The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1845-08-16
REMARKS OF Mr.. THOMPSON,
OF MISSISSIPPI

OF MISSISSIPPI
In y. s. House Of Representatives. March 3,
.lS45 On the reconsideration Of the bill of
the Senate 10 authorize the Chickasaw In
dams to institute suit in the United States
Court in the District of Columbia, 20 try the
validity Of certain claims Of those Indians
against the U. States. Mr.. THOMPSON sad
The repeated CA made upon me bymy friend
from Tennessee, (Hon. c. Johnson) induce me
to intrude my views on this SUBJECT Upon the
House. havelong lived in that beautiful coun,
try ceded the Chickasaws to this government
am well acquainted with all the headmen OF
that nation. | could once TO some extent. sneak
Their language. ! am familiar with their Gus.
toms, have often examined and advocated their
rights, under their treaties with the United
States; and so much have been identified with
that tribe OF Indians, and so steadily have
maintained their interests, that | am well nigh
considered ChIckasaw myself. Laughter
II is on this account i am called upon for my
views and opinions, and not because was on
the committee which ezamided into the dis
bursement and investment of the Chckasaw
fund. The gentleman from Tennessee Mr..
johnson, is mistaken 10 supposing me to have
served on that committee. But such nforma-
ii, as possess shall be frankly LAID before the
House.
| am opposed TO the passage Of this bill, be
cause the principle on which it rests is wrong,
without the sanction OF sound reason or good
policy. No money can be drawn from the
treasury OF the United States, bu, in pursuance
Of an appropriation OF law, as il is distinctly
provided by the constitution. For this reason
Congress should pass no law which constants
or limits their discretion in all appropriations;
and therefore no citizen of the U. States, having
al - tod 10 mt cYnif
the government. No State or corporation is
al!owedthis privilege, and why should this right
be extended to any tribe of Indians? Has Con.
gress ever evinced disposition TO deny to the |
poor Indian Justice! Have we ever refused to
give an attentive ear to his complaints? To
suppose such thing, is dshonorable retlec.
ton upon this House and our predecessors. On
the contrary, we all know how irresistible any
bin is which has the word Indian in it. We all
know how many Ell ormous and startling spscu |
lation have been pushed through Congress in
the name of the Indians. And this fear OF leg |
isatng for spectators is the only drawback TO !
any Indian claim; and this House will 60 farther
for the savage than any cold aud unfeellng court
OF Justice. But suppose we confer this high
prerogative of insttuting suit against the Uni. |
ted States upon the Caickasawe, and thus virtu-
ally transfer the keys of the treasury to the I
EHanCellOt Vi tUi5 bStiit's o'O SopoHlS Va
themselves TO prefer, advocate, and maintain
their rights! On the contrary, we know they
are an ignorant people and must engage agents
and attorneys to act for them; and the chancel
lor, in opening the doors of the treasury to the
Chickasaws, will allow other shrewd men, who
love the Chickasaws and urge their interest so
much to lay their hands also upon its Golfers.
This bin, then, Mr.. Speaker instead Of being
e. thn ~ IN In hniI, prt indnra- I
ment, offers rewards, to white men Tor hunting
up cases against the United States among the
Indians; and ifyou give this privilege to the
Chickasaws, you are bound to extend 1t to the
Cherokees aud the other tribes. The dockets
of your chancery court IN this district are to be
burdened with Indian cases; your district at /
..,rury, wnS knows nothing o. such matters, will
have his Iabors increased four fold; the testimo.
nv thst will be taken and submitted will be all
Elk pARTE; and the decree Of the court VII! be
binding in honor, upon the government. a |
bill that is based upon such principle, and leads
TO such consequences, should be most carefully
examinedbefore its adoption here.
The next point to be examined i the reason
for the passage of this bill. 1t is said By the
gentlemen from North Carolina Mr.. Sanders]
that in our treaty with the Chickasaw nation,
it was agreed that the lands coded should be
sold as other public lands, and the proceeds of
the sales were 10 be invested in stocks not hav-
ing more than 20 years to run; that the govern
ment. inviostion Of that provision OF the trea.
ty, had invested the Chickasaw fundin stocks
having more than 20 years to run. and that the
the States whose stock 5onds had heen pur-
chased had for several years failed topay in.
terest. Here was question for court OF
chancery. Suppose the facts to be as they are
stated: we have remedied already the main part
Of The grievance complained Of BY the passage
of the bill a. few days since, advancing TO these
very Indians the interest due them from the
non. paving States out of the United states
treasury. Therefore the ChickasaSs At the
present time have no ground Of complaint on
This head And for them 70 employ an attorney