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

luded TO. AIs' AZ
lie was as confident as his colleagues copla l..
mat the foulest fraud had been proiecte5 b 80.
"a we individuals calling themselves part of the
SieeK Deiegation, and that it was known IN H..
department OF War before the ratification os IT,
treaty, and was not communicated by that Depar,-
meht 10 the Senate, either before OR ,J,,rinx H..
Penoehcy OF the consideration Of tbs treaty by thu.
body. ' - 'uay
mr.. L. SAID he would NOT, however, for the re,
suns JUST mentioned, dwell on this ground. but
would proceed 10 state that he W as in favor of IT.
amendment offered by the Committee of Confsr
ence, (and therein he differed from his colleapu.A
which, whist 1t would effectually p,eyer. a..
commission OF the fraud intended w,ouIl ,Iso
AVOID violation of the term of the new tre,,y -
% was styled lie, indeed, denied that this was
treaty, and The law Of the land, SO far a, Isas,
as 1t confcted with the provisions of ~. g.. "
ola treaty" But, sir, said he, the Appropria,io,,
Dill an amendment TO which is now The subject of
consideration, has for its object the eyecu;ion rs
lhis new treaty; and, if it be no; for this purnose
Is Tor no legitimate purpose at ALL This Eouse has
legsfded inns substitute Tor the NJ Intosh Treaty M
a treaty, and 1t cannot. therefore, with propri.,v
or consistency, disregard its provisions. Iuni,ed
with my colleague in voting against this entire an
Priauon OH, and would again do So if necessarx
denied that TO be treaty, which must be so re.
garded II The appropriation contained in the bill,
were necessary and proper. But, cir, when the
led
treaty is treaty, but whether we are di,posed w
amend bill previously determined anon. TO
CARRY INTO EFFECT THAT TREATY il is
altogether different thing AT this stage of Tho
matter, The fact Is, all Sides conceded tina, ,bi.
'hng' which is called treaty, is treaty, and thar
some OH, making an appropriation to execute il
is inevitable. Ibis being the case, no amendment.
nj that bill be made which has n ten5encv
disregard OF the terms of such treaty. Our obiect
Is 10 prevent the daring fraud which is meditaied.
Out contend. that, In looking to that object We
must be governed by the terms of the treaty unds
which, and to execute iyhich, this bill has been
framed We have no right to alter these terms.
ueny 'ha' 'ne government had right to set aside
the first treaty. This my colleague also denies.
and how he can deny this, and vet maintain tbst
The present treaty might be alter ed by Congress-
cannot understand. Il is not that I do nor 90 40
lar as my colleague. GO farther. say that tbi,
Government not only has no right to ai:er or do
away with "hole treaty, but also say il has moi
right to alter or expunge single word-a single
letter do not mean 10 charge NV colIcasue "a
inconsistency. was not aware of his INF e,,;or
10 introduce his motion, or of his objection TO The
report OF the Committee of Conference, until after
lie had risen 10 address the Chcir. have had mn
opportunity OF hearing his explanations. But il
does seem 10 me, sii, that, if this anomalous nstr
ment Is TO be regarded treaty, i, cannot be
altered, except by the consent of the parties 70 il.
aud not even then, If it conflicts with the rights
vested by II In third party. For my own part
sir, consider Georgia having ACQUIRED vested
rights under the first tIeaiy-righis which tba
General Government coDstuionalIy could not
and, standing as things mGtc DO, will not, dare ,o
touch, or TO attempt to destroy. If however the
strong arm Of power shall be raised against ile
rights OF my native Sate-f force shall be resorte6
to, TO prevent the execution of the old treaty. !
for one, shall be ready and shall not be the onl,s
Georgian who will be ready TO move in so holy a
cause) 10 shoulder my musket TO defend, at every
hazard. these rights, and 10 enforce This trea,v
However, sir, viii say nothing more on this
point. When the time shall arrive-if ever that
dark hour shall aTive--i trust i'll God | shall be
prepared to act as every Georgian should act
shall give my vote for the amendment p.opos.
ed by the Committee of Conference
Mr. Cook, in brief speech, vindicatcr! the moral
character OF the Secretary, and denied that the facts
referred 10 b the gentleman from Georgia weo
known and concealed by him.
MIR. IaitnaI requested Mr. Cocls 10 Weld tho
floor Tor moment, and stated that ,he list yvhct,
he held in his hand was, itself, conclusive evidence
of a corrupt intention TO divide the greater oart nj
the money among the few persons named in il. In
this list, different were written opuosi,.t ia
names of different individuals, such, for INSANE
as the following; " John Ridge, s Is, OOO-Josen{,
Nann, $4,000" (bcth Cberokees and not
Greeks, and, therefore, not entitled To one cent?
The next, long and barbaEous Indian name. which
shall rot attempt 10 pronounce sc $40. COO'
next " John Sted5am, $40 ,OOO,' &c. sc. This
list, as II appears in the documents received from
The Secretary of War, was presented TO the yysr
Department by Ridge and Vann
MIR. Cook resumed The Secretary bad been told
that land was wanted for Ridge and VanH, but Lah
replied that he could not consent to allow anr.
Money, indeed, had been given them, as had been
customary from the foundation of the Government
yer, this was not the act of tho Secsetsry-he
told the Creek ambassadors that such sum would
be granted them, and that they might pay il to
Ridge and Vann ii they thought proper: but no
such arrangement should appear on the face Of the
treaty. As to The list or schedule, according TO
which the money 10 be divided, il was nor
presented at the War Department ill The Trea,y
had gone TO The Senate. Mr.. Tsltnal here refer
red 70 documents, and MIR. q. acknowledged that
IN this particular he had been under mistake I -
But, though me proposition for a corrupt partition
OF The money bad been made. il had been assentei
ic; and this therefore, fixed no immoral charge on
HE 'aeeTetary or The Administrator The treaty.
does stipulaie that the money mentioned eha be
paid - TO the chiefs and warriors''---wbether we
can alter that arrangement; In this House j. very
serious qc-,tion. But, however tbs question
might be settled it was doing great Injustice to the
country ard its Government TO soy, without better
proof, that the Department bsd connivei at foul
fraud.
Mr.. Mercer, having before gonght in vain 10
obtain the floor, addressed the House n. AZ
great poe, bad proclaimed, . An honest mans
The noLlesi work Of God" then, said Mr. Mercer.
Is James Barbour, entitled to that high eulogy No
man on earth would more proudly scorn 10 commit,
or 10 conceal fraud, than the present Secretary
OF War. lie had witnessed his conduct in all the
- ~ n Ia L.