Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-07

70
new resolution, proposing division of the
country into districts each district to have
one vote for President aud Vice President i;
that vote to he decided by the ballots ofthe
people, in their primary assemblies; and
when M election is made by the people, that
the choice shall go TO the House of Represen-
tatives, as now provided by the Constitution.
Mr.. Benton being entitled to the floor, re-
sHmed his remarks in support of his PROPOSE
ton and before he had concluded, the Sen
ate, on motion OF Mr. Van Buren,
Adjourned Till tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Rankin, from the Committee on the
Public Lands, reported hill granting dona
tions of land 10 certain actual settlers in the
Territory of Florida which was twice read,
and committed.
On motion of Mr.. Moore Of Kentucky,
RESOLVED, That the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads he instructed to inquire
into the expediency ofestabiishing post route
from Frankfort in Kentucky, to Springfield,
in Kentucky, by the way of Gists Yocums and
Macsville. in Washington county.
On motion of Mr.. Brent, was
Resoiued, That the Committee on the Pub
lie Lands be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of granting Il presumption right Ia
all persons who settled upon the public
lands on the banks of the Mississippi, for the
purpose of aiding and facilitating steam naviga-
ton upon said river. Also,
ReSoired, That the Committee on the Pub
lie Lands be instructed TO inquire into the ex-
pediency of passHS law to encourage settle
mcnis on the public lands upon the banks of
the Mississippi river, with view to improve
the navigation Of said river Also,
RESOLVED, That the Committee on the Pub
liz lc ha sr,ct tod a.
rights of the State of Louisiana, to- the Cy-
press Swamps within the limits of said state,
and that such report be made as the rights,
Justice, and expedIency, of the case may re-
quire.
On motion of Mr.. M'Coy, it was
Reselued, That the Committee on the Judi
ciary be instructed to inquire Into the expedi-
ency of establishing branch of the District
Court for the Western District of Virginia, at
Siaunton.
. On motion of Mr.. Floyd, it was
Resolved That the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads he instructed to inquire
into the expediency of establishing post route
from Fincastle, in BotetOurt t,C0unty, by
Blacksburgh, in Montgomery, TO Giles Court
house, Virginia.
ADDITIONAL INDIAN AGENCIES.
On motion of MIR. Cooke, Cha Of the
Committee on Indian Affairs, the orders OF
the day were postponed, to take up bill for
the appointment Of two additional Indian a.
gents. The House accordingly went into
Committee ofthe Whole Mr.. Condict in the
Chair, on the consideration of the bill.
This bill provides, 1st, " That, from and
after the passage of this act, the President of
the United States be, and he is hereby, autho-
rized TO appoint two Indian Agents, in addition
TO those already provided by law, TO be sta
IN al IF tia
at such places as he may think proper. Cd,
That the Agents appointed according to the
provisions nf this act, shall receive cOmpen-
satIon fur their services, of 1900 dollars, each,
in full, and that all rations, or other allowan-
ces, made In them, shall be deducted from the
sums hereby allowed"l
On this bill, (which The Chairman Of the
Committee on Indian Affairs assured the
House would not deiain them ten minutts,) a
drsultoly debate arose, which continued till
past three o'clock.
The object Of the hill, as well as the circnm-
stances which gave rise 10 it, were stated by
Mr.. Corkr, who referred the Committee to a
letter of the Secretary uf War. This letter,
together with document accompanying il,
exhibiting the present number and EN- oIum ents
"faii the Indian superintendent, Agents, and
Sub Agents, now cmployd nv the United
St1fPs, was read, at the request of Mr.. Rankin.
The cxpcdency Of the hill was advocated
by Messts. Cooke, Conway, Clay, and Cook,
and opposed Ivy Messrs. Rankin, Ross, Floyd,
Vance, or Ohio, and Foot, Of Connecticut.
TIE grounds insisted an in IFS favor were
the dls"id rrly state of the Indians on the
Arkansas River and IFS vicinity, produced in
part by the removal Of the remnants Of other
tribes into that Territory and its ighborhOOd,
IN consequences Of an exchange of their lands
elsewhere for lands there. Some OF these
were from tribes who inherited an ancient
grudSr against each other, & almost the whole
of them were more or lVss dissatisfied with the
arrangement which had placed them there
They were now IN very lawlPss state, and
committed great depredallnns ON the property
Of the SETTLERS and recent intelligence had
been received of actual hOstties aud blood
shed. Two agents were as few as could be
assigned fpr this region, and it was hoped
y nary means employed in such agencies,
would have an operation TO restrain these ex-
cessrs.
The opposition fo the bill was directed
chiefly against an increase oftbP present num-
her Of Indian Agents, many Of whom were
represented ~ having very little to do, and rs
enjoying situations That approached to sine
cures. Some of these might he removed to
the Arkansas, ifagents were thought necessary
thrrc. II was incongruous 10 increase the
number nfIpdian Agents, while the number
Of Indians themselves was on the deer case