The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-04

The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom
was referred the Report of the Secretary Of
War, made to the House Of Representatives,
on the Isl day OF March, 1899, in relation TO
the proceedings had under the first and Sc
cond clauses of the 4th article of the treaty Of
the lst of November 1897, with the Winnie
hago Indians, have had the same under con
sideratlon, and make the following
REPORT:
The Committee have examined the subject
committed 10 them by order of the House. with
as much attention as their other duties would
permit they have summoned TO Washington
and taken the testimony Of few Of those per
sons who were present at Prairle-du- Chen
while the several commissioners appointed by
the Government to adludcate the claims of
half-breeds and creditors provided for in the
treaty Of 1887 were employed in The discharge
of that duty and were, as the committee sup
posed, able TO give the fullest information as To
the manner in which it was performed. They
were also such, as from Their residence, pursuits
and general observation OF the course of Indian
trade, would be most competent TO understand,
explain or expose whatever might be otherwls
nnintelligible and escape the attention of the
committee. From this and other sources, they
have collected large body of testimony, which,
while every part of IL may not appear to be rele-
ration, the committee believe will be found use
iu in any future investigation, which may arise
out OF any OF the treaties with the Northwestern
Indians, and may also afford important ntorma-
ton 10 those entrusted with the future negotia-
ton and execution of treaties in that quarter
AT an early period of the investigation a ma
lority Of the committee became satisfied, thai
whatever abuses or corruptlunS might be esa.
bshcd in the execution OF the first commission
whatever mr. ipip ~ thprp mich
BE- uader the second II was not probable that tn,
proof upon those points would be so concurrent
strong and satisfactory, As 70 justify the setting
aside the awards made under them and to ad
wise new commission; and they therefor,
gave wider range To their investigation, ex
tending 1t to the general course of Indian trade
IL the Northwest-the motives and influences
which generally prevailed both in the maxim!
and execution OF Indian treaties and the habit
ual frauds and impostions practsed under them
both upon the Government and the Indians
The results of the elaborate investigation, in
STUFFED upon these points by the committee
lhey will not, after all, have time TO digest an,
present to the House in such form as 10 fulf
Their own Just expectations, formed at an earl,
period of the inqury-they can now only presen
summary Of the information collected, and 0
me deductions which may be fairly made from
them.
As the principal ground on which this investi
cation was instituted BY the House was the al
legation Of very gross ilaud and corruption il
thc proceedings OF the hrst commission, undo
SAID treaty, they directed their first inquiries Il
that point. From the prominent part which on
ot the principal agents concerned in the moro
iiatlon 81 the treaty took in the adjudication q
the claims under II, the committee inferred tha
the frauds which We're so manifest in the pro
ceedlngs Of the commission might have bee,
but the contamination of an original fraudulen
design in making the treaty They therefor
felt authorized to inquire into the origin of Ia
treaty, and the circumstances attending its II,
collation.. This inquiry has developed som
singular facts and suggests the proprlety of SIT
further examinations into that branch of the nc
nnisrative duties of the Government.
Since the act of 2sth May, 1890, BY whic
tile policy OF removing the Indian tribes fror
the vast 10 the west of the Mississippi was san,
toned and provided for, most, il not all, of Il,
numerous treaties made with Indian tribes hay
been more or less connected with the cxeculio
II that policy. That act was passed chief
WITH view to the removal of the Cheroke,
'1l other large tribes of the South, whose loEg
.cI residence within the limits of the State
threatened To produce serious collisions betwee
i1e jurisdiction of the Federal Government an
ihc States, and between the States and the Ii
dan tribes which claimed 10 regulate then ow
STAIRS within their own country.
But the authority given To the Executive
that act was not confined to the Southern trib,
III was general IN Il terms, and applicable