Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-11

/ der every obligation, moral and legal, 10 ilahe
the payment which ne proposed TO PROVIDE ior'
and it was for the Committee 10 say and determine
BY the adoption or rejection OF the amendmen
whether they would or would not discharge .ae
obligation resting on the Government. he orieny
stated that the bill provided, under the treaty WIN
the Wyandous, for the payment OF ST. ,5OO in lieu
oftheir annuities, but made no provision Tor tnelr
! Improvements. By the treaty OF March, lo42,
ratified he believed, in the ensuing September the
\ Wyandou Indians, residing in Ohio, made 4 sale
! of their lands 10 the Government OF the United
| States. The condition ofthe treaty was that for
| acerain given sum they would release their an
nuiiies, and dispose OF the Improvements which
| they occupied-and the treaty stipulated how the
appraisement should be made-by the President
| who appointed commissioners Tor that purpose
| Ii was supposed that the Improvements were not
worth more than twenty thirty thousanddollars
and the Commissioned Of Indian Affairs asked ior
twenty thousand dollars 10 pay for them; but 10 the
surprise OF the Commissioner and the Government,
the appraisement was rendered al Sl27, OBJ hve
| times as much as was at first supposed. And
now he offered an amendment, appropriailns So,
| O94 to discharge The entire balance OF the debt
which had been due these Indians ever since the
spring of 1913 If this amount were not paid, II
would, as he before remarked, be reputation, and
further, reputation marked by The crosses! mus
4 lice.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON offered an amend
ment in lieu of that of the gentleman from Ohio
the purpor of which was not distinctly heard,
but understood 10 confirm the appraisement sub
mitled by The Secretary Of War-giving S6G,OO0
10 the Indians, in full Of all claims. He said that
the commissioners, under The treaty. had apprais-
ed the lands al so high price that they would
moi sell, even on credit, for half the sum.
| Mr. VANCE remarked, that he would give
that for il himself.
Mr.. JOHNSON would be willing 10 make such
bargain and would willingly vote for PROPOSE
ton TO effect il. He showed the wide difference
between the valuation OF the first board of COM
/ missioncrs and the second. The former, as an
instance, valued tract OF one hundred and Sc
venty acres with the Improvements, at S4,539-
the latter al ST S55, or foriy-six dollars an acre.
| MIR. VANCE said that the Indians had left
their homes and fireSides under solemn promise
that The money should be paid 10 them; but now
an effort was made in The amendment OF the gen
,lenan from Tennessee TO repndiate The contract.
| II was saying in effect, you must take the amount
offered, OF we'll slarve you out. They may be
starved out but they would, nevertheless, hang 10
| their contract For his own part, he would rather
see them die one by one, than they should accede
10 the proposion-and he would do all that lie
could 10 prevent such result.
Mr. ST. JOHN addressed the Committee, and
in the course of his remarks, said that there
was much fraud connected with this subject, and
he was not disposed 10 give the amount Of the
enormous appraisement, which would not enure
10 The benefit Of the Indians, but 10 that OF spe-
cial few
The question was taken on the amendment OF
Mr.. Johnson TO the amendment Of Mr.. Schenck;
and il was decided in the alfirmaiive-ayes -,
nays Al.
Mr.. SCEIENCK moved 10 amend by adding,
"And The balance due 10 The Wyandots be and
the same is hereby repud,oted"
Mr.. JOHNSON called the gentleman 10 order,
and
Mr.. SCHENCK resumed his seat
MIR. SAMPLE offered an additional section 10
the bill-providing for the payment of the debt
due TO the united bands of the Chippewas; and
accompanied il with remarks showing the man.
ner in which the pecuniary obligation was in
Cured
Messrs. MCKAY, HUGHES, VANCE, and
SAMPLE, submitted few remarks, when the
amendment was rejected.
Mr.. GIDDlNGS arose and spoke Of slavery
etc.
Mr.. BLACK OF Georgia succeeded and, in re.
ply 10 alluson, told him that the people OF his
Stale did moi consider slavery 10 be an evil-and
asked him whether he felt disposed 10 contradict
that.
WI. 1lDDlSIo resumed Inc lnredu OF ms SUD-
ject after having already consumed an hour. But
not answering The question Of The gentleman from
Georgia,
Mr.. BLACK claimed The floor, as he had mere
" given way for an answeriron the member from
Ohio.
Mr.. GIDDINGS refused toyield and
The CHAIRMAN decided that he was entitled
TO i-having taken il withou, condition.
An appeal was taken from the decision OF the
Chair and sustained.
Mr. BLACK then replied, in causlic manner,
10 the gentleman from Ohio.
After some further discussion the bill was read
a third lime and passed The House then ad-
| iourned