Other objects. Representative instructed. Governor instructed. in 1858 by the Ponca Indians, including a portion of the valleys of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers, and all the valley of the White river, together with the country in the neighborhood of and embracing the Black hills. This region is believed to abound in mineral wealth, and portions of it are well timbered with pine and other valuable forest trees, rendering it in consequence of the scarcity of timber and fuel in the territory already ceded- of almost vital importance to the future of Dakota. At present, these Indians are a formidable barrier to any further advance into this interesting part of the public domain. The cession of their lands to the United States would at once open the door to the gold fields of the north-west, and the pine regions of the tributaries of the Upper Missouri. It will also open the shortest and most practicable thoroughfare leading from all the North-Western states to the western slope of the Rocky mountains. Your memorialists entreat your prompt attention to the subject, confidently believing that the interests of the general government and the people of the North-West will be greatly subserved by an early treaty with these Indians. And we shall ever pray. Be it resolved by the council and house of representatives of the Territory of Dakota, That our delegate in congress be and is hereby requested to use all honorable means to bring this subject to the favorable consideration of the Interior Department. And be it resolved further, That his Excellency Governor William Jayne, superintendent of Indian Affairs for Dakota Territory, be and hereby is respectfully requested to urge the subject upon the attention of the Indian Department. Approved May 12, 1862. W. JAYNE, Governor. CHAPTER 100. A MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS ASKING FOR A TREATY TO BE To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in Con gress assembled. for. Your memorialists of the legislative assembly of the Terri-Treaty asked tory of Dakota, would respectfully represent the importance and necessity of a treaty being made with the Chippewa Indians of Red lake and Pembina on the Red river of the North. Development Of the necessary safety in transporting The importance of such a treaty is quite apparent to your of country. memorialists when they consider that it has been the policy of the general government to encourage the march of empire in its westward course, and, especially, when it is self-evident to them that, by the formation of such a treaty, a beautiful tract of country, which cannot be surpassed for a fertile and exuberant soil, will be opened for settlement, and speedily developed. Your memorialists would also represent that inasmuch as the Hudson Bay Company have for the past two years goods to British nearly abandoned their route via Hudson's bay, using the possessions, &c. route via St. Paul, Minnesota, to their settlement, they believe it a matter of vast importance to the commercial interests of the West, that protection be afforded to those engaged in transporting goods from the city of St. Paul and other cities on the Mississippi river, to the British settlements on Red river, and also that protection ought to be afforded to our own citizens engaged in conveying goods to the northern part of the territory. obstructed. And your memorialists would further represent, that the Navigation aforesaid tribe of Indians have endeavored during the past summer to prevent the navigation of the Red river, by taking possession of the steamboat Anson Northrup, when moored at the town of Pembina, for the purpose of changing the United States mail, and that said tribe of Indians have, by numerous threats made during the past winter, exhibited such a spirit of hostility against the use of their country for a On reasonable terms. thoroughfare for transportation, that little hope can be reasonably entertained for the continuance of said route, unless the Indian title to the country be extinguished and the Indians removed therefrom. And, finally, your memorialists believing that a treaty for the purchase of their lands can be effected on very reasonable terms, do earnestly hope that a government, ever watchful for the real interest of this new territory and the safety of the people, will use every possible means to protect and encourage the enterprising and intrepid pioneers of that portion of the territory. For which your memorialists will ever pray. Approved April 26, 1862. W. JAYNE, Governor. MAIL ROUTES.. Route asked 'for, and benefits. CHAPTER 101. A MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A To the Congress of the United States: The legislature of the Territory of Dakota would respectfully represent, that a great inducement for immigration and settlement in a new country, is the early establishment of mail routes and postal facilities. That affording the pioneer direct and accessible mail facilities with the East, removes one of the greatest privations experienced by the early settlers, and induces others to join him in making the Western coun try their home. That although mail routes in sparsely settled communities may not pay in a pecuniary sense, yet the gov ernment may be doubly paid by the more speedy settlement and advancement of the country. And your memorialists would more especially call the attention of your honorable body to the fact that, at present, there is no mail connection between Minnesota and Southern Dakota; and that it is of the greatest importance to the future growth and development of south-western Minnesota, the Big Sioux valley, and the Missouri river country, that direct communications by mail be established, connecting the two sections. And they would further represent, that a large portion of Other benefits. the country lying between Mankato and the settlements on the Missouri, in Dakota Territory, is within convenient acceptable mail facilities; and that thereby the settlers of those regions have not the means of communication with the East; and that the settlement and advancement of that country is impaired and retarded. It is further believed that, were postal facilities established, connecting these two sections by way of the proposed route, that it would have great inducement and attractions, and great advantages over any other route leading into the territory; and in view of the prospect of the rapid settlement of the rich agricultural lands in southwestern Minnesota and Southern Dakota, and of the prospective rush of immigration, at a very early period, to the mineral region of the latter, just west of the Missouri, known as the Black hills; and in view of the fact that Fort Randall is gaining importance as a distributing and outfit[ting] post for those vast regions up the Missouri, the Black hills, the Pacific, via South pass, and the Niobrara or Running Water river; and that it is to be a starting-point for a Pacific mail route (as by schedule for the next mail letting); and in view of the fact that a large portion of the emigration which has already gone into the territory, has gone by this route, the evidence is conclusive that it is the natural thoroughfare. Therefore, your memorialists, the legislature of the Terri- Same. tory of Dakota, would most urgently ask for the immediate. establishment of a daily connection by mail, to be carried by first class conveyances, connecting Fort Randall, on the Missouri, with the nearest navigable waters in Minnesota, at Mankato; or the continuation, in fact, of route number thir teen thousand five hundred and seventy-seven (13,577) from And your memorialists will ever pray. W. JAYNE, Governor. Route asked for, and benefits. CHAPTER 102. MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS FOR A MAIL ROUTE FROM SIOUX To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the The memorial of the legislative assembly of the Territory of Dakota respectfully represents, that the convenience and interests of a respectable portion of the population of Southern Dakota Territory demand the establishment of a mail route from Sioux Falls city to Vermilion. That the distance between said points is about fifty-five miles; that the route is practicable, and may be travelled without serious difficulty at all seasons of the year; that without such mail route a large settlement on the Missouri river in this territory will be destitute of a direct communication with Sioux Falls city, and important points in Southern Minnesota. Your memorialists would therefore pray your honorable bodies to establish a mail route as above, and that the mail be transferred at least once per week. Approved April 5, 1862. W. JAYNE, Governor. |