Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-07-04

payment shall be made, no, here, but in the Creek
nation, and at future period. Ii il is compe,en,
for the United States 10 defer the payment to flu
tule period, how long may they no, withhold 1t
Ii this Is tresty, the Delegation may certainly
according 10 ITS s'ipulations, demand the none.
immediately The honorable chairman of the
committee Informs me, (said Mr. ~ {" that the
chiefs. headmen, and warriors, of the Creek nation
of Indians, are no, here, but i'll the Creek nation,
and that payment must consequently be made TO a
council OF, andin the nation; inasiDuch the trea-
ty stipulstes payment TO be made TO the chiefs
headn.en, and warriors, of that nation. Mr.. T.
sad II he had supposed those chiefs, headmen, and
warriors, 10 be here, he stood corrected by the
gentleman; but, if the gentleman conceded o the
Delegation the power to conclude this contract
treaty, he surely would not deny to them the RICH,
TO receive the consideration money. This right had
been conceded TO them by the Department: for, on
the presentation, by John Ridge and 10. Yam,
Cherokee OF list exhibiting a scale OF an in
tended distribution of $4,000, with demand
that the sums designated should be separately coun-
ted sealed up, and paid, IN the Department 10 the
individuals to whom those sums " ere respectively
assigned the head of the Indian Bureau replied
that payment could moi be made there, uut lha, he
had no doubt the officers of the Bank would, to
oblige them. make the rangement required. AL
though, Mr. I. said, he did not consider this valid
treaty, yet those who claimed The possession oil
competent; power had decided thai it was: and
agreeing with the honorable Chairman, and bis
friend from Georgia, that the -iipulations o. rea
ty ought 10 be literally fulfilled and complied with,
he could not support either oi The amen Gment>
which had been proposed; because each was equal
ly violation OF the third article of the treaty !;
but, if, Ike The honorable Chairman, he could vote
Tor the amendment reported by the committee, and
now under consideration, he could readily
and cheeItully vote for The Senate's first amend
ment, as better calculated 10 the legitimate
objects OF the treaty, and meet he ends OF justice
And here he could not but expire much surprise
tina, gentlemen had been uratle &c find, i'll The cir
cumstances OF this transactions, any evidence of an
inten,ion on the part OF the Delegation, TO comm
fraud upon their nation. Mr. I. said, he cherish
ed due respect for gentlemen and their opinions,
but the evidence OF fraud wa clear 10 him, that
he could not conceive how it could be doubted
Where, (asled Mr. L IN the History OF the repu-
dated treaty, you ind The evidence OF fraud so
gross as that which is exhibited by the documenl :
connected with the treaty under ders
ton ?-,here none. Mr. L. said, he concedeo
to The Secretary Of War the high chara which
had been attributed him, the cour~e OF this de-
bate, by the gentleman from Virginia, {Alr. Mei
Ger, )-he felt no disposition 10 derogate from his
merit and he protested sgains; the right of any
member attribute TO him unirendiy disposition
towards the honorable Secretary but he must state
the facts OF the transacon and facts stubborn
things. Before The treaty was ratified list had
been eXhibi' ed by John Ridge and 10 Vann 10 he
head Of the Indian Bureau, shelving the IN ended
distribution OF the money TO be paid un Ter the rea
~; and, from that list, it appeared nat S; 600
10 be paid 10 John Ridge, another = $ 600 o 10
VsnD, and s GOO to old Major Ridge, another
Cherokee The head Of the Indian Bureau
appraised of the intended fraud, and The
only notiee which be deisned 10 take OFT tn.
corrupt intention, was simple declaration
that it affair of the Governmen,.-
Ridge and Vsnn had however been asked, whether
the " hole Delegation knew, well as they did
the mode which iLey had adopted for the distrbu
ton OF the money! Ridge Irankl, answered, No;
but that Orothleyoholo and Charles Coz nnell>
knew, and that was enough. This was reported
by he Head of he Indian Bureau 10 the Secretary
OF War, who directed that the Delegation should
appear in the Department. They attended The
Secretary repI esened 10 them the danger that
might arise from so partial distribution OF their
money, then people might not subscribe 10 it,
They replied that they knetD ,chat thcy tceye
about. - The Interpreter WAS then directed TO
say, that the Secretary OF War had no desire to
control that over which the TTea'y had given them
q he power, but as he paper had been handed 10
him, he wished TO read il ana know wheher they
agreed to have the disposition made 81 the money
which therein indicated. They answered
each, snd individually, yes;" that 1t their own
arrangement, aud the fears he Secretary had ex-
pressed in regard to the probable effects Of such
course upon their people at home, need not be in
Obliged, for that they would that their people
ratified the arrangement, IN the eUent of any
Dissatisfaction they had their annuity and THIS very
money, and would 30 apply i, as TO satisfy all. The
Secretary replied, 90 that he sill had his fears but
could Only advise Thus, said NJ T. the facts
shew that the Secretary well acquainted with
the int tended fraud. But gentlemen zee no fraud no
corruption H. all this. LOOK INTO these documents.
Here Is tangible evidence OF gross corruption /,
was evident that Ridge and Vano had attempted a
trick on the Crees Delegation. Mr.. Thompson
said, IL was true that the whole Delegation had
heard the paper read, yet they did not under
stand English and he presumed the honorable
Secretary did not understand the Creek Iniian
language. 1t was, therefore, very difficult
mater for an apt Interpreter 10 deceive both the
Secretary and the Indians. One thing, SAID Mr.
L. IL, however, clear, that John Ridge Joe Vann
and old Major Ridge, all Cherokee indians. IS ere
to receive $40, 900 Of he money wlicn was, ar
cordlng 20 the sipuatIOns OF the Treaty, to be paid
by the United Siatee to the Chiefs, head men.
and Warriors, of the Creel, nation o. Indians, In
consideration OF the Territory coded by the Creek
Indians to the United States. VIVA. entitled
these Chcrokees TO this enormous sum! They
had no interest IN the Creek nation. They were
hot ehuued 10 one loot oil land IN The Creek cuun-
Try, neither were the Chiefs, Head Men, or War
rIors, of the Creek nation Of Indians What
claim, then, could they have TO $40 GOO Of he
money stipulated 10 be paid by the u. States to the
Chiefs, Head-men, and Warriors, OF The Creek ma
ton oil Indians? MIR. T. said, II could not be con
was not concealed They had heard 1t openly
eealed that there was pslpable and gross fraud and
corruption ia this transaction. Gentlemen say al, this
spoken Of All he could say TO this was, they had
been more fortunate than be bad neen lie GER
tainly had never hoard ~ these ro,r,,r, ,..