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Show I 20 REPORT OF THE C031MISSIONEE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS doubt, was induced by misrepresentations, madbby parties for interested motives. On our return we met this commission, accompanied by the governor, at Anoka. They were dviaed that it was believed that the Indians had already submitted; that it was deemed important that no fnrther attempt at negotiation should be made, except through the medium of the agent, and that no good would result from again assembling the Indians. I informed the commissioners that I. would consent to no terns other than unconditional submis~ion to the existing laws and treaties, and that I believed any other settlement with Hole-in-the-day was only preparing the &ay for future raids and further efforts on his part to extort money from the government. I withheld permission for the commissioners to go upon the reserve, for the reason that the attorney of Hole-in-the-day waa at its head; but in consideration of the terrible excitement, and fearing that the least f e e outbreak on the part of tbe Chippewas would result in the depopu-lati09 of the northern part of the State, I authorized the governor to bold a coun-cil with the Indians, promising to co-operate with him in any measures calcnlated to secure peace. The governor and commissioners were act, beteeen St. Cloud and. Fort Ripley, by a messenger bringing the glad tidings tbat the Indians had sub-mitted and were a route for their homes. On arriving at the fort, Captain Hall informed them tbat he had been present at the councils with the agent; that the Indians had disbanded, and exhibited to them the war-club of Hole-in-the-day, which had been surrendered to him by the chief as an evidsnce of his sub-mission. I can conceive of no reason for disturbing this state of 'affairs. Run-ners, however, were despatched at midnight, and the Indians recqlled. A council was held and the form of a treaty (to be found with the accompanying papers) negotiated. It is evident that the terns of this negotiation cannot be accepted by the government, and that,iu its present form, it ought not to be ratified. The first article provides that the leaders of this outbreak shall be exonerated from pnnishment. To this I do not strenuously object, as their punishment is, per-haps, in this instance, not necessary to secure future peace. The second article is grossly unjust to the white settlers, who, in many instances, have, by these depredations, lost all their possessions. The third article contains provisions wholly at variance with ~recedenta nd law, inasmuch as it ~rovidesfo r an in-vestigation of the depredations committed by the Indians, and of tbeir complaints against the government, by a commission entirely independent of the Interior Department, either in its appointment or in a Supe~iSiOna nd concurrence in its finding. That the government is prepared thus to surrender its legitimate and constitntional control of Indian affairs, I am unprepared to believe. For my views as to the extent to wliich I consider this treaty binding upon this depart-ment, I respectfullyrefer to my letter to General Pope, to be found among the accompanying papers. These troubles, which I feel that I have very imperfectly described, (and more especially so as to tlre Sioux,) have naturally produced the most intense excite- ' mentin the minds of the peopleof Minpesota, which, itis to be feared, will add much |