The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-04
WHOLE NO. BIT.

that, by the treaty OF 1897 the 'sNeuira Ground,
was only looked 10 as IA temporary residence q
| The w innebagoes that there was an expires
provision for the expense attending the explorn
expedition into the country south of the rive
Missouri and that the Government has, not
outstanding, decided upon the employment 0
force IN competing this temporary Occupation
OF the Neutral Ground; = some estimate ma,
De formed OF the improyidence, in point of ex
penditure al least, with which the policy of tb,
act OF 1880 has been carried out The Commit.
Tee are utterly al a loss to conceive the motives
OF the Executive III carrying into execution I,
treaty SO disadyantageous and impolltc in Every
point Of view, by force of arms.
hat SUFFICIENT motive may exist is mereI,,
possible IL is against every human probahty
TO suppose that, under all the circumstance, of
the case, any one good object can be obtailed
by such course II the Indians must, from
necessity, go still further west than the . Nts-
trail Ground" question arises first, why wt,.
the treaty of 1897 entered into? IL was thtn
known, as is evident from the terms of the
treaty, that the Neutral Ground was not suit
able Tor them as permanent residence -
Second-inasmuch as il is now ascertained that
the country ceded by them East of the Missis
slppl, is safer and more convenient temporary
residence for Them, both as regards meir owls
safety and interests, and those Of the United
States Why should the arms of Government
be employed TO put both parties in a worse con
ditlon than they are at PRESENT.
From every circumstance within the know
ledge OF the committee, connected with the
treaty, II was made without any adequate public
object, and has been, so far, executed in the
mere wantonness of extravaganza and power
The treaty was ratified in the month Of June,
1888, and commissioners were appointed by the
President 10 distribute hundred thousand dol
81. l.il -.
OF the Winnebages, very much at their discre-
ton, as to the sums TO be apportoned to each
individual, for the committee can see very little
limitation upon the absolute powers vested in
them over that fund by the instructions, 10 hare
regard 10 any capacity or disposition 10 rem
DER services nhich may be discovered IN chii-
dren.
The President, by the instruction that the
distribution should be made, not per capita, but
TO be regulated by merit of any kind, threw the
door wide open 10 the exercise Of every species
of bribery and corruption.
Proceeding, as the committee suppose, on the
policy of selecting agents from sections remote
from the sphere OF those local Influences likely
TO bias acknowledgement, the President proceeded TO
appoint Gen. Simon Cameron, OF Pennsy lvanla,
and James Murray, Esq, of MARYLAND, to pro
cecd 10 Praine-du Chen, to distribute the half
breed and debt-claim fund, set apart by the
treaty.
II is clear from the evidence that, by one OF
the commissioners al least, his new official sta
ton was regarded as aiiording fine opportunity
Of enrlchlng his friend, if not himset-lor the
proof is indisputable, that DIR. ID. Nj. Brodhead
who IS shown TO have had most friendly and IN
innate relations with Gen. Cameron, took witl
HIM 10 Prairle-du- Chen, al least 100000 III
notes of the Berks County and Middletowi
Banks OF Pennsylvana-ofo one OF these Banks
Cameron was cashier; and the other circum-
stances detailed IN the evidence, leaves no doubt
of the fact that Cameron was either directly
concerned IN the purchases made OF half breed
claims by Brodhead, or that with full know
ledge of them he connlyed AT and sanctioned
them in HE ofiisial .h~-~-.~-
The evidence of Charles III Stewart a gentle
man actively engaged as attorney and agent in
advocating many of the debt claims, details
circumstances which put this point beyond all
cavil
The result was, as admitted by Brodhead
himself at the close Of the commission, that he
was the holder OF half breed claims allowedby the
commissioners for the amount of Ss0,O00, for
which he had paid only about $4,000. How a
transaction so gross and scandalous, and which,
but Tor the responsibility assumed by the dis
bursting agent, major Hitchcoch) in refusing 10
pay the certificates issued to Broadhead, would
have been consummated, could have received
the sanction OF both the commissioners demands
some further inquiry.
The half-breed fund by direction of the treaty
was to be distributed under the direction OF the
President. BY the instructions TO the commits
sioners from the Department OF War, they Were
required among other things, to hear the state
ments of the chiefs, publicly made, with regard
TO the rights of the applicants; which, of course,
would include the degree OF relationship, and
as in subsequent part OF the instructions, the
distribution to each of the rghtiul claimants
was 10 be made in proportion TO the 'value and
extent OF services or supplies rendered the In
dams, and the capacity, disposition, and inten-
ton TO render them in future The statements
of the chiefs on these points were also intended
TO be received. These statements OF the chiefs
thus publicly made, if not controvered or dis
proved, were, by the instructions, to be helc
conclusive. A distribution upon such indefinite
principles, necessarily opened the door to the
practice of great partiahty and favoritlsm. Blu
the instructions, if complied with properly wer,
well calculated TO check any gross Injustice
The direction was that the statement of the
chiefs should be publicly heard; that a list o
the respective claimants, setting forth the name
age, SEX degree of relationship and amour
awarded, should be afterwards presented to tn
chiefs in council receive their assent by thei
signatures, and that the payment should by mad
to each of the claimants, and his receipt take
on list furnished to the acknowledgement by tn
commissioner.
| In all these respects, tho Instructions wer
disregarded by the commissioners. They dI'
not hear the statements of the chiefs who at
tended the commissioners, in council or publicly
nor did they read the award in council whe
made. The proof upon this point is, that Nicho
las Boilvin, after the awards were made out an
"A council of the Indians was called, took tn
Ia. bx hen, oil ~
they came out they simply called for the lis
which. when produced, were signed by then
without being read. The Indians were the
removed beyond hearing and the awards wer
for the first time made public. One of the hal
] breeds heino present lRaspalll complalned {