Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-25


palmed off upon lis successors 80 an.
Vel TINS was but fair sample of The policy OF go
mo back into these Indian relations 10 ma IN eAls.ns
debt not disclosed against the present = Zoe
If we ndopt the idea, must 60 BACK MOI 70 i2uo'
but TO 1890 and bring up the account through an "e
Administrations which haze existed undsf our eo'.
stitution and then solve the question, whel.e' uA.
Administration is 10 be most censuTed 'ol c'hl'"e's
debt which has succeeded IL esilngushhs niose -"
dian titles TO the public domain OF the country OF
,Ls,her the debts so contracted have been ana are
considered as resting upon sure fund tor their re-
dominion in the lards purchased, while the treaies
are in every other respect, beneficial to the country
TO its population and prosperity, and 10 ITS
He believed the last and the present Administrators
had ex,ingushed Indian titles, and brought more
of the public lands into the market and WITHIN 'he
reach Of settlement, than any other two, not oe
than all preceding Administrations; and, as necessary
consequence the amounts Of purchase money pao anu
agreed TO be paid, in the shape OF annuities, invest
mens and oterw WISE would be greater than under pre-
yious Administrations. But what had hitherto been
tho estimate placed by the country upon such Potcy
successfully prosecuted, Had been IN the habit OF
setting down these purchases OF lndian iahas aS pad
and losing bargains As imposing burdens upon The
Treasury and debts upon the country: Or as improv-
oy the public revenues and strengthening the lreasu-
ry while they enriched the country: Had 1t ever been
supposed that the lands purchased were not nuch more
than sufficient To pay the debts contracted;
IT, however, this movement was the indication OF q
change of policy bv the coming Administration IN re-
nard to the lands if the fund thus provided TO pay
these debts is to be separated from the debts y he
lands their proceeds to be gwen AWAY, anu the
liabilities incurred under the Indian treaties are TO be
eft unpaid upon the hands of this Government then,
,nderd the amounts due To the Indians, as well IN an
nuitics Investments, or otherwise, may Justly be
counted as debts as permanent, enduring debts only
- be paid BY aXatlon upon the people lie would lei
the Senator however, that the Administration, ana that
party which shall adopt this policy, and give away
land
for their purchase, viii he the Administration and
the party when will charge these upon the peo-
pie debts and which must bear the responsibility OF
the act.
The honorable Senator proposes TO have new set of
books opened TO protect the next Administration from
The debts and liabilities incurred by this; TO establish
what he calls "a rest between them. MIR. Wright
would 90 with him TO do this; but he should insist that
the accounts be fairly stated and the books fairly kept
that when the Senator had charged the administration
of Mr. Van Buren, with the debts due 10 the Indians
he should credit il with the lands which formed the
consideration for the debts In This way the account
would present the whole truth and he did not fear the
responsibility Of balancing the books 50 kept.
lie was aware that most expensive treaty had
been made, not by this, but the last Administration,
without profit 10 this Government He referred to the
last treaty with the Cherokces for the eXnsuishrncn
Of their title To their lands These lands prin-
cpallv in the State Of Georgia. and the Indian title
was extinguished for the benefit Of that State and not
Of the National Treasury. Yet this treaty but
late fuilment of an obligation resting upon this Gov
eminent in favor Of that State, and almost old
the Government itself; obligation entered into TO
acquire title 10 large portion of the public donna
and upon which, therefore, the moneys paid and pay
able under that treaty justly chargeabe, and from
the proceeds Of which they should BE- reimbursed 10 the
public Treasury.
Still this treaty being included, the proceeds of the
public lands would clear ali former Administrations,
we'll rs the present, from any responsibilities for debts
contracted under Indian treaties Let the set Of
books then, show both SIDES Of the account, and con-
tain full and fair statement Of the whole matter, and
we shall not hear that this any other Adnnistra
ton has run the country debt b. the exnguishment
of the Indian title To our immense public domain
Let the proceeds Of the lands stand against the moneys
paid and the liabilities incurred, and il there have
been bad and Improbable and losing bargains
Is this to be charged at this day. and from that quar-
ter; How long il since heard very different
count Of these Indian contracts; Since lie had been
honocd with seat here, the charge had been made in
this chamber, and repeated much loudly and
wide out Of il, that Indian policy 4 swIndling
policy: that VIC purchasing their lands for song
and IRVING them 10 the ends Of the earth for resting
place. Then the charge was, that we we're making
cruel bargains with the ignorant savages, the poor In
dian,' Now it is that this Administration has been
loading the country with debt by making these same
bar GAINS II viii not do SAID MIR. WIT IS too soon 10
male this shor; turn, ana wholly change the character
Of tie complaints growing out Of our Indian relations
| Tie facts viii not suslan the last position. The bar
gains, as a whole have been profitable, vastly profta-
Bile 10 the public Treasury, and the lands yet unsod
con,titutc fund hund red fold more than sufficient
10 discharge every remaining liability. So much FOR
this node of showing the President III III his state
me of our public debt.
Tie honorable Senator proceeded toenumeratc other
heads under which he did not assert but expressed his
suspicion that there existing debts. lie DID not
attempt TO enumcraic items Of debt, and It impos-
sble Or MIR Wright 10 lecture what the items were,
foIwhat the debts were suspected to have been con
trac;G The heads enumerated were, debts for the
puh works debts for the Florida war; debts for Indian
deprdatons at the North, and debts for other things
| WIN, now as the debts for public works there
nigh he such, but he mir Wrighp did not know what
they Yere-he did not know that there were any. lie
was could not be possible that the Senator in
TENDED simply to inform US that there were public works
CONNIE nced which it the interest OF the country TO
prosecute, and that money TO be appropriated for
them And if there debt for public works, other
than such prospective obligation, he was ignorant OF
it, that description OF account was to be opened,
he wcld abandon the discussion with the single re-
mark that the honorable Senator would be fortunate
If he found the new Administration clear Of obliga-
tons # that character either at ITS commencement or
It's else.
What was the debt growing out of the Florida war
He (1r Wrirhi) ignorant Oft unless 1t consisted
of clans for losses sustained by citizens consequence
OF hu war; aud did any suppose that the President
of tb,U S. or the Secretary Of the Treasury,
thored present those claims to the country part
Of itspubc debt: Are they 50, IN iact: hey nave
been presented year after year. and session after session.
10 til, Congress Of the L. S, and congress has not
yet ben found To recognise dollar Of them. And
were he executive officers in the face OF this action Of
Congress-, to declare them public debts, To stale their
amount and call upon Congress for provision for their
payment: The sighics, reflection would convince the
Srnabr that such very uncertain and dangerous
way 1. make mp an amount of debt ii would be moth
ing SHIRT Of Executive surpaon of fearful character
Tim the debts for Indian depredat,ons at tho North
as il lie understood the Senator correctly this was one
Of his heads Of enumeration-he knew nothing OF
them-he knew not what where they were.
Butlhrre were "debts for other things; yes why
did nd the honorable Senator bring in the FIVE millions
for French spoliatons previous to the year $500 That
was a, nuch debt as the others. 1t claim not
recognized by Congress The honorable Senator be.
lievel il was debt lie (Mr. WrighD did not. Why
not GILL up the pension list That is debt which We
muspay until the gallant old soldiers more. II
was st as properly presented as the Indian annuitIes
Why present the claims of the heirs Of The late Ro-
bert Fulton Many supposed that just debt. The
t,od CHM Many thnurht similarly If that. la