333 



Menominee Indians, which was early ratified by the Senate, gave us the 

 last Indian reservation ; and with it an earnest that the northern part 

 of Wisconsin would be speedly opened to the wants of settlers, and 

 that the tribe making the cession would long before this time have left 

 our borders. This just expectation has, however, been defeated. It is 

 a question, pertinent to the citizen, and one which demands the profound 

 attention of the Legislative and Executive Departments of the State, 

 why has the law of the land — the Treaty of 1848, not been complied 

 with, and the Menomonee Indians removed to Crow Wing River ? And 

 further, by what. authority, and in pursuance of what and whose policy 

 is it now attempted to recede twelve townships of the most valuable 

 part of that cession back to that tribe, and to locate and re-establish, 

 them at Lake Shawauno ? It is respectfully submitted for the consider- 

 ation of the law makers and the Executive Authorit}'- of the State, 

 whether, on the ratification of the treaty with the Menominee Indians of 

 October, 1848, by the Senate of the United States, the jurisdiction of 

 Wisconsin did not immediately become complete over all the country 

 described in that cession? And if so, what authority, short of that of 

 * this State, can undertake to locate an Indian tribe within its borders ? 



Such, however, has been attempted by the Agents of the Indian De- 

 partment ; a tract of twelve townships of the best land in the State has 

 been attempted to be set off near Lake Shawauno, on the Wolf river, as a 

 home for the Menominee Indians, in violation of the rights of many of 

 our citizens — of solemn treaty stipulation — of the jurisdiction of the State 

 of Wisconsin — besides being all a fraud on the poor Indians themselves, 

 who it is manifest can have no permanent resting place there ; our settle- 

 ments, having already, since the ratification of the treaty, preceded the 

 pretended reservation ! 



Northern Wisconsin is deeply injured by this proceeding, and wishes 

 her Government to protect itself from insult, and its citizens, whether many 

 or few in number, from this wrong attempted to be inflicted on them in 

 the name of the United States Indian Department. 



In the foregoing, allusion is had to the policy of the National Govern- 

 ment. I now beg leave to speak of some acts and doings of our local 

 State Government. 



It is the plain duty of every Government, to protect the weak as well as 

 the strong ; indeed, the strong being able to protect themselves, Govern- 



