The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-06
INDIAN BILL.

The resolution was adopted.
INDIAN BILL.
The House resolved itself into Committee Of HE
Whole the state Of the Union (Mr. VHToN IN Tie
ChaIr) and resumed the consideration Of the oI
making appropriation for the Indian Department
and for fulfilling treaty supulations with Indian
tribes
Mr.. SCHENCK said that he intended to submit an
amendment, on which gentlemen would have an op-
porunity to define their position in relation TO repu-
dlstion or no reputation. Tney were under every
obligation, moral and legal, TO make the payment
which be proposed 10 provide for, and It for the
committee 10 say and determine, by the adoption OF
rejection of the amendment, whether they would or
would not discharge the obligation resting lAs
Government. He briefly stated that the bill pro-
ylded, under the treaty with the WyandOs, for the
payment Of 1900 in lieu of their annulues, bu,
made provision for their improvements. BY
the treaty of March, 1872 ratified, he beey-
ed, in the ensuing September, the Wyandott In
dians residing in Ohio, made sale of their lands
to the Government of the United States. The con
dltIon Of the treaty that for a certain given
they would release their annuties and dispose Of the
improvements VIII CHI they occuPled-and The treaty
stipulated how the opprasement should be made-by
the President, who appointed commissioners for that
purpose. 1t was supposed that The Improvements
not worth more than twenty or thirty thousand
dollars, and the Commissioner of Indian Affairs ASH
ed for twenty thousand dollars to pay for them; bU
to the surprise of the Commissioner aud the Govern
ment, the appraisement was rendered at Sl27 ,09+-
five times much was at first supposed. And
now he offered an amendment, approprating s57O9
to discharge the entire balance Of the debt which
had been due these Indians since the spring OF
lS43. II this amount were not paid II would, as be
before remarked, be reputation, and, further, repur
dlaton marked by the grossest injustice.
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON offered an amendment, in
lieu Of that Of the gentleman from Ohio-the pur-
e L.zLx .a,, H., l,,t
stood to confirm the apprasement submitted by The
Secretary of War--givng $4,000 to the Indians, in
full of all claims He said that the commissioners,
under the treaty, had appraised the lands at high
price that they would not sell even on credit for
halftte sum.
Mr.. VANCE remarked, that he would give that
for it himself.
Mr. JOHNSON would be willing to make such
bargain and would willingly vote for proposition to
effect it. He showed the wide difference between
the valuation of the FIRST board Of commissioners and
the second. The former, as an instance, valued a
tract of hundred and seventy acres with the iu
provements at 81 559-the latter, at S55 forty
six dollars an
Mr.. VANCE said that the Indians had left their
homes and iresides under solemn promise that the
money should be paid to them but now an effort
was made, in the amendment Of the gentleman from
Tennessee, to repudiate the contract IL was saying,
in effect you must take the amount offered, wei
would, nevertheless hang to their contract For his
own part, he would rather them die, one by one,
than they should accede to the propostlon--and he
would do all that he could to prevent such result
Mr. ST. JOHN addressed the Committee, and, in
the of his remarks, said that there was much
fraud connected with this subject, and he was not dis
posed TO give the amount of the enormous aPpraise-
ment, which would not to the benefit OF The In
diane, but to that of special few.
The question was taken on the amendment Of Mr..
johnson to the amendment Of Mr. Schenck and II
was decided in the sfIrmatve-ayes IS, nays "A
Mr.. SCHENCK moved to amend by adding, I" Aud
the balance due to the Wyandott, be and the same s
hereby repydiaird
Mr. JOHNSON called the gentleman to order,
and
Mr. SCIENCK resumed his seat
Mr.. SAMPLE offered an additional section 10 the
bill-provding for the payment Of the debt due to
the united bands Of Chippewas; and accompanied It
with remarks showing the manner in which the pecu
mary obligation was incurred
Messrs, MCKAY, HUGHES, VANCE, and SAM
PIE, submitted few remarks, when the amend
ment was rejected.
Mr.. GlDDINGS arose and spoke Of slavery, etc
Mr.. BLACK, of Georgia, succeeded, and, in re-
ply TO an ausion, told him that the people Of hi'
State did not consider slavery to be an eyil-at
asked him whether he felt disposed TO contradict
that.
MIR. GIDDINGS resumed the thread of his sub.
ject, after having already consumed an hour. But
not answering the question Of the gentleman from
Georgia,
MIR BLACK claimed the floor, as he had merely
given way for answer from the member from
Ohio.
Mr.. GlDDINGS refused 10 yield, and
The CHAIRMAN decided that he was entitled
to it having taking II without condition.
An appeal taken from the decision Of the
Chair, aud sustained.
Mr.. BLACK then replied, in a causic manner. TO
the gentleman from Ohio, land had not CONCLUDED
his remarks when we left the Capitol)