USA > North Dakota > Early history of North Dakota: essential outlines of American history > Part 32
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and the wagon roads and railways were blockaded. Scores of people returning from market perished in the western part of Minnesota, some within ten rods of their homes, which they were unable to locate.
GRASSHOPPERS AND MOSQUITOES
In the Selkirk Colony in 1818, "in waves of silver drifting on to harvest" apparently, rolled the grain. But one bright day the sun was suddenly darkened, a cloud resting over the land, but it soon settled down and proved to be caused by myriads of grasshoppers. They completely destroyed every green thing. The trees were stripped of their leaves and the branches of the green bark. The fields were as barren of vegetation as though swept by flame. Along the water's edge by the river the grasshoppers lay in rows, where swept by the waves, from four to nine inches in depth. The stench from them was sickening. The next year they again appeared in increased numbers, having been hatched on the ground. Seventeen years prior to this time they had appeared in even greater numbers, as recorded by Captain Henry, then interested in trading at Pembina.
They visited the Missouri Slope in 1858 and 1873. In the Red River Valley in 1873 they drifted on the railroad track and were crushed on the rails to such an extent that it was necessary to sand the track before the trains could move.
The mosquitoes were almost unbearable in the timber and the valleys. Maj. Samuel Woods speaks of them, and of the terrific thunder storms and the condi- tion of the prairies, in his report of his expedition to the Red River Valley.
His expedition left Fort Snelling June 6th, and arrived at Pembina August I, 1849. They left Pembina on their return trip August 26th, and reached Fort Snelling September 18, 1849. They were fifty-seven days going up and twenty- three returning. It rained much of the time on the way up, and on their arrival at Pembina there was a rise of twenty feet and the river was out of its banks. The teams mired on the open prairie, and though they waited nearly four weeks at Pembina they were obliged to give up on account of the roads a con- templated trip to the Pembina Mountains. Even the thickly matted turf of the prairie would not support the weight of the wagons.
On the rainy days they had the most terrific thunder storms, when the rain would fall in torrents and the heavens were in a flare of light and "thunder broke over us appallingly," wrote Major Woods. They were driven from the timber by the mosquitoes, and being on the high, open prairie, "the thunder broke over us in such smashing explosions that for two hours our position was torturing beyond description. Many left their tents and stood out regardless of the pelting rain, nor was this an idle or unreasonable apprehension, for only a few days before we had the thunder bolt amongst us in its dire effects, and we knew our camp was the most probable object if there was another stray one at leisure." Only a few days before the camp had been struck by lightning and Lieutenant Nelson had been seriously injured.
THE RODMAN WANAMAKER EXPEDITION
In the fall of 1914 Dr. Joseph E. Dixon headed an expedition to carry the United States flag and the greetings of the President to the Indian nations. The
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expedition was organized by Rodman Wanamaker, and was accompanied by Indian Inspector James McLaughlin and Edward W. Deming, the noted artist. The speeches of President Wilson and Secretary Lane were carried by phono- graph and were as follows :
President Woodrow Wilson: "The Great White Father now calls you his 'brothers,' not his 'children.' Because you have shown in your education and in your settled ways of life stanch, manly, worthy qualities of sound character, the nation is about to give you distinguished recognition through the erection of a monument in honor of the Indian people in the harbor of New York. The erection of that monument will usher in that day which Thomas Jefferson said he would rejoice to see, 'when the red men become truly one people with us, enjoying all the rights and privileges we do, and living in peace and plenty.' I rejoice to foresee that day."
Secretary Lane of the Interior Department: "I have been chosen by the Big Chief in the White House to sit up and watch, to keep the wolves as far away from you as I can. You know that I stand here as the voice and with the hand of the great man in the White House. He loves to do justice above all things. He will do justice to you."
Rodman Wanamaker, founder of the expedition: "These sacred ceremo- nies, begun at Fort Wadsworth, and now completed on your own Indian ground, will strengthen in your hearts the feeling of allegiance and loyalty to your country, to be eternally sealed as a covenant in the national Indian memo- rial, to stand forever as the pledge of a new life and peace everlasting."
Doctor Dixon spoke in person: "The flag is more than a piece of colored bunting. The red stripe in its folds is symbolized by the red blood in your veins and mine, by the red glow in the sunset, by the red in your ceremonial pipe.
"The white stripe finds a symbol in the white cloud that floats in the sky, in the white snow that drifts across the plains, in the purest thought that goes from your heart to the Great Mystery.
"The field of blue with the white stars you may see every clear night as you look into the great dome above your heads.
"It is the only flag in the world that takes the heaven and earth and man to symbolize. This makes out of it an eternal flag, and we ought to be eternally loyal to it.
"I. therefore dedicate the American flag to justice, mercy and fair play to the North American Indian."
The idea of interesting the Indian in citizenship and loyalty to the flag was the prime object of the expedition. Many of the wards of the government had had no understanding previously of what the flag meant, and a large number had seldom seen it except when raised on their reservation.
In order to give the red men a deeper interest in the emblem and its signifi- cance, two flags were carried each time a tribe was visited. One of these flags was the one raised at the Fort Wadsworth services. The other was presented for the use of the tribe. The ceremonies attending this presentation were always made impressive, following as nearly as possible those held in New York.
What this flag came to mean to the Indian, after its significance had been explained to him, might be gathered from the fact that the Taos Pueblos in New
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Mexico voted that the flag should be preserved with two canes which were given to the tribe by Abraham Lincoln and which are handed down from generation to generation.
Doctor Dixon explained to those he visited that the white man wished to be more friendly to the red man; that he wanted to treat him more as a brother and offer to him greater opportunities.
Then the allegiance signed by representatives of the thirty-two tribes and attested by President Taft was presented for their signatures. The chiefs and old men of the tribes were always called on to take part in the various features of the rites. The signatures were both by pen and by thumb print.
Following is the allegiance: "We, the undersigned representatives of vari- ous Indian tribes of the United States, through our presence and the part we have taken in the inauguration of this memorial to our people, renew our allegiance to the glorious flag of the United States, and offer our hearts to our country's service. We greatly appreciate the honor and privilege extended by our white brothers, who have recognized us by inviting us to participate in the ceremonies on this historical occasion.
"The Indian is fast losing his identity in the face of the great waves of Caucasian civilization which are extending to the four winds of this country, and we want fuller knowledge in order that we may take our places in the civilization which surrounds us.
"Though a conquered race, with our right hands extended in brotherly love and our left hands holding the pipe of peace, we hereby bury all past ill feelings, and proclaim abroad to all the nations of the world our firm allegiance to this nation and to the Stars and Stripes, and declare that henceforth and forever in all walks of life and every field of endeavor we shall be as brothers, striving hand in hand, and will return to our people and tell them the story of this memorial and urge upon them their continued allegiance to our common country."
The original signers of this document were: Plenty Coos, White Man Runs Him, Medicine Crown, Two Moons, Red Hawk, Edward Swan, Shoulderblade, Red Cloud, Big Mane, Drags Wolf, Little Wolf, Richard Wallace, Frank Schively, Louis Baker, Black Wolf, Wooden Leg, Milton Whiteman, Willis Rowland, John P. Young, Reuben Estes, Henry Leeds, Reginald Oshkosh, Rob- ert Summer Yellowtail, Many Chiefs, Chapman Schanandoah, Angus P. McDon- ald, Tennyson Berry, Mitchell Waukean, Peter Deanoine, Deanoine, Delos K. Lonewolf and Joseph Packineau.
It is estimated that the Indian memorial which Mr. Wanamaker has started in New York Harbor will cost approximately one million dollars. The top will be a large statue of an Indian. The base will be a museum in which will be an art gallery replete with pictures of North American aborigines. Also animals of the chase, weapons and various sorts of articles used by the Indians will be placed there.
It is planned to make this the most complete museum of Indian life in existence. Authentic books on this race will be one of the features which it will embrace, as well as a history, which will be preserved there in such a manner that if any great calamity ever befell this country these records would be left
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intact so that anyone coming after might find them and thus learn the history of these early Americans.
Mr. Wanamaker first became interested in the North American Indian through Doctor Dixon. He explained to Doctor Dixon that he wished to do something for his country. The latter replied that he might well take up the case of the Indian. Doctor Dixon became interested in the red man seventeen years ago while out West on a reservation. He saw that the ideas he had gath- ered from books concerning the Indian were not true to life. This was the start of a study of them.
Doctor Dixon is high in his praise of Mr. Wanamaker, saying he "is more than a philanthropist. He is a patriot in every sense of the word. He wants to convert the heroism of yesterday into the inspiration of today."
The Iroquois Indians adopted Doctor Dixon into their tribe, naming him "Flying Sunshine," from the speed with which he traveled and the messages of good cheer which he brought to them.
The expedition gathered many Indian relics, many drawings and paintings of Indian life and by phonograph many Indian songs and speeches.
WILLIAM JAYNE First Territorial Governor.
CHAPTER XVIII
DAKOTA TERRITORY
CREATION OF DAKOTA TERRITORY-STEPS LEADING UP TO THE LEGISLATION-ACTIVI- TIES OF CAPTAIN TODD AND ASSOCIATES-THE BILL REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES-PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT-THE HOMESTEAD LAW-VETOED BY BUCHANAN-PASSED BY THE NEXT CONGRESS- APPROVED BY LINCOLN-THE ORGANIC ACT OF DAKOTA, APPROVED BY BUCHANAN.
THE DAKOTA BILLS
Bills were introduced in the Thirty-fifth Congress by Senator Graham A. Fitch of Indiana, and Alexander H. Stevens of Georgia, for the creation of Dakota Territory, but failed to receive consideration beyond reference to the proper committees.
The Thirty-sixth Congress convened December 5, 1859. A short time before its meeting, Capt. John B. S. Todd and Gen. Daniel M. Frost, who had been in Washington in the interest of Dakota Territorial Organization, made urgent appeals to the people of Dakota to hold meetings and formulate petitions for the organization of the territory.
Meetings were accordingly held at Yankton and Vermilion, November 8, 1859. Downer T. Bramble was president and Moses K. Armstrong secretary of the Yankton meeting. Gen. Daniel M. Frost of St. Louis, was present and urged a strong memorial to Congress. Capt. John B. S. Todd, Obed Foote and Thomas S. Frick were members of the committee on resolutions, George D. Fiske, James M. Stone and Capt. John B. S. Todd were appointed a committee to draft a memorial. Joseph R. Hanson, John Stanage, Henry Arend, Horace T. Bailey, Enos Stutsman, J. S. Presho, George Pike, Jr., Frank Chapell, Charles F. Picotte, Felix Le Blanc and Lytle M. Griffith were present.
The memorial formulated and adopted at this meeting was also adopted by the meeting at Vermilion,-at the house of James McHenry-of which J. D. Denton was chairman and James McHenry secretary, Doctors Caulkins and Whitmers and Samuel Mortimer were appointed a committee on resolutions. The meeting adopted the Yankton Memorial, which was signed by 428 citizens of Dakota, and was presented to Congress by Capt. John B. S. Todd at its meeting in December.
A bill was introduced in Congress early in December, 1859, by Senator Henry M. Rice, of Minnesota, but when brought up for consideration the slavery ques- tion being involved, the bill was tabled, and no further action was taken at that session. Congress adjourned June 20, 1860.
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A second convention was held at Yankton, January 15, 1861, in response to the urgent appeals of Captain Todd, who was then in Washington and another memorial was forwarded bearing 478 signatures, comprising practically all of the citizens of Dakota.
A bill was pending in the House providing for the admission of a delegate to Congress under the Sioux Falls organization and for the creation of the office of surveyor-general. This bill was bitterly antagonized by Galusha A. Grow, who claimed that organization was no more entitled to respect than a vigilance committee ; at the same time stating that he was in favor of the organization of a territorial form of government for Dakota and that in due time a bill would be reported for that purpose.
February 15, 1861, Senator James S. Green reported from the Senate Com- mittee on Territories, Senate Bill 562, for the creation of the Territory of Dakota ; also the bill for the creation of the Territory of Nevada. The bill was made a special order for the next day. On February 26th, it was called up by Senator Green and passed without objection. March Ist, Mr. Grow called up the bill in the House, moved the previous question, which was seconded and the bill passed without debate and without opposition. The bill was approved by Presi- dent James Buchanan on March 2, 1861. Its companion bill, Nevada, was passed and approved at the same time. The Arizona and Colorado bills were passed at the same session, the four, largely through the masterly management of Galusha A. Grow, the father of the Homestead Law.
THE HOMESTEAD LAW
The agitation for the Homestead Law commenced in 1846. In the Thirty- sixth Congress it was introduced in the Senate by Senator Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, Senate Bill No. I, and carried to a successful issue by Mr. Johnson in the Senate and Mr. Grow in the House, January 20, 1860, but was vetoed by President Buchanan, January 22, 1860, on the theory that Congress had no right to give away public property. The bill was reintroduced at the second session of the Thirty-sixth Congress, passed in the Thirty-seventh Congress and approved May 20, 1862, by President Abraham Lincoln.
Captain Todd has been mentioned frequently in previous chapters. It will be remembered that he resigned his commission in the United States army to become identified with D. M. Frost & Co., or Frost, Todd & Company, as it was for a time called, in the fur trade.
Gen. Daniel Marsh Frost, a general in the Missouri State Militia and in the Confederate army, 1861-5, was a native of New York, appointed to the mili- tary academy in 1840 and commissioned a lieutenant in the United States army, resigning in 1853 to engage in trade. He was the head of the firm bearing his name, with headquarters at St. Louis, where he died, October 29, 1900.
Next to General Frost and captain, afterwards general, John B. S. Todd, Dakota is indebted to Senator James S. Green and Galusha A. Grow for its organization as a territory.
Senator James S. Green was born in Virginia, moved to Alabama and then to Missouri, where he commenced the practice of law at Canton in that state. He was a presidential elector on the Polk and Dallas ticket in 1844 and elected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses; was charge d'affairs to Colombia
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in 1853 and appointed minister to Colombia, but did not present his credentials. He was elected to the United States Senate for the term commencing March 4, 1855, and served to March 3, 1861. He died at St. Louis, January 19, 1870.
Galusha A. Grow, a representative from Pennsylvania, was a native of Con- necticut, admitted to practice law in 1847, elected to the Thirty-second, Thirty- third and Thirty-fourth congresses as a free soil democrat and to the Thirty- fifth, Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh congresses as a republican. He was speaker of the House in 1857, and in the Thirty-seventh Congress. He was re-elected to the Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth and Fifty- seventh congresses, declining a renomination. He died March 31, 1907, at Scranton, Pa. The Homestead Law was the crowning achievement of his political life.
Rev. John P. Williamson, mentioned in connection with the Sioux, states that the word Dakota, in the Sioux language means friends or allies, the Dakota nation being a nation of friends; that Minnesota might be translated hazy water, not muddy water as held by some, nor many waters, as translated by others; that the Sioux name for the Missouri River was Minne-sho-she, meaning muddy water, and from the mouth of the Yellowstone to its confluence with the Missis- sippi, it justifies that name.
Dakota Territory, as created, extended from the Red River of the north and the western boundary of Minnesota, to the eastern boundary of Washington and Oregon. It included all of Montana and most of Idaho, embracing 350,000 square miles, containing, according to the census of 1860, a white population (including mixed bloods) of 2,376, of whom 1,606 were in Pembina County.
March 3, 1863, the Territory of Idaho was created, extending from the twenty-seventh degree of longitude west from Washington, to the eastern boun- dary of Washington and Oregon, and May 26, 1864, Montana was created from Idaho Territory, and at the same time the Black Hills region and the greater part of Wyoming, including the Wind River and Big Horn country, was attached to Dakota Territory. Wyoming Territory was created July 25, 1868, and a part of Dakota was later attached to Nebraska, leaving a territory of approximately 149,000 square miles.
In Minnesota territorial days, Blue Earth County embraced nearly all of South Dakota. Pembina County was directly north of Blue Earth County, tak- ing in all of the present North Dakota, part of South Dakota, extending east to Rainy Lake and Lake Winnipegoosis, taking in about one-third of Minnesota Territory.
In 1856 Pembina County was the Seventh Legislative District in Minnesota Territory and was represented by Joseph Rolette in the Council and R. Carlisle Burdick in the House of Representatives.
Blue Earth County was in the Tenth Legislative District and was repre- sented in the Council by Charles E. Flandrau and Parsons K. Johnson, and by Aurelius F. de la Vergue and George A. McLeod in the House of Representa- tives. In 1857 P. P. Humphrey was elected to the Council, Joseph R. Brown, Francis R. Baasen and O. A. Thomas to the House of Representatives. In the Seventh District Joseph Rolette was returned to the Council; Charles Grant and John B. Wilkie were elected to the House of Representatives.
In the Minnesota Constitutional Convention, the Seventh District was rep- resented by James McFetridge, J. P. Wilson, J. Jerome, Xavier Cautell, Joseph
.
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Rolette and Louis Wasseur. The Tenth District was represented by Joseph R. Brown, Charles E. Flandran, Francis Baasen, William B. McMahon and J. H. Swan.
The Organic Act of Dakota is as follows:
AN ACT TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT FOR THE TERRITORY OF DAKOTA, AND TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF SURVEYOR GENERAL THEREIN.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all that part of the territory of the United States included within the following limits, namely : commencing at a point in the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the forty-ninth degree of north latitude crosses the same; thence up the main channel of the same, and along the boundary of the State of Minnesota, to Big Stone Lake; thence along the boundary line of the said State of Minnesota to the Iowa line; thence along the boundary line of the State of Iowa to the point of intersection between the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers; thence up the Missouri River, and along the boundary line of the Territory of Nebraska, to the mouth of the Niobrara or Running Water River; thence following up the same, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the mouth of the Keha Paha or Turtle Hill River; thence up said river to the forty-third parallel of north latitude; thence due west to the present boundary of the Territory of Washington; thence along the boundary line of Washington Territory, to the forty-ninth degree of north latitude; thence east, along said forty-ninth degree of north latitude, to the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby, organ- ized into a temporary government, by the name of the Territory of Dakota : Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to impair the rights of person or property now pertaining to the Indians in said Territory, so long as such rights shall remain unextinguished by treaty between the United States and such Indians, or to include any territory which, by treaty with any Indian tribe, is not, without the consent of said tribe, to be included within the territorial limits or jurisdiction of any State or Territory ; but all such territory shall be excepted out of the boundaries and constitute no part of the Territory of Dakota, until said tribe shall signify their assent to the President of the United States to be included within the said Territory, or to affect the authority of the Government of the United States to make any regulations respecting such Indians, their lands, property, or other rights, by treaty, law, or otherwise, which it would have been competent for the Government to make if this act had never passed: Provided, further, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to inhibit the Government of the United States from dividing said Territory into two or more Territories, in such manner and at such times as Congress shall deem convenient and proper, or from attaching any portion thereof to any other Territory or State.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the executive power and authority in and over said Territory of Dakota, shall be vested in a governor, who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The governor shall reside within said Territory, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia thereof, shall perform the duties and receive the emoluments of
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superintendent of Indian affairs, and shall approve all laws passed by the legislative assembly before they shall take effect; he may grant pardons for offences against the laws of said Territory, and reprieves for offences against the laws of the United States until the decision of the President can be made known thereon; he shall commission all officers who shall be appointed to office under the laws of said Territory, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be a secretary of said Territory, who shall reside therein, and hold his office for four years, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States; he shall record and preserve all the laws and proceedings of the legislative assembly hereinafter constituted, and all the acts and proceedings of the governor, in his executive department ; he shall transmit one copy of the laws, and one copy of the execu- tive proceedings, on or before the first day of December in each year, to the President of the United States, and, at the same time, two copies of the laws to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, for the use of Congress; and in case of the death, removal, or resignation, or other necessary absence of the governor from the Territory, the secretary shall have, and he is hereby authorized and required, to execute and perform all the powers and duties of the governor during such vacancy or necessary absence, or until another governor shall be duly appointed to fill such vacancy.
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