Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-10

those people from having their tbroats cui.
But what did the Representatives orthe from
tier people III this House say ? WHY, that
they had rather not have the revenue applied,
for their relief 4,,ey dcprecate your protc.-
ton, said Mr.. r. and endeavor To stave OF
your defence of them.
The question on recommlment of this bill
to a committee Of the whole, was then pct and
carried and then,
On motion of Mr.. Smith of MARYLAND. the
House immediately resolved into committee
of the whole on said bill, Mr.. WILSON in the
chair.
Mr.. CHAMBERS moved TO insert, after the
words g for the current expenses of the Indian
Department, y the words IS including def
cit of $4,000 of the appropriation ror that
object IN the year 1891 "-S10O,000.
MIR. SMITH remarked that the adoption OF
this amendment would save the committee Of
Ways and Means great deal of trouble
Mr. 5. then required to the letter of the Sc
cretary of War to show that 'he amount asked
for, however convenient il might be 10 cover
deficit was not solicited for that purpose.
Ii the House should feel that they We're suiii-
clently informed ON the subject to justify an
unsolicited appropriation he did not feel Ia
cined to oppose it--especiaIly as he beliey-
ed 1t woald be faithfully applied, if applied at
all. Mr. >. then took general view uf The ST.
tuation OF our Indian affairs, in relation tn the
several subjects of annuities, trade, CT LIZA
ton, &c. ard showed that The bill under con
slderation was not affected by them, its object
being totally dssmi'ar and distinct. An inn
portant item IN this disbursement appeared to
be The rations that We're furnished i'm making
the Indian treaties as alluded 10 Yesterday by
the gentleman from Ohlu, OR. Ross.) The
Secretary OF War had endeayorrd In control
tins expenditure But his efforts had not hi
therto been successful During the admins
tration Of Mr.. Jefferson those expenses had
been kept within proper bounds. After ms
retirement the expenses of the Department
were increased, from time to time, and il now
required time and effort to eradicate the evil
III was always work OF more difficulty TO re-
trench than To disburse. But there war.
every reason 10 believe that every effort was
maze 10 reduce the expenses of this Depart
ment, that was consistent with the proper
maintenance Of tile national faith. He be-
iieved there was objection in Congress,
or IN the Departments, aud certainly not IN the
COMMITTEES Of Ways and Means, to reduce, the
pubiic expenditure SO far ;s might be consis-
tent with the public service
Nr. FLOYD hoped the motion would IRE
van. The time was when the very name of
indian gave him great alarm. When he came
here, he hoped he should be freed from that
trepIdaton-but it haunted him still T!.g
disbursement proposed, was for the prcserva-
ton Of a contingent fund, on; Of which ,ycra
To be PAD Indian storckeepers, Indian agents,
rations and he knew not what eise-hu;it was,
Reservoirs ior every thing that was not parti-
cuar!y provided for by specific apuropria-
tiois. Ii was certainly u very convenient
method of disbursement-for unlike our dit
pom9jlc r'ations with France and England
whose civilization did not require these extra
ordinary contingent provisions, our red bfetI.-
ren, vino rO#,ncd through the forest in quest
not of their daily bread, for they had none;
but of their daily meat, became the occasion
oi greater draught up9n the public Treasri-
~ than all oar diplomatic intercourse with
The most prominent governments in the East
era world, When the abracadabra OF the Sc
cret;,ry OF War comes here, we are lei; as
much at loss after it is read at the tabl;, as
before, whether we are called upon TO make
an appropriation, or TO supply deficit. The
last year 10000 were asked for this de-
pariment, and only 100000 granted, and he
hoped that such IL firm coarse would be taken
IN regard 10 the subject ihdt hereafter, when
limited appropriation is made, our agents shall
know that they are not at liberty TO spend Il
dollar beyond the amount that Is appr6Dria-
ted. If a subsersient supply of deficits is
granted from tiiae to time as the departments
think proper TO require, it was utterly in vain
to talk of specific or limitrd appropriations
At all events, If they do expend more than
they are authorised, it ought to be particularly
shown TOR and in what manner that money
was disburscd-and he believed, il such All
examination were bad, it would be found that
many agents were employed of which Con
| gress had no idea.
Mr.. WooDsoN remarked, that he was not
sufficiently advanced in life To be able TO ie-
trace by personal recollection, the various oc-
cureuces that had taken place ia relation 10
or Indian affairs. 1t was, however matter
ot deep concern 10 the people of The west.
They knew f.lll well, md bitter experience had
taught them during the last war, the releDt-
less character of sayagn passion. Much had
been done to remove the barbarity Of the In
dian character. 1t was natter Of regret, how
ever, that it had been Intellectual and, If all
| that md been done could not soften their fila.
! ~ minds, it was necessary TO use some cauti-
on, at least, as 10 further expenditures In be-
ing called upon TO appropriate, he felt that he
could not be justified unless the disbursement
was clearly authorised by an existing law. IL
should also be shewn to what particular pur
! pose the expenditure was destined. He should
not be satisfied without the explanation, nor
| without pretty clear proof that we were ena-
| bIrd Go make it without violating Our other
engagements, AID retrenclinS upon other ex-
| Pcnditures, that were Of more imperious ne.
cessity. We had other important objects OF
expenditure, that would go Ear to exhaust our
revenues. And was il the intention Of gen
tlcmcn to lessen the Navy Did they intend
onee more to razee the Army? fits princi
pal objection, however, was, that the object
of the appropriation was neither explicit nor
defined. 1t was now in contemplation 10
alter our system in relation to the Indian de
partment. He hoped that purpose would
prevail. He was willing to vote for 10000