Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-07-29
JAS. WHlTCoMB. comn,iissionl
ST.. LOUIS, June "a.

Il t9I' LolIS, JUNG 20. .
"For several days past. a deputation Of the
Sac and Fox Indians, headed by Keokuk, have
been in this city: The object Of their visit at
this time is to look after their annuities, amount
ing TO nearly sixty thousand dollars year,
which are stipulated to be paid early in June.
Asan Indians necessities are generally urgent,
and as the custom Of the Government---to paw
money when it becomes due---has been depart.
ed from, they were naturally solicitous to as.
certain the cause. On Saturday and Monday
they held talks with the officers for the pur-
pose of being informed upon the matter. Keo-
kuk, we have heard, made long speech, in
which he inveighed against the faithlessnoss
Of the Governmentnthe execution tho treat.
les with them; declared the Indebtedness Of
his tribe TO the 'raders, who have supplied
them with goods, and more especially with
provisions; and expressed willingness to re-
ceiyo ba'ah notes, rany thing else which could
be paid to their creditors. in the discharge of
their debts. The result of the council was not
very satisfactory. They wero told that there
was no money here to pay them; and we may
venture to say thasit is exceedingly unccrtaiy
when Sufficient amount Of specie will be
found Tor that purpose. We understand that
the amount ofthc first annuity $3.50, O0O) it is
TO be paid in goods, deliverable here on the
10th OF August next; and that an effort will
be made to pay of tho other annuity, nearly
$780, 900, in specie, whenever the Government
can get it,
NOTE BY THE GLoBE.---There is about as
much truth IN the above as is generally found
in the articles Of the opposition newspapers
when they speak OF the operations of the Go.
vernment: We learn that the law appropria-
ting the Indian anuities for 1886, was not
passed till the 18th of June Of that year, the
rem'ttances not MADE till the middle Of JULY.
and the payments not till the 18th August.
For. this years annuties the remittances have
been made, and tho disbursing officers will
doubtless receive them in time to make the
payments at as early day as they were made
last year, which, it is beloved, was as early
as they have generally been made.
AS far as the Treasury Department is con.
cerned, the requirements Of the Indian service
have been all promptly met, in sucl, manner
as the authorities having charge Of it have do
s'gnatcd. Such portions of the remittances AZ
have been asked for inspecie have been at once
met by drafts on land Offices, in which sniff.
cient amounts were on hand to meet them. he.
side additional sums. So much for the u,,cer.
fa,nfy when. "a sufficient amount Of snecio
Will be found.
We further learn that this visit of the Sacs
and Foxes to St. Louis was unauthorized Nv
the proper authorities. Certain traders arc
believed to have great, ifnot controlling in
Auence with them; and the supposition that
their interests might be interfered with bv
some Of the measures Of the Indian Depart-
ment, in iiprobabiIity, occasioned trip which
was entirely unnecessary on any account con.
nected with the welfare Of the tribes in cues.
ton. The executive officers have no legal
power TO recognize debts Of the Indians, and
those who credit them must take the risks in
cident 10 the procedure. Tho Government, in
iuihll'n,g its duties to them, must be governed
ny snch considerations AS are connected with
NOR best interests; and il, in acting upon
.nesc, the traders are not able to get as much
money as they wish, tits their misfortune, and
no, INC FAULT Of the Government.
- much 10 be regretted that in many in
S1ances naders have moro influence with the
,ha'ans uiail the agents of the Government.
itBnopcd That such acourse will in future ha
pursucd by the former, as that the nians nf ~ :
proper au.noiilies (which can only have for
their object The real welfare of The Indianal
may not be inerfcred with or ciycnn ven tod ~,
them, in the vain hope Of promotng thai, ,,,.,,,
advantage. Should this, however. Is The 20 90 -
In any instance, the remedy is plain one. and
no doubt can exist but that it WILDE cneroct;.
cally applied.