Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-06-08
mine" to be leased for term NOT exceed

ing three years.
Mr.. B. said the present lessees were
excluded upon all three Of these limlta-
tons. They were Kentuckians, who
never did reside upon the half section,
and did not apply for their lease ill the
winter of 1922. Mr.. B. said that Con-
gress had twice shewn that they under
stood the act as he olid--in 1876, when
they re-enacted this section for one year,
and took in the persons then settled, and
who should apply before the lst day OF
September, 1917; and in 1917, when
the same section was continued Open tor
settlers till the 4th day of March, 1918.
He said the United States Supreme
Court, in the late territory of Missouri,
had decided the same way. He, Mr..
b y was counsel for Wilson and others,
sued at the instance of the United States
| for about $4,000 of rent for leases un-
der the act OF 1907. He demurred Tor
want oil power in the lessor, and the plain
tiff was amerced, pro false c(umore $40.
Many leases had been made in Missouri,
He never heard of but one who paid,
Partenai, Frenchman, who paid $4,000
on the first lease, as Mr.. b. had been in
formed.
Mr.. B. said, there was another consi-
Iteration connected with this lease-the
Illegally and disadvantage oft out of the
questionable Indians would appear as
party, under circumstances OF powerful
appeal to the Justice of the American
government. They claim these mines.
| They are weak; zve are strong. They
have the possession we have the Words
OF a treaty. Mr.. b. would state the case
as fairly as he could tor both parties. In
1904 the Sacs and Foxes coded The coun-
try between the Ouisconsin and Rock
river (including the mines in question: to
the United States; the Chippewas, OF
,owas, and Potawata MES, disputed their
title. IL 1915 treaty was held with Ihe
three later tribes, and the dispute with
the United States was compromised by "a
division OF the disputed tract: a llne was
agreed upon To run ives, from the south
end of Lake Michigan to the left bank
of the Mississippi; the United States
taking what was to the south, and the
three tribes taking that which was to The
north, with the exception OF one reserve
of three leagues square, to include the
Fort at Prairie dn-C hien, and with the
reserve of such other tracts al On near
the OuisconSin and MISSISSIPPI as the
President may think hroher TO reserve
such tracts not exceeding .foe leagues
square," C vol. Laws L. S. page 5lo.)
Toe question:, as il concerns the Indians,
said Mr.. B. arises out OF the last reserve.
The tracts are not designated. Ii Is let.
to the President. The Indians deny that
they intended that the mines should be
taken, and have often threatened to kill
any white people, who should attempt 10
work them. 1t is clear that an opposl-
tion is now apprehended, for 'he preaen'
lessees are accompanied by triunvlratt
of pacficators to quiet the Indians, aud
military demonstration to overa We them.
Mr.. b. thought that the lessees ought to
be arrested, if not for the enormous III
jury done the republic in the lease, a
least for its illegally, and severity to-
wards the Indians.
Mr.. B. apologlzed for troubling the
Senate at the last moment oil the session.
II could not do it sooner. The repor
was only received the night before, and
he could not resist sense OF duty which
compelled him to lay resolution Oh the
table. Mr.. 3. then submitted the fol-
lowing resolution, which was read and
ordered to lie on the table:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on the
Judiciary be instructed to inquire into thu
legality OF the Lead Mine leases made
with James Johnson and others, of Ken
lucky, communicated to the Senate in
the Presidents Message of May 9TH.
We published on Thursday the re-
marks OF Mr.. BENTON, on his proposition
for inquiry respecting the lease of the
Lead Mines. The following are the OBJ
servations made by Mr.. EDWARDS, Of
| Illinois on that occasion: Nat. In.
Mr.. President, (said Mr.. EpwAnDs,)
since the honorable gentleman from
Missouri, (Mr. BENToN,) has thought
proper, at this late period OF the session,
to bring this subject before the Senate,
and to submit resolution, which il is
now impossible 10 act upon, | must be
permitted to say that if the impa,ience
of gentlemen to adjourn did not pre-
clude all hope Of com 'nanding attention
to a dry legal investigation, l think |
could most satisfactorily demonstrate
that the construction which the gentle
man has given to the law Of 1907, and