Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-09
CoMGREssToMAE.
IN SENATE OF THE U. srATEs-MAY 10.

lse senate took up the report of the Commit
Zee OF onierence on the disagree vote of the
wo houses IN regard TO the appropriation bill for
carrying into effect the Treaty with the Creek
indians The report having been read
! Mr. Van buren, said, he should state the circu,n-
stances OF this case, and the views of the Com :
mittee OF Conference. A treaty was made in this
city In which 1t was stipulated, on the part of the
United States, that Ss247 900, together with an
annuity oil $4,000 year, and other considera-
lions, should be paid TO the Greeks, as considera-
ton tor the exnguishmen of their title 10 lands in
the State of Georgia. which the United States, un-
DER the cesslon OF 1902, were under obg ations to
extinguish The bill from the other House to carry
this treaty into effect, directed that the money
should be paid and distributed among the chiefs
and warriors. That bill came TO the Senate, and
confidential communication was made 10 the Sc
hate' from which 1t appeared that strong suspicious
wee entertained that design existed on the part
OF the chiefs who made the treaty, to practice a
fraud on the Creek nation, by dividing the money
amongst themselves and associates. An amend
meni was proposed by the Senate, which pro-
v'ded Tor the payment Of those moneys in The
usual way, and the distribution OF them in the
usual manner, and in the usual proportion 20 which
the Indians were entitled That amendment was sent
TO The other House, who unadvised as TO the facts
which were known TO the Senate, refused to
concur IN it, and asked conference The con
ierees on the part OF the Senate communicated their
suspicious to the conferees on the part of the
tiouse, and askef them to mite in an application
20 the department OF War, for infoI nation on the
subject This was accordingly done, and TIE docu-
menis sent, in answer, were, letter from the
secretary OF War, and report by Mr.. Nc
Aenney. From that report ii appeared clear and
satisfactory, that design thus existed on the paIt
OF the indians By whom the treaty was negotiated,
to distribute of the $247 900 to be paid for the
resson by the United States, 1888, $50 among
4 gu and Ea,,, e 4
three Cherokee Chiefs who had no interest in the
properly. Ridge and Vann were 10 receive by the
! original treaty, $4,000 each. BY .his agreement
OF Inc distribution OF the money, each was 10 re-
ceive s $4,000 more, making 800 600 for each =
iiidse, the father of Ridge VINO is here was to re,
ceive $4,000. The other s 100000 was 10 be
distributed, $4,000, and IN some instances. siO,-
oco TO the Chiefs who negotiated the treaty here
; varying from one to ten thousand dollars each.
That this distribution would be manifest fraud
TO the reek nation, MIR. V. Il said required nc
argument TO elucdate. The conferees of hoti
Houses were well satisfied that this design existed
and OF he obligation on the part OF the United
States, 80 far Congress could do So 10 defeat
unworthy scheme. They differed as to the mean.
that Congress ought to use to carry it into effect
Here Mr.. v. b. stated the two modes OF distribu
ion proposed by the TWO Houses.
Tie two questions, then, Mr.. = B said ,ha
presented themselves in this view OF the subec
were, had Congress the right 10 go to the ex.cn
proposed IN the amendment made by the Senate
and, II they had, was ii essential that they shout,
do so? With respect 20 the right he was at first
= under some doubt in regard it; but more careful
examination had removed those doubts, and hac
satisfied him that the amendment of the Senat,
( was warranted. Thereaty directed that two hun
fdred and forty-ssven thousand dollars should h,
paid TO the chiefs OF lie Greek nation to be dstri
buted among the chiefs and warriors of that nation
ls, lbn 80. a
the nation, The chiefs is the City of w ashne-
j ton! Those in this city say it was intended 10 b
paid to them, and they ask of the Department o
w ar that II should be paid TO them in sums coune,
out according TO the distribution which had beer
! stated. There no difference on this suhiec
between the confefees. They were of opinion
that the money was to be paid 70 the chiefs of th
! nation in open council: that was tic language o
the treaty-the good sense of the treaty. TIL
delegation who negotiated the treaty say it is to b
PAID to iiiem and that, in that OF The subject
they are warranted in the opinion expressed Il
them by the Secretary OF War and the Superint en-
dent OF Indian Affairs. The conferees say, the in
ieniIon OF the treaty was, and ITS Language imports
that this money should be distributed in the nsua
e proportion, according the just rights OF India
At warriors. There norhing in the language O
,, the treaty Inconsistent with that idea. How ough
!, the money TO be Distributed? Certainly on prio
e cIpies Of justice amongst hose Indians accorJin
TO their rights. What was asked on the pau q
l. the delegation? That il should be distributed anon
N them tor their personal advantage, and in con
- ceded injustice 10 those they represented The
r. Proposed 20 take hundred and six,y thousan
e dollars and TO distribute ii among themselves an
J" the favored chiefs of the Cherokee nation. Tb
simple statement OF the preience set up, was :
ID against right and justice, that Mr. Y. b. said he
'e were bound 10 presume that such could never lay
been the intention Of our Government II was un
Just and fraudulent. The chiefs say they have
u right 10 do 1t, and they would abide by the const
90 quence; but II was conceded to be corrupt deser
s. What was the intention Of our Government?
4. that construction was given to this treaty whc
ID was sought for by these Chiefs, Tie conclusio
!. would be, that this Government intended 10 couu
enshce this fraud The chiefs say such was IN
'e intentions MT. v. ID. said such could not hav
been the intention; and, as IL could not be. III
other conclusion is unavoidable The intenlio
was, that The money should be distributed accor
i, ding TO the rights of the Indians constituting IN
% Creek naiion. II fair and just and NOT ineon
y ssieni with the language Of the treaty. Such, Mr.
.. v. B said, would have been his view of the sub
q Ject, II THIS had been case between civilize
nation and this Government. But when their at
tention was turned to their rights over Indian pro
e perry, The case stood upon different principle
= There had been great Inconsistency amongst ms a
to the rights we had exercised over the Indians -
ut one time, they depended on our mere will an
= pleasure; At another time, we had treated them a
i an individual power. From the time of the lorna
! ton OF this Government, we had assumed III
D right 10 legslate, according to our will and plea
sure, over their interests and property, so far as Il
project them from fraud. On this principle, W
had regulated all their trade. We had proyide
&, oy law that they should not dispose Of the land
y they owned, unless ~ specified form, and 10 In