Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-14


badly involve the committee; yet, if the Senate thought
that the proper direction he ready TO undertake IT,
and they shall be subjected to The strIcest scrutiny
They cannot be passed without legislative action, and
of them shall pass until alter the fullest 'nVesnga-
ton they shall be found to be just
After few words from Mr. King, of Alabama Inhudi-
BILE to the Reporters, from the loud conversation in the
privileged seats,
from Mississippi had broug int forward this subject and
stated that he had received accounts OF extensive frauds
said TO have been committed under tho Choctaw treaty
II had even been said that the extent Of these frauds
would amount TO ten millions of dollars ont Of The pub
lie lands 1t was said these frauds had hccn the result
of msconstructon Of the Presidents language. and he
wished il may turn ont But he hoped, TO whatever
Committee the subject mi ht be REFERRED that every CT
fort would be used to bring those neiarous prits be-
fore the world and to hold them up TO the indignation
they deserve having attempted 10 commit outrage.
robbery of the public property rom what he had
gathered, there had Leen project since the famous
Yazoo business which had been so nefarous as the
schemes which had been carried on in Mississippi, and
he hoped every pains would be taken to ferret out the
abuse.
Mr. White, ofTenncssec, made few remarks on'the
subject lie said he was led To believe from information
which had reached him. chiefly thr"ug the newspapers
that plan haL been laid for immense speculation
der Of the Indian treaty referred TO; pursuance
of which, the claims might be allowed TO certain Indians
under the treaty very large amount had been bough!
up by individuals His belief was that claims of this
kind had been purchased up by using the names OF the
Indians, but entirely for the benefit Of other persons
The Government (Alr w. said) in his opinion, lay un-
der high responsibility TO protect the Indians IN the
rights reserved by the treaty. BY this speculation
in the contingent claims of the Indians, if sanction
ed by Congress, great injustice would be done to
them He hoped, (le said,) that not claim Of this
description would be allowed until it was ascertain
ed that the whole amount Of it would cnurc solely
and exclusively the benefit Of the Indian entitled to
it, So far as he concerned, as member OF the COM
ntee TO whom it proposed 10 refer this SUBJECT
any man but an Indian should enjoy the benefit of any
one of these claims No white should with his
consent enrich himself by the beggary Of those people,
whom he considered peculiarly under the guardianship
Of the u States.
Mr. Webster remarked that the fame of these sPecu-
ations had reached the State in which he resided Ihese
reservations had been made in the expectation that ley
would be productive Of substantial benefits 10 the ln-
dams 1t seemed, however, that the substantial dement's
had been in another quarter. He wished TO know ii lie
had understood that these grants obtained by the sPecu-
ators, would require the sanction Of Congress to make
them valid If so, he very glad to hear IT,
Mr.. Black, i'll explanation, stated that some CT Tie
grants registered in the proper manner and belong
ed the Indians. and he hoped these would not be PEE
JUDGED. Others would require the sanction OF Con.
gress. "
Mr.. King of Alabama, stated las we'll as he could be
hcard that owing TO the negligence of the agent, or BY
MEANS some of those who regularly register
ed had received their lands The evidence OF their
claims ordered to be presented 10 Congress at The
had gone render the Sales he hoped Of those
who had legally avaicd themselves Of the provisions Of
the treaty would he injured. The claim of white cltl
zen ought not TO be dsalowcd if it should be found that
the Indians received all the advantages guaranteed 10
them by the treaty.
Mr. White briefly explained that, under the 18th arti
Gle Of The treaty, Indian to receive patent to-
his land unless he had resided it for five years lie
wished it to be understood that he did not intend to give
any opinion these claims in advance. There were
none presented 10 bc relied which To found an
opinion. But us Of the Committee en- Indian Al
fairs, he determined not to permany location OF |
white citizen unless lie satisfied that tho ul! LeneI
Of the reservation had resulted ~ the Indian.
The petition was then referred 10 the Committee or
Private Land Claims.
Mr. Webster, from the Committee on Finance, report
cd L making appropriation for suppcssng the hos
lllics with the Seminole Indians, with amendment
Mr. Webster explained briefly the necessity for acting
On this bill once and explained that the amendment
increased tie appropriation from 10000 TO l20 ODO dol
lars.
The amendment ordered 10 be cngrosscd, and the
bill to he read L third time.
Mr. Webster, from the same committee, reported n
bill for the relief of the sufferers by the fire in the city
of New York; which was read twice.
Mr. Webster stated that he should ask the Senate 10
act this bill al an early day, perhaps tomorrow.
n Swift offered the following resolution, which lies
or. Gay under the rule:
ST. cled to inquire into the expediency Of extending TO
tn Of military land warrrts .isdrd I the U. 81
al .%cuon Of claims for bounty land for services du
ring llc revolutionary war. the same benefits which
they would be entitled 10 by act Of Congress approved
tic }OlE day May $780, entitled tan acI for tho relief
OF certain officers aud soldiers Of the Virginia line and
navy, and fthe continental army, during the rcvolu
tunury war, had there been no limitation oil the pro-
visions OF said acl
THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE.
Mr. Clay and said, it must be obvious 10 every
observer Of passing events, that our affairs with France
becoming every day more anu more serious IN theIr
Il,t To AlltI
:rralioIs daily occurring, from the annadveTsions
of the public PISS and among individuals III and oat OF
Office in both countries And state Of feeling, greatly
TO be deprecated if TO preserve the relations OF
peace, must certainly be the consequence
According 10 the theory of Constitution, d.
plon.ac with foreign countries are entrusted
TO the President Of the United States, until they reach
certain point involving the question OF peace or war; md
then Congress is IL determine on that mouentous ques
ton In other words, the President conducts our TO-
reign intercourse Congress alone change that inter-
lcrcoursc from peaceabe to bclligrrent one. This
right to decide the question OF war. carries along with
it the right to know whatever has passed between our
own Executive and the Government OF any foreign row
cr No matter wha! may be the nature Of the CORES
Observation-Disclosures official Or not-wheher formal or
nlurnal-C Congress has the right TO any and all Informal
ton whatever, which may br in the possession OF the
other branch of the Government. No Senator here
could have failed to have been acquainted with the fact
that the contents of most important despatch or docu
mcn has been discussed. and most important overture
canvasscd in the different newspapers-ln private ana Po-
cacirclcs-by individuals every body intact, knows
what has taken place. except the Congress of the United
States. The papers friendly to the A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
deed, the whole circle of the American prcss-arc in
possession OF the contents Of paper which this body
has not been yet allowed see, and have Journal
a Southern Administration journal, before me- which
states new and important fact in reference to it. !
have said that situation with France grows every
day embarrassing aspect of rel ations with
her more and dark and threatening could not,
therefore, LONGER delay making the following motion.
should have done 50 before but for prevalent
that the President would soon make communication 10
Congress- which would do away The necessity Of the re.
solutions which submit by laying before Congress