeet. he opens the same kind of batteries again,
j I’erliaps he wants Gov. R.'s place early, and
takes this mean way to slander him out. not
content to wait the ordinary turning of the
political wheel which must shortly take place.
Or, perhaps, as is said, he is one of that gang
who were allied with Sweetzer to grab the
money of the traders, and divide the spoils, and
who rage from disappointment and frustrated
I hopes. Such, at any rate, is the kind of mail
who controls one of the public presses here, and
whose- talents are so feeble that he can only
write when lie has somebody to abuse, and then
ere long he disgusts his readers. The reaction
of disgust, we predict, is already coming on
amongst his subscribers. I [e may froth for a week
or two more—that will he the end of it. In the
meantime, Gov*. Ramsey's friends invite inves
tigation, not abuse : though, to In- sure, lie can
live the latter down as lie has done before. So
let the vipers gnaw away. They bite a file!
The Sweelser “ Fllllbuat.'’
| In all probability, the following analysis
lof the “Sweetser documents” is the last we
j shall feel called upon to publish in our leading
: columns, touching the disinterested Indian op
j orations of that gentleman, since his first advent
■ into Minnesota. 11 e have taken some pains to
j sift this matter thoroughly ; and by it coinparl
! son of the article in last week's Democrat and
j the original treaty, the reader will readily ob
j serve the discrepancies pointed out below.
| The Democrat claims that fifteen nut of the
I twenty-one Indians who signed Swcetser's
| power-of-attorney were signers of the original
| treaty. The fact is. there w ere but ten of those
; who signed the power-of-attorney. present nt
the treaty, viz : Esh-ta-hcem-ba. Keu-vang-iua
noo, Maza-sha, Wa-uak-soon-tay. Tan-pa-lie-da,
E-tay-teho-ka, Ta-ka-gbay, E-teha-shkau-shkan
ma-nee, A-im-wang-ma-nee and Ya-zhoa-pee,
(if that is the name intended by Gnli-jol>e.)
The four first names were chiefs of bands, but
the others, with few exceptions, wi re young
men, of no influence among their tribes one
was a Chippewa slave—and these were induced
to sign by strong appeals to their cupidity, be
ing told (what the power docs not show,) that
they would receive the whole of the money for
themselves, if they signed the paper, l’romiscs
of goods and provisions, and donations of tin;
latter were additional inducements.
But the last great effort—the roup d'etat
was the procurement of the signatures ap
pended to the protest against the payment of
any part of the said sum of $275,000. We find
Ihe names of Een-yag-ma-nee, E-tay-wa-keen
yan, Maza-sha, Ta-pcta-tonka and Ta-ka-gbay,
five persons, whose names appear to the treaty.
Ta-wa-kan-he-day-ma-za signs the protest, anil
although there should he no difference in the
“orthography or translation,” the individual is
very different. The man who signed the treatv
Itelongs to the Five Lodges. He who signs the
protest is the brother-in-law of “Eagle that
( rous, and was not on the treaty ground.—
He Hits on the Cheyenne river when the treaty
was signed at Traverse des Sioux. The other
names to the protest are mostly of the Traverse
ties Sioux band. The two last names are edu
cated Indians, speak English, dress like the
whites, and are known to he trailers for Mr.
Sweetser—one nt Lac qiii Parle, the other at
5 ellow Medicine.
These nre the “principal Sioux chiefs and
1 ,lp ad men who were at Traverse ties Sioux at
[' time, and yet we find Young Sleepy Eves,
Blunlhcad Arrow, The Wind Instrument, Grey
Thunder, Iron Frenchman, Face in the Mist,
Red Day, The Standard, Walking Spirit who
walks shaking, and Red Face—men of influence
and standing in the tribe—were signers to the
treaty and were on the ground. There were
also Wn-nata, The Listener, The Red Eagle
Plume, Em-bo-to, Ota-kta, who, with Iron
Frenchman, were the representatives at the
Traverse of over twelve hundred Indians at
I.ae Traverse and Coteau d'Prairie. and all ac
knowledged chiefs of bands except two, anil
they are head men. Why does not their names
appear to the protest? Why is there not a Lac qui
I arle name to the protest save those of Swecter’s
traders? Still Capt. Dodd certifies that "thecoun
eil was composed of a majority of the chiefs” of
the Sissiton and Warpeton bands. Why did they
not sign the protest ? There is but three of the
signers of the protest who were ever recognized
by their bunds as chiefs, anil there were six
other recognized chiefs at the Traverse at the
time: and the Orphan, the Pretty Bov, the Ex
tending Brain, the End, and Old Sleepy Eyes
were absent. Truly, if a majority of the chiefs
of those bands were present at the Couneil. as
the certificate of the Justice states, the protest
met with but little favor, when only three could
bo induced to sign it! The fact is “a majority
of the chiefs of said bands,’’ if present at the
Council, (and we must lielicve the certificate of
a Justice of the Peace,) refused to sign an in
strument protesting against the payment of
moneys, the legal disbursement of which tbev