Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1830-07-22
SPEECH OF Mr.. HUNTINGTON,
OF CONNEcTIcUr,
On the bill to prOUide for the Removal of thu
Indians scest Of the Mississippi.
WAsHINGToN. NAV ne

The House having resolved itself into a committed
OF the whole on the state Of the Union and the bill
from the Senate "to provide for exchange of land
w'h The Indians residing in any of the states terri
tories and for their removal Of the River Misss
slppi," being under consideration, Mr.. HUNTINGTON
[ rose and said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: II the Bill for which this
has been substituted, though nearly identical
with it. had been accompanied by Report
from the committee confined to the statemen,
of facts and PRINCIPLES connected with what
are said to be the objects ofthe bill itself, ]
should not have troubled the House, with any
remarks upon it. l-would not have mingled
in debate which would then have heen linn
tied to the expediency of adopting the legisla-
tive provisions proposed to be enacted. But
as the Committee have reported the hill; ..i1
conformity with the suggestions contained in
the Report and to effect the object recon-
mended in the message of tho President Is
as that Report, and that Message, contain
sentiments with which do not accord; as
they advance principles which in my iudg-
ment are not tenable-principles which, if l
understand them correctly, deprive the In
dian tribes, to whom they are applied, of
rights well defined, long enjoyed, and secu-
red and guaranteed by the most solemn
compacts, and the plighted faith of a
nation, which hitherto has been, and always.
| trust, will be, jealous ofits own honor, and
who will not set the first example of Chris
tlan nation, who will disregard its own en-
gagements, because they have been entered
into with a weak, defenceless, unprotected
people. have not been willing TO give ST.
lent vote upon the proposition now before us.
My own sense Of duty, and the sentiments of
a great portion of my constituents, who take
deep interest in this subject. demand of me,
that Ishould express their opinions and mine,
on topic which enters into the best feelings
Of our nature, which is connected with the
honor of our common country, and the well
fare of race, once powerful, but now W eak,
and looking to us with anxiety, but not with
out hope, for that protection which the faith
ofthe government is pledged to afford.
Before / enter into the examination oil
what are called in the report, "the pretensions
of the Indians, and ofthe obstacles which are
considered as being in the way oftheir indul-
gence by the government" solicit the at
tention Ofthe committee, to the language of
the Executive, in his message at the opening
of the session, and to the construction or COM
mentary which has been put upon it, in an
other place. / shall examine it with all the
respect which is due to the Chief Magistrate
of1his nation, and to the elevated and honor
able station which he occupies; bur at the
same time, and holding his advisers respon-
sible for it, | shall make this examination, with
all the freedom of Representative of the
people, sworn to support the constitution OF
the United States. / noticed with much
pleasure, in the inaugural address of the pre-
sent Executive, the following expressive SEN
tence. at will be my sincere and con slant
desire, TO observe towards the Indian tribes
within our limits. just and liberal policy {;
and to give that humane and considerable at
tention to their rights, and their wants, which
are consistent with habits of our government
and the feelings of our people," How far
this pledge has been observed, will be seen in
the progress of this discussion.
In the message, Congress are informed
that the President has been called on by a
portion ofthe southern tribes for protection,
in consequence of the extension by the states
of Georgia and Alabama, of their laws over
these tribes; that in answer to this applica-
cation, be stated to them, that their attempt
to establish an independent government would
not be countcnanced by the Executive of the
United States that it was too late to inquire
whether it was just for the United States to
include these Indians and their territory with.
in the bounds Of new states, Uhose limits Thea
could control; and that they should be dis.
tinctly informed. that if they remained with
in the limits Of the states, they must be sub
iect to their laws. The same opinions are
Sadvanced. in the letter of the Secretary o.
the War Department to the Cherokee deega
ton, dated April 10, 1929, in which they are
told. by order ofthe President, that the stats
of Georgia has extended over their country
her legislative enactments, in virtue of hel
authority as a sovereign, independent state
which she and every state embraced in thu
confederacy, from 1888, to the present time
( when their independence was acknowledge.
and admitted, possessed the power to do, a
part from any authority or opposing interfe
renee by the general government. In thes
documents. then, we find the legislation o
Georgia and Alabama over the Indian tribe
| within their chartered limits. sustained, as o
right, and an explicit avowal made, that thu
President will not interfere to prevent it. Ant
what is the construction put upon this Ian
guage? not merely, that the operation fth'
state laws is not to be opposed, because ths
guarantees contained in treaties with the In
dams do not require il not, that if they didre
quire it. the existing laws are insufficient fol
that purpose, but ''because," as stated il
the report of the Senate by the committee or
Indian affairs of that body. Sin the opinion
ofthe Executive. constitutional objections ex.
list. which 1t is not in the power of Congress t.
remove by any law. which they could enact
If this be the right Interpretation ofthe view.
entertained by the Executive. the doctrine j.
advanced, that treaties made with all the
forms and sOlemnities known to the constitu