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

hunt, or shall fail TO pay him any other account
the Government will indemnify them by the
first treaty hereafter made with them.
This would not appear so unreasonable, II the
advance or profits upon the OUTLAWS were not So
cxorbltant and so eXacting. But the injustice Of
such calculation of profits in business will BE-
manifest when the House is Informed, as the
Committee have been, by the evidence before
them, that the general habit of the traders is TO
sell or furnish their goods to the Indians at such
an advance upon their cost as will allow them a
handsome profit after deducting the amount,
which long experience has shown TO be fair
average loss upon the credits given TO Indians
in any series of years. Far in the interior, two
hundred per cent is the usual advance upon the
cost, at which goods are supplied. Among the
tribes bordering on the States and Territories,
one hundred per cent. is the common advance
and among those tribes where the risk is less,
seventy five per cent. is the charge beyond the
cost.
| Upon looking into the treaties in which large
| sums have been appropriated 10 the payment of
Indian debts, il will be found that the most nu-
merous class Of debts are composed OF old ba-
ances of credits which, until recently, were
never regarded as OF any value--so little that no
books or written memorandum of any kind
were kept of them. In many cases the payment
OF these old balances would secure to the trader
a profit Of one hundred per cent. on the amount
OF the supplies furnished the Indians. II will be
readily admitted that cases may exist, and
doubtless there are MANY such, in which the
trader has been uniformly unfortunate, and in
stead of making any profit he has met with con-
tnued losses. Topay such debts might be mere
torous and just enough, but the misfortune is,
that il is usually the successful trader only who
retains any great degree of influence with the
Indian; and when provision is made for the
payment OF debts, they are but too likely 10 en-
gross the whole.
| fit shall be said that these allowances for the
payment of debts are at last but the price which
| the Government has TO pay for the influence of
the traders in eectlng treaty. il will be suffi-
| cient answer 10 say that this influence may and
will soon 10 be, held too high price for the
convenience and resources of the Government.
IL Is an old maxim in the management of Indi-
ans, g those who furnish their supplies, govern
their councils = and this now appears to be true
IN the case Of all the wild tribes upon our Dor
ders. Great efforts will be made by traders to
increase this source OF wealth by extending their
influence with the Indians, and in time it will
come to be So If it IS not so to some extent al.
ready, that the established policy of the traders
will be to allow the Indians 10 dole out their
lands in small parcels, at such times, and upon
such terms only, as will best administer To the
necessities and wants of the traders themselves.
But the injustice that Is perpetrated by this
policy upon the Indians, as well as its demoraiz-
ing tendency upon the traders, should cause the
United States to discourage it by every means
in their power. What firm and strict admins
traton of the laws and policy Of the Govern
ment IN the regulation OF the Indian trade might
do perhaps, has not been tried to any great ex-
tent. That much might be done, by proper
care and attention., to put down these imposItions,
both upon the Indians and the Government, in
the future negotiation and execution of treaties,
cannot be doubted.
The Committee has already remarked, that
| II hp IN m w dpb IL
provided for in these treaties be Just not, If
the public is concerned 10 any considerable ex-
tent i'm making, "a treaty which cannot otherwise
be effected than by appealing To the avarice OIL
the traders ; but II IS to be regretted that TOO
many of these treaties have been, and may yet
be- entered into, under the influence OF this pas
sion in the traders, arttully and successfully
brought TO bear upon the Government, without
the slightest regard to any substantial public OBJ
iect or interest. Nay; sometimes, as II will ap- |
pear clearly IN the case OF the Winnebago treaty
under examinations that treaties have been made
ia direct opposition 10 the interest Of the Govern
ment and people Of the United States. And all
such treaties are but another mode OF taxing the
people for the benefit of class who have the
least occasion for the public bounty.
In reference to the Indian traders the Com
mittec would not be understood as attributing TO
| them, as a class, and without exception, the alb
sence of all patriotic feeling and principle nor
/
just and fair dealing; and that there are not in
| dividuals among them distinguished for justice
and strict honor in their intercourse both with
the Indians and the Government. That there
are such is well known but, unfortunately for
the public service they are not the persons who
usually thrust themselves forward and become
the agents for the Government in making and
executing treaties. In the opinion Of the Com
mittee it would be better every account that
such persons should be selected, and these inn
portant trusts committed to them, instead of en-
poying the less scrupulous traders or their agents
to operate upon the Indians as is often done
The practice of providing large sums for dis
4 trbuton among halt-brceds, has also led to great
abuses and frauds in the execution of treaties
fit be really necessary TO do something of this
| kind, in order to effect treaty, the abuses so
manifest of late should be guarded against BY
more specific provisions. The policy should
be, as in making appropriations by law, TO spe
cify--to leave as little possible to the dscre
ton Of the Government agents in making the
distribution The amount and character of
fraud perperated in the execution of treaties in
which such provisions, TO any extent in the
usual form, have been made, are revolving to the
feelings of the inquirer. No mode or device could
be inventedfor the introduction of amore odlous
system of Partially, iavoritism, and fraud, in
proportion to the sums Of money to be distributed
than the form in which these stpulatons in behalf
of hall-breeds are usually made.
The committee will now proceed to illustrate
and establish the correctness of the views al
ready presented, by brief reference to the cir
Gums stances, under which the Winnebago treaty
of LIST November, 1897 was made and the man
ncr in which il has so far been executed
By "A treaty made with the Winnebagoes, at
Fort Anthony, on Rock Island, in 1882, they
coded to the United States all their lands lying
north and east of Wisconsin and the Fox river