President Lincoln and the Sioux Indian uprising in Minnesota in 1862

[David Lockmiller]

I did some additional research of New York Times articles published at the time.

THE INDIAN EXECUTIONS.
New York Times Published: December 12, 1862

We have this morning a message from President LINCOLN to the Senate in relation to the thirty-nine Minnesota Indians whom he has ordered to be executed one week from to-day. The President was anxious not to act with so much clemency as to encourage another outbreak of the savages, nor with a degree of severity which should be real cruelty, and therefore at first ordered only the execution of such Indians as "had been proved guilty of violating females;" but only two of this class were found. He then directed that out of the three hundred condemned men, such should be selected as were proved to have participated in massacres as distinguished from participation in battles. These amounted to forty, (including the two of the first-class,) but as one of them had been strongly recommended to mercy, he ordered that only thirty-nine should suffer the death penalty, and has dispatched a messenger to Gen. SIBLEY, in Minnesota, with a copy of the order.

From the statements at first made in regard to these Indian troubles in Minnesota, we favored a policy of even greater clemency than the President has adopted; but the evidence since published, reveals atrocities on the part of the savages so inexcusable, cold-blooded and shocking, that we cannot differ from the decision the President has made after his perusal of that evidence.

We have received information, also, from a gentleman whose statements and proofs seem to be beyond dispute, that the massacres of the settlers which were begun in Minnesota in August and September last, were only part of a grand scheme of frontier butcheries which had been organized under the auspices of JEFF. DAVIS by ALBERT PIKE, and which were intended to extend along the whole Western line from Minnesota to Arkansas.

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(06-01-2017 05:24 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(05-31-2017 10:10 PM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  In 1864, Minnesota Governor Ramsey told President Lincoln that if he had executed all 303 Indians, he would have won more backing for his reelection bid. “I could not afford to hang men for votes," came the reply.

I agree, David. In his diary, on December 4, 1862, Gideon Welles wrote, "The Members of Congress from Minnesota are urging the President vehemently to give his assent to the execution of three hundred Indian captives, but they will not succeed."

Thank you for this information, Roger. If I should be contacted by the New York Times regarding setting the historical record straight on this issue, I shall certainly make them aware of this diary statement made by the Secretary of Navy, Gideon Welles. I especially liked the "they will not succeed" part.