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

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nent OF former tribes which continued 10 hold
reservations IN any of the States 4 large dis.
creuonary power was necessarily vested by thai
act IN The Executive IN the negotiation of Indian
treaties. Besides the natural tendency of such
persons 10 increase in The hands Of The best Of
men, there + always IA continual effort on the
part 81 interested aud mercenary individuals Il
avail themselves OF Il and multiply occasions for
the employment Of it, Thus il has happened
that within the last eight or ten wears, there has
been treaty-making mania prevalent in the
country
Ariul persons, without the slightest reference
10 the public service, or To the true interest Of
the Indians themselves, have made business OF
getting up Indian treaties. In this way, the
policy OF Indian removal and making Indian
treaties has become job, 10 great extent for
The benefit OF the negotialors and Others con
| cerned in their execution Ii is Of no conse-
quence whether a treaty is made with large
tribe or "A small one; whether the lands ceded
by them be OF much value or none at all whe~
Their the true interest either of the United States
or the Indians will be promoted thereby or not
II answers the purpose OF the treaty-makers by
profession. IL whole tribe cannot be got to
emigrate, part is eagerly treated with, without
any movement ON the part of the People or Of
the State in which they reside. A single com
missioner or treaty maker has received since the
passage of the act of 1880, upwards of sixteen
thousand dollars in pay and mileage for his ser
vices in making, or attempting to make Indian
treaties. In another instance another Individual
appears to have received upwards of five thou
sand dollars Tor negotiating treaty with mere
remnant of tribe within his own State. In
the same period there have been ffty-nine trea-
ties negotiated, at cost Of $S4,312 paid in az
lowanccs 10 commissioners and secretaries, in
GLIDING $2l5 20 for contingencies.
Another policy adopted by the Government
has been to provide for numerous special COM
missioners by treaty, which has proved strong
inducement to the multiplication Of treaties since
1880. Since that time there have been nstitu-
ted Mirfy-three of these special commissioners,
and there has been paid 10 them and other agents
employed in the execution of treaties, one hun-
drea and sirty.four Thousand tpo hundred and
ninety doHars Of which sum- $24, G33 was paid
for contingencies
This statement does not include the large
amounts paid within the same period to the
superintendent OF removal and their assistants,
which, IN one year, together with the salaries
paid To the permanent officer and agent employ
ed in the Indian department, exceed the whole
annual expenditure in that branch of the public
service ten years ago estimating the expenditure
of the whole year by the amount shown TO have
been paid during part OF it.
The general practice of selecting commission
ers to negotiate and carry into effect Indian trea
ties who reside at distance from the country
affected by them, does not answer the purpose
for which il was adopted, nor does il appear TO
have been adhered to in all cases in which the
propriety of il was most manifest. The cnor-
nous allowances for mileage alone, has made It
an object with too many 10 seek the Office OF
commissioner for the sake Of the emoument
only Such men generally enter into the bust
ness conhded to them, without feeling any nte
rest or having any proper degree OF knowledge
Of the subject. They are placed in a situation
10 become the dupes Of the designing and art
full men of the country where the treaty is ne
gotated or carried into execution.
One instance Of the abuse of this policy,
which has been brought To the notice OF the COM
mltee in the course of THIS investigation, shows
Il payment To a commissioner 10 treat with the
Winnebagoes, in 1886, who resided III Penn
sylvania, at tmenty- four doiiars for three days
attendance, and one Monsdnd fire hHRdred dof
iars miiedge and no treaty made al last.
But a greater and more serious mischief Than
those already enumerated, has grown out OF the
treaty making policy Of the times. The large
sums of money paid to commissioners aud other
agents employed in the negotiation and eXecu-
ton of treaties, is Of but little consequence, in
comparison with the whole cost or expenditure
Of numerous treaties made IN pursuance OF the
act of 1890 but which, in fact, Were made IN
abuse Of the policy OF that act.
Besides the individual and selfish interests at
work in getting up treaties on the part Of those
who have no other motive III view but 10 en-
rich themselves there Is often local interest Of
political nature cooperating with them. II be-
comes Il part of the policy Of public men within
our new and extensive territories to effect the
removal of the Indian tribes 10 some point be
yond their limits as rapidly as possible and they
frequently have sufficient influence to bring about
a treaty against sound policy, and without any
regard TO the general and permanent interest,
either of the United States of the Indians,
and having no tendency TO promote the general
policy of Indian removal.
Where treaties are made with these motives
and objects, the subordinate agents employed in
negotiating them, being generally persons sup
posed to have the confidence Of the Indians, are
only concerned that treaty shall be made-that
| large sums of money are provided for dstrlbu-
ton among favorites, and that special rcserva-
tons or gratulties shall be secured TO themselves
but as tothe question what the Government ought
to give or pay in exchange for the lands ceded-;
whether the country to which it is proposed to
remove them IS not really of greater value than
the one proposed to be ceded by them; whether
the danger Of collision between the Indians
and the citizens of the United States would not
be increased rather than diminished by the con
templated exchange of countries whether, in
fact, any one beneficial object, either to them
| selves or the United States, will be accomplish
ed. All these questions are lost sight of by the
negotiators, in their eagcrness TO accomplish
their own selfish purposes. In this manner,
large portions of the public domain are surren-
dered TO persons who have no claim upon the
Government, nor upon the Indians; and millions
of money are lavishcd and expended in pursu
ance of the provisions Of a treaty which ad-
vances no single interest which the Government
is bound to guard and protect. And it some
times happens that bloody and expensive wal
closes the catalogue of evils attending these i'm
provident treaties.