is a screw loose in the public machinery somewhere. In 1827 we were promised $48,000 for the Indian service, and got $30,000; in 1828 $40,000, and got $25,000.” A little later the Secretary of War himself writes: “Our annual appropriation has not yet passed; and when it will, I am sure I cannot tell.”
Tn 1830 the all-engrossing topic of Congress is said to be “the removal of the Indians. It occupies the public mind throughout the Union, and petitions and remonstrances are pouring in without number.”
Meantime the Indians were warring among themselves, and also retaliating on the white settlers who encroached upon their lands. The inevitable conflict had began in earnest, and in September of 1832 the Winnebagoes were compelled to make their first great cession of territory to the United States. In exchange for it they accepted a tract west of the Mississippi, and before the 1st of June, 1833, most of those who were living on the ceded lands had crossed the river to their new homes. Their title to this new country was not so good as they probably supposed, for the treaty expressly stated that it was granted to them “to be held as other Indian lands are held.”
Article three of this treaty said, “As the country hereby ceded by the Winnebagoes is more extensive and valuable than that given by the United States in exchange,” the United States would pay to the Winnebagoes $10,000 annually in specie for twenty-seven years. The Government also promised to put up buildings for them, send teachers, make various allowances for stock, implements, tobacco, etc., and to furnish them with a doctor.
The Winnebagoes agreed to deliver up some of their number who had murdered white settlers. Lands were granted by patent to four Winnebagoes by name—two men and two women; for what reason, does not appear in the treaty.
