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Congressional Globe
memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwcg.html
Browse Congressional Globe
Congressional Globe
Debates and Proceedings, 1833-1873
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3rd Session December 1, 1862 to March 3, 1863, pp. 1-912
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remarks on the resolution in relation to the Sioux Indians ... 303, 440, 441, 442, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 516, 517
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page 514,
514 THE CONGRESSIONAL GLOBE January 26,
reduced to forty acres? It is not probable that
the women and children exerted themselves to
save the lives of white people, but it was done by
chiefs, and heads of families, and young Indians
who are styled braves or warriors. I think the
provision is well enough as it is. I think we
should reward Indians who, under the circum-
stances that surrounded this case, exerted them-
selves to protect the white inhabitants. This was
the opinion of the committee-or of several mem-
bers of the committee, I know-that they ought
to be rewarded, ought to be distinguished from
other Indians, as an inducement to Indians here-
after, when the tribes should conclude to engage
in war with the white people, to frustrate the de-
signs and plans of the tribe, to give timely notice
to the settlers. I am not sure, however, but that
the word "themselves," in the fifth line of the
section, ought to he stricken out, and the word
"himself" inserted. I submit this to the chair-
man of the committee.
Mr. DOOLITTLE. I think that would be
proper.
Mr. HARLAN. It would then be confined to
the men who have thus exerted themselves.
Mr. D00LITTLE. I have received from the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs a statement made
by the head men and braves of some of these In-
dian tribes, which, with the accompanying certifi-
cates, I will read to the Senate:
Office Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
St. Paul, December 24, 1862.
SIR: I herewith transmit petition of the Sioux Indians
and letter of Agent Galbraith, giving a fair statement of
facts as they occurred in my presence.
The Indians whose names appear to this petition have
been true and loyal, and should not be punished for the
sins of others. They are now without homes or means of
earning a living. Their expectations, based upon the risk
and danger they incurred in saving the whites in the late
outbreak, have not been realized. They supposed the
whites would he grateful and provide for them, and ask
that their interests may be considered, and that they may
not be driven off with the wild or savage Indians, who
would treat them as badly as they have treated thin whites.
They are of the farmer Indians, and could do witch towards
raising their own living, if allowed to go back to their farms
and be protected in their peaceable possession of them, and
this should be done in time to allow them to get in their
crops in season next spring.
The manner in which they have acted towards the
whites ought to entitle them to a reward over and above
their benefits arising from their treaty stipulations. They
manifest a desire to do anything or go anywhere the De-
partment may direct.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CLARK W. THOMPSON,
Superintendent Indian Affairs.
Hon. WILLIAM P. DOLE,
Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C.
Sioux AGENCY, December 19, 1862.
SIR: In regard to the petition of Sioux chiefs and soldiers
now under the protection of the military at Fort Snelling,
which Is herewith submitted, I have to say, what you know,
that it is a voluntary matter on their part, and sets forth in
their way their wishes amid desires.
The situation of these men is a peculiar one. Not only
are they generally innocent, but most of them have by their
acts exhibited a friendship for the whites, and a moral and
Christian fortitude, provocative of sincere admiration. They
cannot go with the wild Indians again by any means, and
such is the hatred towards their race engendered by recent
atrocities, that our white citizens cannot be persuaded to
allow them to stay among them. Thus their situation is a
hard one, one which it is hard for persons not directly cog-
nizant of the facts to realize. Six or seven of them, in-
deed, have made such a reputation as to Insure for them
the respect of every white man and woman who know them.
But then all do not know them, and to those who do not
know them they are but "Ingins," and are subjected to
all kinds of indignities, even to threats to take their lives.
These thus well known, but not sufficiently to protect them,
are Aer-pater-to-kec-ha, (Other Day;) Maze-ku-ta-marie,
(Paul;) Lorenzo Laurence, or Towar-ta-to; Ana-wah-ma-ni,
(Simon;) Wasoo-ho-wash-tay, and Ka-war-kee. Beside
these, Taopi, Wabasha, Chaska, (who saved Spencer,) Pay-
pay, Red Iron, "Ohe Jims Son," A-kipa, Wa-ke-au-washte,
Chetan Shure, (known as the Baby,) and perhaps ten others
who were good in their way and entitled top particular men-
tion, are comparatively but little known. They feel keenly
and realize their situation, and their feelings have induced
the petition, and when the petition was read to them they
agreed to it, and authorized Colonel Crooks, yourself, and
myself to add what we pleased to it. By this authority I
do, then, add this: "These men are the representatives of
the Sioux of the Mississippi. They have made no forfeit,
but are entitled to rewards. They place themselves on the
mercy of the Government and ask protection, and what-
ever treaty rights they retain by this petition, they submit to
the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior."
I submit the petition with remarks such as I have made,
and ask that you will, with such explanatory remarks as
you see proper, refer it to the serious consideration of the
Department.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOS. J. GALBRAITH,
United State Agent.
Clark W. Thompson, Bsq.,
Superintendent Indian Affairs, St. Paul.
We, chiefs and head men of the Mindewakantons and
Wahpetons and Sissetons, Sioux of the Mississippi, make
this book (petition) to our great Grandfather, the President
of the United States:
Last August our young men all broke out and butchered
a great many white men and women and children. The
cause that they did this was that many of us had com-
menced to live as white men, and they were jealous of us;
and on that account they went to war. We who make this
book felt bad for this, and opposed it; but we were few,
and they were many, and we could not prevent them. We
did all we could. We did not go to war. We killed no-
body. We helped to save the captives, and we succeeded
in saving nearly three hundred white women and children,
and Other Day saved our agent’s family amid all the whites
at the Yellow Medicine, sixty-two in all. Paul, or Maza-
kutatmmrie, and Lorenzo, and Anawabrnani, or Simon, also
saved many white women and children.
We did no harm, and tried to do good. We know our
young men, and many of our old men, have broken the
treaty, and we all feel bad. We are farmers, and want that
our great Father would allow us to farm again whenever
he pleases, only we never want to go away with the wild
blanket Indians again; for what we have done for the
whites they would kill us. We of the Upper Sioux would
like to go to live on the Couteau des Prairie, fifteen miles
west of Big Stone lake, in Dakota Territory; and we of
the Lower Sioux would like to go back on our farms, and
there live as white men, or we would like to live among
the white men, and farm as they do, if they would let
us.
We think we ought to be dealt with as our great Father
does with his white children: time bad ought to be punished,
and the good to be well treated. All the Indians who were
engaged in killing the white men and women and children
should be hanged; but we who did not do bad hope to
live, and we ask our great Father to let us live and to aid
us. We think we have not forfeited our annuities or other
funds, because we have done no wrong; and we ask that
our great Father will use so much as belongs to us, in
such way as to him seems best for our good, to help us
to live, and as much as belongs to the bad Indians we
would like to have our great Father pay our just debts out
of; and it is in right that the white people who have lost all
their property should be paid out of the money which was
the Sioux.
We humbly and respectfully ask that our great Father
take pity on us and do as he thinks best for our good. We
must have food and clothing, and In the spring somewhere
to live. Last spring our agent brought us a great many
plows and hoes and iron and other things, and we want that
he should pay for these things out of our money. We want
everything we owe paid.
We respectfully ask that our great Father appropriate our
annuity money, and that of those whom we represent, first,
to pay our debts created by our agent, Major Galbraith;
second, to pay damages; and last, to aid us in getting a
living. We are here at Fort Snelling, forty-one Lower
Sioux Indians, and twenty Upper Sioux Indians, and about
fifteen hundred women and children, and twenty half-breed
men. We know not what to do, and we submit ourselves
into the hands of our great Father.
WABASH-A, Chief,
CONGEPRY-ON-IIA,
WAK-AUB-DE-OTA,
OKIS-AMUZA,
WA-KUTE, Chief,
WAK-AWH-DESNA,
HU-SHA-SHA. Chief,
PAY-PAY,
RU-VA-PA. Chief acting for Shak-apee’s band,
MAR-HE-YA-HOLCKEN-YOU-MANE, Chief,
acting for Shak-apee’s band,
SHOTE-AN, Chief, acting for Shak-apee’s band,
TA-OPI, Chief of Farmer Indians,
WA-KEN-Y-AN-WAX-TO,
WAKING-ANTUEVA,
AN-PE-DE-CURE,
CE-TAN-X-UN,
TON-K-AN-WE-CUX-TE,
MARPEY-A-WUKOUZE,
KAN-KE-SA-PA,
WAU-HINKPE,
WAK-AUHDESUPA,
WA-HA-CUN-K-A-MAZA,
TONK-AN-TO-I-CI-YE,
TON-K-AN-WAN-YA-K-APE,
HAKEWAXTE,
WASU-HE-YA-YE-NA, Chief,
TATE-ROT-A,
WAM-ANU-S-A,
TA-TOO TA-MA-IN,
WE-YU-HA-MANI,
WAK-ANMANE, Chief,
AHNAWABMANE, Chief,
CITANH-DERA,
INNEH-AN, Chief,
XUPEHEYON, -
NITE-OPE,
MA-ZA-KU-TI-MA-RI, or PAUL,
AN-PE-TU-TOCE-CA, or OTHER DAY, Chief.
Witness:
THOMAS J. GAL BRAITH, Sioux Agent.
JOHN P. WILLIAMSON.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH REG’T MINNESOTA VOLS.,
Fort SNELLING, December 18, 1862.
I certify that I am personally acquainted with the In-
dians who have signed the foregoing petition. As president
of the military commission that tried time Sioux prisoners,
I had occasion often to meet these men. I consider them
true hearted. They are, indeed, but few; but nevertheless
they deserve all that the Government may grant them. They
should be kindly dealt with and liberally rewarded. I cer-
tify to the signatures attached to this petition.
WILLIAM CROOKS,
Colonel Sixth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers.
I hereby certify that the Indians whose signatures are
attached to the above petition, applied to Superintendent
Thompson and Agent Galbraith for leave to make a book of
petition to the President of the United States through me.
That said superintendent and agent met said Indians in
council on the 17th instant, and that the Indians them and
there dictated to me the foregoing petition; that it is
and just translation of what they stated, made by me; that
after I had written it out iii the English as above, I read it
to them twice in their own language in presence of Rev.
John P. Williamson, a Dakota missionary, and of the agent
superintendent, Colonel Crooks, and other persons, evil
and military; at the headquarters of Colonel Crooks, at Fort
Snelling; that said Indians all understood it, and publicty
assented thereto in my presence, and authorized me to sign
their names there to, except Other Day (An-pe-tn-toce-ca)
and Paul, (Ma-za-ku-ti-ma-ri,) who wrote their own
names. I further certify that Wa-ba-sha, Wa-ku-te, Ta-o-
pi, Wasu-he-ya-ye-na, Hu-sha-sha, and Ru-ya-pa, are
chiefs, and represent the Lower Sioux, and that Other Day,
Wa-kan-mor-ni, An-a-wat-ma-ni and I-ni-ha-in are chiefs,
and represent time Lower Sissetons and Wahepetons, and
the others are all full-blood Indians of both Upper and
Lower Sioux, who were throughout friendly to the whites.
ANTOINE FRENIERE,
United States Interpreter,
December 18, 1862.
I desire to say one word, as I am on this point,
about the breaking out of this Indian war, to show
that, in my opinion, our Government has enterned
upon a policy in reference to the Indian tribes
which is utterly wrong. Down to 1851 what-
ever annuities or presents we made to the In-
dian tribes we made to the chiefs, and then the
chiefs made the distribution; and so long as
the chiefs held the money, and the blankets, and
the ammunition, and the rifles, the young men
would look up to the chiefs; but after 1851, we en-
tered upon the policy that the Government agents
should distribute all our annuities among the indi-
vidual Indians, and what was the necessary re-
sult? An individual Indian would look down
upon his chief and say, "I am just as good as you
are; I deal with the great Fattier himself, through
his agent; I get my money, my blankets, my
rifles, my ammunition, direct from the Govern-
ment; you have no control over me." The result
of it has been the breaking down of the tribal
authority of the chiefs in those nations, and the
breaking down of their form of government among
themselves, so that the chiefs no longer restrain
the young men, and they go into war. Since 1851,
more depredations have been committed by the
Indian tribes than through the whole history of
the Government before.
In my opinion, it has grown as winch out of that
as out of any other one fact, that the Government
itself has broken down their tribal organization
by making this distribution among the individ-
uals. Here are, among the chiefs and the old men
of the tribes, many that endeavored to restrain the
young men from going to war in Minnesota. I
think it will be good policy for us to offer to give
to these persons one hundred and sixty acres of
land each, and to pay fifty dollars a head to them so
long as they live, for rescuing the people of Min-
nesota and saving their wives and their daughters
from massacre, or, what is a thousand times worse
than death itself, from being ravished by these
brutal monsters, as many of them were during
that savage warfare. It is doing no more than we
ought to do; and I think that the section, as pro-
posed by the committee, ought to stand, giving to
the individual Indian the one hundred and sixty
acres and a pension of fifty dollars a year for his
life.
Mr. FESSENDEN. I shall move to strike out
the part that relates to pensions. That is intro-
ducing an entire new system. Whatever is given,
I hope will be given in the shape of land.
Mr. RICE. The President, in his recent mes-
sage to Congress, called the attention of Congress
particularly to the subject of remodeling the In-
dian laws, and I have been waiting very patiently
for the Committee on Indian Affairs to introduce
a bill for that purpose. A vital change is abso-
lutely necessary. So long as we in our treatment
of the Indians violate a positive injunction of Holy
Writ, or induce them to violate it, they will con-
tinue to die out. I believe the good book says
that man shall earn his living by the sweat of his
brow. Every inducement possible is held out to
the Indians by this Government not to work. If
you were to take citizens from the eastern states,
and put together one or two hundred of them, or
one or two thousand, on the plains, and treat them
as we treat the Indians, in five years they would
become savages themselves. There is no induce-
ment held out to the Indians to labor. He lives
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("Their X marks." was printed on a side-bar, sideways.
So, I take it that all thee above signed it, with a X.)
