Danbury Times

INDIAN TROUBLES IN WISCONSIN.

The following is an extract of a letter from a correspondent of the St. Louis Bulletin, (Missouri.) It relates to a highly censurable neglect on the part of our Government, relative to the late treaty with the Sacs and Foxes.

Catteese, July 4th, 1837.—The pecuniary embarrassments of our national government are likely to affect most grievously the report of this frontier, in stirring up the Indians to acts of hostility. I will explain. By the treaty of 1832, in which the Sacs and Foxes ceded their lands bordering on the Mississippi to the United States, generally known as the Black Hawk Purchase, government pledged itself to pay them $20,000 annually, in specie, and to furnish them with a certain quantity of tobacco and salt. In the treaty of 1836, ceding the Ioway reserve, similar stipulations were made. Hitherto government has faithfully performed its contracts, and the Indians have been perfectly satisfied, and of course friendly towards their white neighbors.

This year they repaired to Rock Island, in June, as usual, to the number of four hundred, to receive their annuity, amounting to $20,000 on the Black Hawk purchase, $30,000 on the Ioway Reserve, and $7,000 under former treaties, together with 40 kegs of tobacco and 40 barrels of salt. In the Ioway treaty (last year) was also a provision, binding the United States to furnish $10,000 worth of horses, to be ready at Rock Island at the same time. Judge of their surprise, on reaching Rock Island, to find that no preparations had been made to receive them, and that not even the agent was there. A gentleman present, at his own risk, chartered a steamboat to proceed to Prairie du Chien, the residence of General Street, the agent, and urge his immediate attendance. General Street replied that it was needless to go down, as government had provided no means of paying the annuity. He however returned in the boat, and attempted to explain to the Indians the cause of the delinquency, arising from the suspension of specie payments by the banks. The chiefs replied that the President had promised them the specie—said that they had been told that it was all his, and that he could pay them if he chose.

The agent further attempted to explain, but could not satisfy them. "Well, where is the tobacco and salt, and where are the horses for our summer hunts?" said they. Unfortunately these had not been provided, and the disappointment of the Indians was manifested by mutterings, long and strong. Gen. Street offered to accompany them to St. Louis, to see Captain Hitchcock, the disbursing agent, and satisfy them that this money would soon be paid. Twenty of the chiefs and head men repaired thither with him accordingly; they however, obtained nothing, and returned in the steamboat Pavilion, passing Oquauka on Saturday last, where I then was.

Do not be surprised if something serious should grow out of this. Mr. Phelps, of Oquauka, who knows the Indians as well as any man living on the Mississippi, told me he had never known them so highly inflamed without breaking out into open hostility. Indeed they have already committed some depredations on Shunk river, (below Burlington) by driving off 2 or 3 white families; and they have also killed some cattle belonging to settlers on the Ioway, near where I now write you.

Should it be asked, why does not the government take the specie from the land offices and pay the Indians? I reply, it has no specie in those offices, or comparatively none : it was deposited in the banks before the late suspension of specie payments; and can now no more be obtained by the government than it can be obtained by private individuals.

I have written you this letter, in order that should a frontier war grow out of this affair, the cause of it may be properly understood.