The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-03-21

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it.-Rec. DR.. Lommot.
| From the National Anti-Slavery Standard.
Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Feb. rs, 1914.
Mr.. Giddings has opened another anti
slavery vein in these dIgoings. He has
bro't to light the fact thar we are paying
pensions 10 Indian tribes for catching and
restoring runaway slaves | was aware
that there were stipulations in some of
the Indian treaties by1 which the Indians
were bound to render such service, and |
felt sufficiently indignant at this prostiu-
ton of the powers OF the national govern
ment; but l always supposed that the
masters were left to adjust and to pay from
their own pocke's, the compensation to
the savages for catching their miserable
victims But 1--WE, the people," have to
pay the piperl ! have as yet no means
of determining what is the aggregate that
has thus been expended "for the general
welfare" but | presume it to be many
hundred thousands. You will learn
from the following note, addressed to the
editors of the lntelIigencer and the Globe,
how much the press of this District can
be relied on to do justice TO our character
interests, and 10 the faithful, fearless and
ihdefatigable exeltions of our public SER
wants.
Hall Of Representatives, Es6.22. 1874.
Gentlemen: While the lndian appro-
pration bill was under discussion yester.
day, l moved to strike out the appropria.
ton of two thousand dollars for the bene.
fit of the Florida Indians; stating at the
time, that | had no other object in maxi
ing the motion than to call tie attention
of the House and country to the fact, that
this appropriation was made, at least in
part, if not in whole, in consideration of
The stipulations contained in the 7th arti-
Gle of our treaty made with those Indians
on the 18Th of September, l643. which
is in the following words: The chiefs
and warriors aforesaid, for themselves
and their tribes stipulated to be active and
vigiIant in preventing the retreating to,
or passing through. the district OF country
assigned them, of any absconding slaves
or tugitives from justice; and further
agree to nse all necessary exertions TO
apprehend and deliver the same TO the
agent, who shall receive orders to COM
pensate them agreeably TO the trouble and
expense incurred"
In order that all the reporters and
10 .ho licf T.,
ualion, caused it to be read by the clerk
at his table l then stated as distinctly,
and as audibly as | was able, that | de-
sired 10 let the country understand defin-
nely that Congress was, year alter year,
approprating the public moneys to pay
for catching slaves. That we had done
it for great length of time, and were
likely to continue doing so for years to
come. That denied such right exp!ic-
lily, and declared i; violation Of the con-
stitutional rights of the people of the free
States. then called on gentlemen who
were willing to maintain the right of
Congress thus to take the public treasure,
drawn from the free States, and pay it
over as a compensation for catching
slaves, TO stand forth boldly and avow
their doctrines distinct y to the people OF
the nation. Their was some discussion
on the subject in which Messrs. Drom-
goole, Levy, and myself participated; bu.
| see no report whatever of that debate in
either of the papers of this city. | desire
that you will not understand me as wish
ing, in any manner, TO interfere with
your duties as editors, or with those of
your reporters. But most respectfully
desire to be informed whether the public
are to understand that you report the de-
bates of this House, Or are they to I'M
derstand you as refusing to publish those
discussions which exhibit the violations
of our federal Constitution and the man
ner In which the rights of the people Of
the free States have so long been tramp
led upon, by taking money from their
pockets and paying it out for catching
slaves? Very respectfully, your obedl-
ent servant. J. r. GIDDINGs.
In order that disclosure SO interesting
to Northern freemen, may be spread be-
fore them in an authentic shape, send
the following report of what occurred
thereupon in the House.
During the debate Of Wednesday, npon
the Indian appropriation bill, in commit
tee of the whole, Mr.. Giddngs moved to
strike out the item of two thousand dol.
lars for the benefit of the Florida Indians