Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-05
SPEECH OF Ma. FREYLINGHUYsEN
IN SENATE OF THE U. srArEs-a,,,,. 8.

o A"oisns resiung IN any OF the States or Terri o
Tvs, and Tor their removal OF the river Mssis
sipp being under consideration Mr. FREYtiNe-
HUYsES spoke as follows:
ar. PRESIDENT: 1 propose amendment TO this
Diil, oy the addition of two sections in the form oil
provisos. The first of which, brings up to our con-
sderaton the nature ofour public duties, in relation
to the Indian Nationand the second provides for the
continuance of future negotiations, by the mode
OF treaties. as IN Our past intercourse with thcm-
The following is the amendment: Provided always
That. until the said tribes ions shall choose to
remove, as by this act IS contemplated, they shall be
protected in their present possessions and in the en-
joyment of all their rights OF territory and govern
incut, as heretofore exercised and enjoyed, from all
Interruptions and entertainments.
And provided also, That before any removal shall
take place Of any of the said tribes or nations and
before any exchange or exchanges of land be made
as aforesaid that the rights of ay such tribes ~ ma
tions IN the premises, shall be stipulated for and
guaranteed by treaty or treo,es as heretofore made
The first OF these sections iscloscs the real object
s'lght by this bill seemingly composed of harmless
causes II supposes that the design of the system of
which the present bill forms but part is really to
remove a the Indian tribes bcysnd the M,ssnsipni.
oyin Of their refusal to subject them 10 State SOW
ercign'y u legislation. The Hon, SENATOR mr. White
who Yesterday addressed the Senate, found il neces-
sary 10 consider h. and to anticipate and endeavor to
ueet all such objections to this course ofpocy as he
Icgtned worthy Of tefuia,ion.
Sir, Lpreser that this LATENT object should be put
fully before US, that aud the uasion may look
at 1t aud freely scrutinize it, At an early stage of
the present administration its views and opinions ON
the interesting subject of our indian relations were
developed IN language not To be mistaken IL ia
greatly 10 be regretted Sir, that our present Chief
Magistrate did not pursue the wise and prudent pol-
icy ofhjs exalted predecessor President WASHINGTON
who, at time of collision and difficulty with these
tribes came before the Senate and laid ope, IN them
IN propositions for their appreciation the various i'm
portaT subjects involved in our relations. The an
AexGd extract from the Journals of the Senate illus.
trecs the principles of Washingtons Administration
Il lallows:
M SATURDAY, Aug. 90 1879.
"The President ofthe United States came into the
Senate attended by General Knox, and laid before
the nate the following state offacts with the oues
liens thereto annexed, for their ddrice and consent
/ iis was uiost important document. 1t developed
III the collisions that existed between the Indian
tribes and the States and referred to the consdera
ton of1he Senate certain leading principles Of policy
%hich he thought 1t was wise to pursue.
These principles are embodied in seven distinct in
terFogatories. The 4th of which submits 10 tho
Senate, whether the U States shall soleinnly guar
antee TO the Creeks their remaining territory; and
maintain the same, if necessary, 6y line of pLL,.y
posts This question''w wholly answered in the
affirmative" by that body, and the blank flor an ap
preparation OF necessary funds) was ordered TO be 81
led at the discretion of the PresidelS of the United
states Again, on the It'll Aug. 1890, President
Warrington sent Especial message to the Senate nv
lis Secretary, the subject matter of which he intro
suggestions:
"Gfea.teDsn orHse SenaTe:
although the treaty with the Creeks noo, ba 20
garded as the main foundation OF future Pv~-. Z
prosperity Of the Southwestern frontier Of the Uni
ted States, yet, in order fully effect SO desirable
al object the treaties which have been entered into
with the other tribes ia that quarter must be faith
fully psrtUrmed on our part.
He ;hen proceeds to remind tho Senate, that by
the treaty with the Cherokees ia November 1895 1.-THE
treaty Of Bopewel) 1.-THE said Cherokees pIaceJ
of IT,,so
and bad boundary assigned them" that the white
people settled on he frontiers had openly violated
he said boundary by intruding the Indian Lands
that the United States in Congress assembled on the
ist day of September, 1888 had, by their proclama-
ton, forbidden ali such nnwarrantable intrusons en-
JoaEJ the ntrudcrs to depart without loss of time"
That there were still some refractory intruders re-
rnainng The President then distinctly announces
hrs determination 10 exert the powers entrusted to
h by the Constitution, IN order to carry into faith
ful execution the treaty of Hopewe, unless a new
boundary should be arranged with the Cherokees em
bracing the intrusive settlement and comDensatinp
the CHerokccs for the ions they shall make on the
OCCASION. And in view of the whole case he re-
quests the advice Of the Senate whether overtures
shall be made to the Cherokees TO arrange such now
boundary, and concludes his communication with the
following emphaical question. I'D Shall the Uni.
ted Satrs snpulato solemnly to guarantee the new
boundary which may be arranged"
Il produced pointed a response--for the Senate
"Resoved In case new or other boundary than
that stipulated by the treaty of Hopewe, shall BIO
concluded with the Cherokee Indians, that the Sen
ntc do advise and consent soemnly to guarantee the
same" new boundary arranged by a second
treaty, the SOLEMN guarantee was given TO the Cher
okees and cogent, indeed, should be the causes that
now lead US to think or speak lightly Of such sacred
obligations.
lament it, Sir, that bright and Illusrious pre-
cedent not regarded, and that the President had
not yielded to the safe guidance ofsuch high example
and deplore it the more because 1t was concernnG
thase very tribes in the State Of Georgia. that Gem
cra Washington chose TO confer with his consiilu-
tional advisers.
Instead OF this just proceeding, the present admin
i5iraon have thought proper, without the slightest
consolidation with either House Of Congress-with.
out any opportunity for counsel or concert discussion
or dehberaton tho part Of these coordinate
branches of the government, to dispatch Ihe whole
subject in tone and style Of decisive construction
vi our obligations aud Of lndan rights. II would re
ally seem, SIR as If opinion TO be oresalicd and
'ho door Of inquiry shut forever upon these grave
question: deeply duplicating our national IntR and
honor.
We must firmly pYotest aOanet this evccu,ivn d;s