Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-18

canno, refrain from calling attention TO the case Of
The wounded Cherokee lndlans, TO whom lhe iai'i u
tho nation vas pledged by the Nth article OF the treaty
M lie Cherokces of the goth December 1883, to pro.
vide pensions TO such were engaged on inc sue VI
the H. States in the late war with Treat brlaih anu
The Southern tribes of Indians, and who were wouhaea
IN such service The few who remain have applied III
; IN The Pension Office for the promised remunera-
lion: but il is to be hoped that justice although taroy'
will now be rendered 10 them.
From the report of the late first clerk Of the Bounty
Land Office tappeas that about ~ claims Tor warrants
for revolutionary services, have been hied ana uu
abli.bed since the first day of January, lo4O on winch
day the last law for extending the time for issuing war
rants of that class expired and that one hunafea ah
fourteen claims for warrants on account OF services
dered in the late with Great Bfita have peeh oe
posed and established, although the act authorizing
such warrants expired on the 2,h day of May, lo3o-
By the report from the same ofhcer, LOT Tue yerr
ending 3Olh September, 1899, 1t appears mat nted
teen claims of similar character were pinGiraliou
and substantiated in that year. alter the 1s4O il
of the act and by like report, tor The Med and es.
appears that seventysx claims were exc expred act
,abshed during that year, under the uu 10 The 18th
MAKING the total number thus eslabl; Tho ,mbor,y
of November last, two hundred eYpired il is diff
for issuing these warrants bsd The claims have been
cult TO perceive on wha. g5r the legal validity of any
received anu 'nSes0sen taken since that authority
proofs tina. may seeenark applies 10 the claims tor
ceased. ne sam the Of the Revolution. The
services having been repeatedly called to
attention The laws the subject OF both these de-
inc ae, of claims had become obsolete, and no act
them having been passed, the utility OF NAM
,s;nng distinct bureau for their eSamlnat'on was
la perceived and whatever business remains to he
zone has been placed under the supervision OF the
Commissioner of Pensions, with his assent
II would be derelicon of duty to omit calling the
attention of Congress 10 subject to which 1t has been
so often invited by predecessor in this department,
riIyu md The
buildings in which, for the want of room III the War
Office the Offices Of the Paymastcr General, OF the
Ordnance Bureau Of the Chief Military Engineer, oil
the Typographical Engineers and the Commissioner
nc Pensions are kept Models, surveys maps, reports,
and various documents of incalcuabe value belonging
10 those bureaus are mminently exposed. Some I'M
mediate provision for suitable building seems lnds-
pensabe.
Bya Joint resolution Of Congress, approved February
Is 1880! the Secretary of War authorised to con-
,rnc for The purchase of the island the confluence Of
the ST, Pecrs Mississippi rivers; and 10 report his
proceedings Congress- TO their appreciation or
rejection On the 18th March, 1889, the contract was
made and the sum of $4,000 agreed to be paid. As
the property is deemed necessary for military purposes,
being adjacent TO Fort Smelling, an estimate for an aP
propration for its purchase has been submitted, in
form which will relieve the subject of all difficulty
Meeting the title the land, By leaving TO the proper
department to ascertain the persons ened 10 me PUT
chase money. a communication Of my immediate pre-
decessor to the Speaker OF the House OF Representa-
yes on the End September, 1871, will furnish all the
information the subject in the possession OF this De-
partment
Pursuant to the appropriation in the act of September
o lS4I for defrayng the expenses Of selecting sulta.
ble site on the Western waters for the establishment OF
national armory, board Of officers, consisting OF
Brevet Brigadier- General Armstead, Lieutenant CO.
lionel Long, OF the Typographical Englnee-s, and Sur
geon General Lawson, has been appointed to make The
necessary examinations. They are now engaged IN
that duty, and their report on the subject will be lad
before you as soon il shall be received
The report oil the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
presents much valuable information concerning the ye-
ry important matter in charge oil that Bureau. The
absence of the Commissioner in the negotiation Of a
treaty. when the undersigned called to the Depart
ment of War; and for some time alterward, together
with the very short time allowed for the examination
and consideration of the various and complicated rea-
tions with the Indian tribes, will account for the oms-
sion in this report, Of views and opinions which might
be otherwise expected. Believing it TO be branch oil
the public service requiring peculiar attention and ma
ture dclberation il will not 10 engage the most
strenuous efforts 10 improve its administration, and pro-
mote the interests Of the pless people who are the
objects Of lis care and if occasion should require any
suggestions for those purposes, they will hereafter be
| the subject Of special report.
4 The amendments made BY the President and Senate
to The treaty with the Miami tribe, assenied 10 by
them in the month of June last; thus extngulslng the
Indian title TO lands throughout the whole State Of In
diana. An arrangement has also been made with the
Saganaw Indians, BY which certain omissions IN the
treaty of 1897 have been supplied and the cesslon OF
their lands intended 10 be embraced in IT. has been com
pleted.
Since the adjournment of Congress, treaty has been
concluded with of the bands OF the Sioux, or
lands, not included in any previous negotiation, anu
another has been made with the half breeds Of the 81
oux for cesson Of the lands set apart to them by The
9Th article OF the treaty held at Prairie du Chen, on The
! 18th of July, 1880
A treaty is now negotiating with The Wyandots for
their lands in the State Of Ohio, which, it is believed
will be brought to a conclusion. The attempt TO
negotiate with the Sacs and Foxes has utterly failed
As the causes Of this failure believed TO be tempora
ry, or such may be removed by arrangements with
other tribes renewed effort will be made when pro-
pitous occasion shall offer.
Ii is source Of regret that the information respect
ing the state of the Indian schools Is scanty and
imperfect. Few subjects commend themselves more
strongly 10 all our sympathies as men and Christians,
than the education and civilization of the Indian tribes;
and SO far depends this Department. the obliga-
tons resulting from the provisions made in various trea-
ties for that purpose, and from the appropriations ny
Congress shall be faithfully discharged.
/ The recommendation OF the Commissioner to revive
the investigation into the claims arising under the l4th
article Of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek and that
proposing that authority should he given for the sale oil
lands at once upon their being ceded which buildings
have been erected, or improvements have been made
by the IT, S. are respectfully commended to the consi.
Iteration Of Congress
The condition of the accounts of the disbursing
agents demands prompt attention. There appear TO be
large balances against Of those agents, who are
supposed TO be entitled 10 credits Of equal amounts Tor
expenditures but which credits cannot be allowed I'M
der existing laws, consequence Of the sums thus ex-
pended being taken from other funds. Some law like
that suggested by the Commissioner authorizing trans
fers of appropriations, indispensable; and the
interest Of the Government vel! as OF the agents,
requires that il should be passed speedily possible
Measures have been taken TO execute the act OF 1881
in relation to the n,rusions Indian lands, for the
purpose Of preventing the sale of liquor and unlicensed
trading which it is hoped may prove successful.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN G. SPENCER.
/ To the PRESIDENT.
IN SENATE.
Tuesday, December IA, 1911.