Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-09-17

land who had no right, and others were
permitted to locate upon the choicest lands
contrary to the letter, spirit and intent OF
the treaty. The treaty provides " These
reservations shall be confined to the Sec
tons or fractional sections on which the
party claiming lives, or to such as are CON-
tiguous 10 or adjoining to the sections re-
sided upon. subject to the following re-
strictions or conditions:
1st When there are interferences aris-
ing, the Oldest settler or occupant shall
have the preference.
I'd. When the land is Judged unfit for
cultivation by the agent and three of the
chiefs, the party entitled 10 was authorized
TO locate on other lands.
1t is generally conceded that, in viola
ton of this provision, a vast deal Of the
most valuable land of the nation, lying
principally in the prairie and the richest
land districts, was reserved and appro-
prIated to individuals. II must be kept
in mind, that whatever is reserved 10 an
individual Indian is so much distracted
from the general Chickasaw fund; and If
the United States have NAL administered
the treaty, by allowing LANDS to Indians
who were not entitled to such birth-right,
| the Chickasaw nation has claim in good
conscience on the United States, under the
treaty, for compensation. For an illustra-
tion, let US take one case and run it through
the Courts, and er uRo, disco omneS': Tor
believe that more than one hundred ca
ses could be hunted up by keen-scented
lndian-dealer. Suppose the Chickasaw ma
tion file bill against the United States,
for the land or for the value of the section
of land on which the town of Pontoioc IS
located, and prove to the satisfaction oil
the Court that the Indian who was here
located, was not entitled to any reserva-
ton, or, if entitled, that he was bound
under the treaty to take another and diff
fefent section of far less value. And sup
pose the Court should decree that that sec.
ton of land belonged to the ChickasaW
nation, or that the United States should
account for~its value, which | will sup
pose TO be equal at the present time to
100000. Now, If The Attorney in every
case could make the ignorant and confid-
ihh5 NhiShoSo" yin ONCE Olt D0Alf tufs
would be a rich harvest, and | apPrehend
the laborers would not be wanting.
In what way all this might have effected
{ innocent holders of land, what disturbance
and uncertainty would arise in the CON-
munity, and how far the proof, which might
be easily prepared, would effect existing
titles, it is not necessary for me TO deter.
mine. But as fraud viliates all contracts
and renders them void G6 initio, the paten
of the Government could not protect tn,
present owner of the land. ueretefOrt
the effort has been to obtain lands for In
dams; pass this law, and the process woulC
change, and the cry would be the infamous.
conduct of the former officers of the go
vernment, and the grievous and wholesale
plumber of the Ignorant and confdins
Indian nation. This consider the great
est enormity.'
might go farther, but here shall stop
} for am fully satisfied that a measure /,
{ which such objections will Justly lie, vii
find but few advocates in Mississippi, an,
no man would be willing TO rest his hope
, for popular favor on a bill of such cha
Out NIiIC 0lAl lOICEu tuuS
| characterize this intended law,4 do no
$ know that these who favored it saw tn,
extensive and dangerous jurisdiction giyei
by it 10 the courts. claim to be homes
; in my opposition to the measure-I an
/ free to concede that its advocates ar
equally honest. Therefore | must sup
n pose them mistaken, and, doubtless, the
al u L..
o for you to Judge between us, and 10 You
3 decision shall submit with cherfulness.
d But portion of my speech on this bill
!. has been so often quoted and so improper
n ly Interpreted, that il is due TO truth an
/ frankness that should correct the errons
IS Gus Interpretation. there remark, " BIZ
II | have had my difficulties in coming up I
e this opposition. have friends urging th
r passage of this bill-friends that hav
e served; and whose wishes hate to thwar
is But sense of duty, &C., has impelIe
i me 10 make this explanation of the enol
e mites of this bill and having done s.
e [ cheerfully submit the result to the fre
% action of the House." 1t is said il som
ID strong and caustic articles which hav
}! noticed, that the friends alluded to, wer
!. DR.. VIM. M. Gwin and Hon. Robert
j. Walker. The use of the word in the pll
At raj number, has led TO this mistake. | d
lie not allude to MIR. Walker. He never
e, any time, or in any way, spoke TO me
e relation to this bill; and in resisting
is passage, did not consider one momen
lie that was interfering with his wishes,
lie that my action on it would interrupt Il
r. uniform kind feelings that had suppos'
e, 30 exist between US. know that in N
er ny cases, representative allows himss
IN 10 yield his assent to measures OF pl
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