The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-19


year. and he read from the treaty showing that the
same annuity OF sl5,000 included in this bill was
{ provided for by the treaty.
Some further conversation followed between Mr..
THOMPSON and Mr. MCKAY on this point.
which gave rise 10 some merriment.
/ Mr.. THOMPSON (still retaining the hoorl said
he wished to call the attention of the committee To
this bill, because proposed very large appTopri.
alton, and because II involved the policy Of this gov
eminent on This subject Of the regulation of our In
dian aiiars, and further because some facts
hbed IN II Of a startling character. Whatever was
Ia the treaty ought to be paid, and he should vote
for Il. The amount Of this bill was something like
sl ,2OOOO9 lie did not know that there was a sim
lyle item in it against which he could in good con-
science yotej on the contrary he should vote for the
ball. and he felt II TO be his duty to do 80. Bot
there were some provisions of the ball To which he
thought the attention OF the House should be called
Some Of these annuues TO the indians had risen
IRON time to time until we were now forced, under
our treaty supuations, TO make these large appso-
pnalions, .he consequence Of which, when they
grew large enough 10 support them, was TO take
AWAY from them all incentive TO industry and to ac-
luflty. These tribes were decay ing, and Insny Of
them had grown very SMALL and yet the amount
paid TO them remained the samoan amount which
compared with the number Of Indians composing
some of the tribes in his opinion would startle gem
temen. We appropriated, for instance, to the Mi
AIMS, numbering $50 Indians between Sos, 600 and
sob OOJ-a sufficient amount TO defray the expenses
LOT many OF the State governments. Well under
our treaty supuations, pay this amount; we can
not avoid It; but the great inquiry crises when is
This 10 stop! They decaYIng annually. Suppose
this trbe came down to 225 or 325: were we still 10
IPay this same amount The question: then necessa-
Iny came home TO the committee w hat stem ia 10
DC adopted by which this matter can wind itself up,
Now, he intended TO move resolution as soon as
he could get an opportunity, (and he wished, in
these remarks, to explain the necessity for that
llution,) calling upon the Secretary of War To report
the amount paid 10 these tribes, their numbers when
the treaties were first made with them, and their
present numbers, and, without expressing an opin-
Ron, he wished TO throw out the suggestion TO the
committee, Will il not be just and right in itself
that these annutles should diminish the tribesgo
TO decay
Mr.. f. proceeded to refer to several other tribes,
giving their numbers, and the annuties received by
them, as provided for in this bill for the present
year, The lowas were 470 IN number, and receiy-
ed an annuity Of s7,675; the kickapoos SIC. re-
eeved IS, 0UO; the Potlawntomes Of Huron 100 re.
ceyed 500. At what point (he asked) would
they cease to be the Potiawaomics of Huron As
long man of them rcmans' And was this an
nuity To last forever The Weas l76 men, received
$1,000; the WnnebsgoeF, $500, received 500 ESQ;
the Piankeshaws, 80, receive $780, the QuSpsws
PAT, receive 81 $685. and there were others which he
would not read.
He had not one word TO say against this bill. He
believed there not clause in il which he
could not sanction. But at the same time il bchoov-
ed Congress, II behooved the country TO ascertain
whether we could not look 70 a period when this
dining should cease; and for that purpose he intended
To offer the resolution in order TO bring the aubjec
before the House. |
One word further These snnuitics, although paid |
in good faith TO the Indians and intended for their
benefit he believed kept large horde Of SPECTATORS
and traders IN that nation, and much Of them did not
60 TO benefit these Indians. The Chickasaws num-
Uerinz between four and FIVE thousand Indians had
h,, oh
seycnty-fye or eighty thousand dollars per annuu,-
Il perpetual annuity; and yet their agent complains
that while they are receiving such annuity, they
are fast decayng aud wasting away. And the ques-
ton came up whether Congress could not direct
the expenditure of their money as TO improve theni
that it may go into the hands Of traders who de-
stroy them with liquor, and who cheat them by
charging them enormous prizes for their goods, but
90 aud be applied to the benefit OF the Indians
Mr.. WHITE, of New York, offered the follow.
ing amendment TO add at the end Of the Till:
That the wpnebngo Indians have the right and privilege
OF conducting their business in their wry without
any obstruction by the lnIsn agents subagens other
officers OF government aud that they be allowed e.
loy such pschets schoo.msSterS farmers mechanics and
artisans a. provided Ia the several treaties with said
Wiaueb0 20 indians, such this chiefs said
tribes may dscide aud also that the interest duu
breeds said tribe he paid TO said hslfbrreds regularly
every year. scoOrds 10 ssd 'bPua'onc In the said treaties
cousiied.
motion was made thai The committee rise, and
was rejected.
MIR. MCKAY said lie hoped the House would not
agree to the amendment Of the gentleman from New
York. II attempting Legislation in their appro-
prie,ion bills which, although he admitted might he
proper cases. in this ought at least to have
undergone the examination Of some committee oft
House before il was agreed to.
As he understood the reading of it, there was not
the slightest necessity for II. II was not pretended
that there was any provision in our laws author
zing the agent among the Winnebaso Indians TO
interfere with their government No agent had the
least right interfere with the internal police of the
Indian tribes.
One or two remarks in reference to what had fall
en- from his friend from Mississippi, (Mr. TnoMr-
SON. He regretted that his friend had thought II
his duty to make them. Ii would be recollected by
the House that the gentleman is chairman of the
Committee on Indian Affairs, and that this whole
subject of regulations with the Indian tribes is
entrusted to that committee. If, then, the gentle
man as an individual a member Of this House,
| and as a member of this committee, was satisfied
that there was anything at all improper in the reg
ulation of these Indian tribes, why had he rot re-
ported bill for the correction and reform needed!
The whole subject entrusted to him, and yet
they had measure at all emanatinS from him, the
| object of which to correct and to remedy ths
misc hicvous legislation.
| Rut the gentleman called the attention of the
committee to the astounding fact, that the Miamies,
including the Eel Rivers, receive about $50 900;
and he tells you that the effect OF this large payment
relax their energies, and create habits OF ndo-
lence and inactivity. What remedy has he gravely
proposed for this, standing here chairman of the
Committee on Indian Affairs and member of
this Housel What remedy does he PROPOSED Why,
in substance, that we should repudate; that we
should gradually reduce these appropriations paid
TO these poor Indians time after time by your own
public policy. And the remedy was that we should
break the faith OF the government.
Mr.. THOMPSON. proposed no such thing.
Mr.. MCKAY What, them
Mr.. THOMPSON said he had remarked express
" that he considered it duty to make these ap
:. preparations; and still that there another matter
which deserved the attention of Congress; and he
had thrown out this suggestion for the purpose of
obtaining the opinion Of the honorable chairman OF
! the Committee of Ways and Means, for whose
: Judgment he always had great regard. He desired
r TO know what he done. No proposition had
been brought forward by the Secretary Of War, or
, from any source. At some point we must stop;
permanent annuites should cease .pt some time
Y Whatever we had done, or bound ourselves to by
treaty stipuations, he was willing to abide by; but