The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-15
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WAsHINaToN, Slh April, I84O.

WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Sth April, 1910.
There is much that transpires in the Capital
with which those only who are on the ground can
be acquainted; and il is well known here that dur
ing a recent discussion in secret session OF lhe
Senate upon the Seneca Treaty, very severe re-
examinations passed between some of the mem
berS of that body. There is speech published
in the Globe of Saturday, the 4th of April, which
was delivered by MI Sewer, in Executive SEES
sion on the discussion of the Treaty. Mr. Sc
vier is chairman ofthe committee on Indian Al
fairs and a firm adherent of the administration;
but so 9aring was the outrage about 10 De com
mitted by the ratification of the treaty. that this
Senator threw aside his devotion to party, and
most ably exposed the whole transaction. In his
own words, he "unravelled the mystery" and
declared it to be "a curious piece of intrigue and
history, which should never be forgotten as 1t
might be of some service TO the country hereat-
ter" | propose to make free with his speech,
and to give you in as condensed manner as
possible, the principal points in the case, from
which hope your readers Will be able 10 form
some idea of the consistency of that adminiStra-
ton, which after having Frustrated the nation,
and infused distress and misery into every pore,
mock at our condition and insult us with the
allegation that it is all owing to speculation and
oveT-trading by the people. What is the fact
with regard to the proposed treaty. 1t has been
begot and fostered by speculation alone; the whole
object has been to lend the influence, the means
and the money of the people, to aid private
company, in their system OF fraud and bribery,
for the purpose ofaccompishing grand scheme
of speculation. The object has, however, fail
ed. The Executive, with all his power and pa
tronage, has not been able to delude and compel
a constitutional majority of the Senate to rally
this nefarious treaty. So far it has failed but the
outrage on the part of the Executive in the bare
al ~,
on the nation, is no less glazing; and when in
form you, that Notwithstanding a constitutional
majority of the Senate refused to ratify the trea-
ty, it is firmly believed that the President will
consummate the fraud by his promulgation( which
he has power 10 do by resolution of the Senate
of June 1882 you will understand something
of that functionaIy'S regard for individual and
vested rights. General Harrison has negotiated
more treaties with the Indians than any man liv-
ing, and challenge any one to point out single
instance, in which speculation has entered or
could have entered into any one of them. The
sole object and result of all the treaties negotia-
ted by him, have been, for valuable considera-
ton, and for the welfare of the Indian to cxtin-
euish the title TO their reservations. 1t is eqal
" notorious, that the treaties made with the In
dians during the past and the present admins
tration, have been dictated by the spirit of spe-
culation, and in every instance, that spirit has
entered into the negotiations, and been nurtured
and invigorated by the influence, the agency and
the means of the government.
But to Mr.. Sewers speech: For the last two
years with the parties interested, the treaty be-
fore the Senate had been subject OF intense in
terest and importance. On the one side, large
majority of the Seneca tribe had repeatedly APP
pealed 10 the President, to the Secretary of War
to the Senate, and TO individual Senators, earn
esly impIoring a rejection of the treaty; and by
census of the tribe, it had been ascertained that
not only majority of the chiefs, but also, about
fourteen-ffleenthS of the population were oppos-
ed to it, On the other hand the citizens of New
York. and especially those residing about B utfa
TO- had brought forward their memorials which
were aided by the influence Of lobby members and
ambassadors, both Indians and white men, for
purpose ofurging the treaty through the Senate.
Besides these two immediate parties, the State of
Massachusetts was also represented, as having d
particular and identical interest in the result.
Having thus stated the parties 10 the case, the
Senator enters into detailed history of the af-
fair from 1786 to the present time, in which he
sbews the relationship of the parties each TO the
other. the interests of the conflicting parties, the
deep laid scheme of speculation which was thus
calling the government to its aid, and various
devices by means of fraud and bribery, that had
been made use of, 10 accomplish the object of an
overgrown land company.
"Prior to 1766, (says Mr. SevierO Massachu-
sells Claimed DIS properly DcioHSIn w MI q POl-
ton of the State of New York. This claim N
York contested; and as we learn from the public
journals of the day. it was not finally settled un-
til I7S6. This dispute was then settled by Mas
sachusetts ceding to New York all her right and
title TO the government, sovereignty and jDriSdic-
ton over the disputed territory; in consideration
| of which New York ceded to Massachusetts, anG
to her grantees and to the heirs and assigns O.
her grantees, the right Of prescription of the sou
of tie natiUe Indians to the territory described
| in the compromise. The native Indians occupy
ing the territory to which Massachusetts thus &C
quired the right of pre-emption, was then as now
the Tuscaroras and Senecas, of New York. y
Massachusetts also acquired by this compromis
the right TO hold treaties and conferences will
these Indians, relatiUeto purchase oftbeir lands
together with the privilege of selling such pre-
emption right to any person whatever. In l79l
the State Of Massachusetts, sold this right ofpre
emption. to the Holland Land Company, AM
that company to David Ogden, and Ogden to th
present claimants. The present claimants ar
thereforelthe grantees of the State of Massachu
sets. and although Mr.. Sewer has not oeen abl
to lay his hands upon the contract between tina
State and her grantees, he infers, from the inter
est invariably manifested by Massachusetts, an
from her constantly employing an agent to al
tend at every sale of these lands, that she !
bound thereby toperform her superintendency o
such occasions.
BY the treaty of 1894, made with the six ma
lions of New York, the United States "acknow
| IaJood eeoorofeJu TN each of The tribes cOnDOsin