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

he found Just regardless oil the Wishes ~
OF the Indians. In the oplhion
the committee, the Indians should, AZ SOM nv Ne
or other, admit the justice OF dep'' 49, H.
Government can properly pay u"''
treaty. i; admitting
me poliey Of the Government IN admi''lns
thase nrovisions in treaty proviuihs io' ~
nayment of large sums 10 half breeds ana creui-
pay ,,as ~ content the Indians. The treaty
~ ~, ~ ouobt not 10 have been made WIN
anv view TO pay the debts OF theiI crediiors.-
TLay were not the creditors Of the Government;
nor 4 il under any obligation 10 make provi-
-, - nav them they, therefore, can have no
slon "a IF complaint against the government, if
~ Indians. their debtors, will contumaciously
md arbitrarily refuse To admit their claims
The Government could only be responsible Tor
exercising its influence with the Indians TO with
hold the admission required by the treaty.
In the present case, though Mr.. Fleming APP
nears 10 have invited the Indians 10 interpose
their objection TO any re-adjudcaton OF The debt
claims; YET the committee do not believe that
he did or could have persuaded the Indians 10
adopt that course; but there were those on the
ground who could, and undoubtedly did. They
were those who furnished their necessary sup
pLes-their favoriie traders. They had already
lied a protest against any revision OF their
Claims The Indians were under their influence,
and il would have been almost superhuman Tor
tearance, if they had not exercised II. But u IS
cutie clear from the circumstances ana lnllu-
tnces under which the treaty was made, that
besides the benefits secured TO the immediate
agents employed, TO get up the treaty II was
mainly designed TO pay the debts OF the traders,
who then had the principal influence over then
the address 10 satisfy the Department that no
debts ought to be paid but such as could be esta-
blshed by regular books or entries. II was then
their treaty--it was in fact framed for their be-
ne6t Ii is notorious in the country 1.-THE w IN
nebagoes that the boxes Of silver that are annu-
ally sent up the Mississippi, now amounting &c
S92 000 are often not even opened by the In,
dams, or in their presence, but pass directly into
the hands Of their traders. II is not therefore
surprising, that after causing treaty to be made
for their exclusive advantage, they should con
troll the execution oft. Ii is true, that the num-
Der of old traders and claimants, was, IN tins
instance, so great, and possessed so much lniiu
ence that they were able to set aside the instruc
tons Of the Department in regard to the nature
of the evidence required TO establish the justice Of
debt: yet the fund was large enough TO pay the
traders OF principal influence, and still leave a
| considerable balance and those who were per
mitted to prove their claims by evidence forbid
den BY the instructions, were wise enough &c
consent to an evasion Of the pro rata principle
provid by the treaty in order to protect the
interests Of those to whom they were indebted
for the treaty, and without whose good Offices
they knew the Indians could never be induced
TO own one of their claims The controlling in
huence over the debt claims has been, and con
tinues to be, in the hands of the mass of trader,
alluded to.
If this be the correct view of the subject,
new commission for the adjudication of the re
ieeted claims would be as abortive as the pas
ones, in any attempt to do equal justice TO tn,
claimants, as long as the Indians have a voc,
in their proceedings. After agreeing to the pro
vision in the treaty that their admission shoult
be condition without which none of their debt
should be paid the Government would have act
ed more wisely to have extended the distribu
ton of the entire fund to the beraity ant
honor of the principal traders at once, and thu.
have avoided both the expense and embarrass
ments of the commission, which is obliged t
decide according to the dictates of the traders.
The committee believe there would have beer
less complaint if the traders had been vestet
with the power of making a distribution among
themselves they would have been check upor
- 49,, ~~I r-~... .l.si, knowledge Of tn
ground upon which every claim was sustained
they would have been less liable to be imposed
upon-they would probably have given to eacl
just claimant some portion of the fund.
The committee think ii due To Mr. Murray L
state, that although he gave his official sanction
to the awards made TO the half claimants
under the circumstances already stated, yet ther,
was no evidence before the committee to show
any conneXlon in interest, on his part, witt
Brodhead, in his purchases. On the contrary
the witnesses examined on that point, generally
expressed decided opinion in favor Of his inno
cence. Still the committee cannot, consistent
ly, with their views of what is due to the pub
lie, forbear to say that they regard the conduc
OF Mr. Murray in giving his sanction to pro
ceeding of so much importance, and in its ma
ture so liable To the exercise OF tavoritlsm and
fraud, without a more careful investigation o.
the grounds of adjudication, was highly cen
surable.
II may also be proper that the committee
should further state that there does not appear
TO be any sufficient ground of evidence to charge
any of the officers of the departments which has
had charge Of this subject, with any unworthy
motive in the proceedings adopted TO carry into
effect the clause of the treaty making provision
for the half-breed and debt claims
The committee, alter giving to the whole sub
Ject, all the attention in their power, recommend
the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Indian A fairs,
be discharged from the further consideration of the
matters referred to them, relating to the execution of
the treaty with the Wnncbago Indians concluded at
Washington in the year 1887
THE ADMINISTRATIONS HIRED EIEC-
TIONEERERS
The case Of Mr. EXTRA SMITH, (spoken of
in the subjoined paragraph from the Richmond
W hig,) is OF common occurrence, under the
present spoils Administration The country is
overrun with paid canvasscrs and electioneerers,
wearing the garb of democracy but in reality
rioting on the plumber of the peoples money
"Mr. Rvcs addressed the people of Madison
at their last Court. He was replied to by Mr..
Extra w illiain Smith, in coarse, vituperative
strain, which provoked retor, he will not soon
forget Mr.. Rives placed him upon the stand
and in the face of the people Intercepted him.