valley of the Red river of the North; and, whereas, the expenditure of said appropriation has been delayed, causing great discouragement among the settlers, thus retarding the development of a country rich in natural resources: Therefore your memorialists do earnestly petition that such fort may be constructed at an early date, at some point within the territory on the Pembina river.
The urgent necessity of the immediate building and garrisoning of such a fort will appear still more obvious, when the fact is considered that a bitter feud has long existed between the Chippewa and Sioux Indians, the Red river of the North being the only barrier between these contending tribes, and, in the absence of an armed force to prevent hostilities between these tribes, it is rendered extremely dangerous for our citizens to use the Red river of the North as a thoroughfare for the transportation of merchandise and mails.
Your memorialists would further represent that they do not deem it necessary for them to enlarge upon the importance of keeping open a line of communication between St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Red river settlements, as they have heretofore memorialized the congress of the United States upon that subject, in connection with a request that a treaty be made with the Chippewa Indians of Pembina and Red lake; and your memorialists would now represent that unless said treaty is formed and a fort erected and occupied in the vicinity of Pembina, the peace of the country will be endangered and the prosperity of this flourishing territory seriously impeded: for it is not an unfrequent occurrence that white settlers have been deprived of their property by these bands of Indians, and many of them, in the thinly settled portions of the Red river valley, have been inhumanly butchered by these predatory bands of Indians.
Finally, your memorialists will conclude by representing that incalculable advantages will be derived by this territory, if protection is only afforded to the tide of immigration now steadily advancing towards British America.
For which your memorialists will ever pray, &c.
- Approved April 80, 1862.
