The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-22


sonable prospect OF terminating this war by any
action Of extraordinary lustre and If they wise
| statesmen, they will put an end 10 hosiililes in
which so little credit is to be won.
THE MIAMI INDIANs-EMIGRATIoN-IN
DEBTS
A fortnight ago we noticed, in a western news
paper, statement Of some difficulties in the way Of
the immediate emigration Of the Indiana Indians
and knowing this to be subject Of deep interest 10
the enerprising people Of that State well the
whole west, we had intended ere this, to have in
vestgated the subject, and TO have furnished the re-
suit Of our inquiries 20 the public The demands
upon attention from other quarters have delayed
us somewhat in the preparation Of article on this
subject-but as we have been at some pains to get
the truth Of the umors aAoat in relation to it, and
have collated facts that may be new to the pub
lie, in regard to the operations under the Miami
treaty of l8404l, we shall occupy, we hope profit
ably, small portion of to-day's paper upon Miami
affairs.
We regret to have TO state, that it is true that these
people lately resolved in full council, to persist in
their refusal to remove from the lands on which
they reside, in the State Of Indiana, and which they
sold to the United States in l640 This result it is
believed, has been brought about by few indvidu-
ais who set up claims against the Indians for private
debts contracted since the ratification of the treaty,
and which they thereby expect coerce the govern.
ment TO pay or in some way secure But we shall
allude to these creditors and their debts ia another
part Of this article.
BY glance at the treaty Of 1904, it will be
seen that the government gave fair, and by some
considered exorbitant, price for the lands of the
Miami tribe, and that liberal and ample provisions
were also made for their comfortable removal to
and settlement in the country west Of the Missis-
sippi This treaty was fairly and voluntarily made,
and they professed to be well pleased with all its de-
tails and faithfully promised to perform everything
that was stipulated to be done on their part. The
FIVE years within which, by this instrument, it was
agreed the Mamies should remove, expired nearly
year ago; and at their urgent request the period
for their departure was prolonged by the President
and War Department until May last, at which time
every assurance was given that they would com,
mence the work Of removal. The government, in
view of this understanding, made contracts for
wagons, teams, and provisions in due season, and
the contractors were ready in May to transport the
Indians to their new country. The government,
has paid to the tribe every dollar yet due by the
terms of the treaty, and have made ample arrange
ments for their comfortable reception and snbsist-
ence west; and still they lnger obstnately on the
lands they have sold! and the public has right to
inquire, and should be informed, how this wanton
delay in their removal has been produced. The gov
crnment of the United States, while il is soemnly
bound to carry out faithfully all treaty stipulaons
on it's part with red brethren, insist upon,
and enforce, if necessary, compliance by the In
dams with their part Of the contract and the obga
tons Of treaties which declared to be the su-
preme law ofthe land, must not be dsregarded. The
public interest--he welfare of the Indans-the
rights of the Sates-all demand the faithful execution
of these treaties. And our treaty with the Miamies
must not be made an exception to this necessarily in
flexible rule. But it seems that class of persons,
before alluded to, have contrved acquire sufficient
influence over these people to induce them to vio-
late their voluntary and solemn engagements with
the government, and to discard all considerations
Of good faith and national honor. These creditors
demand the payment of the debts due by individual
Indians, out ofthe annutos belonging to the tribe al
chiefs in council have been prevailed upon, not on
ly to give their assent to such payment, but make
this pretext for refusing to emigrate! Ii is the
wel-consdered policy Of the government not to in.
erfere between Indian debtors and their creditors,
except to prevent positive fraud. This policy was
adopted and expressed by the legislative branch of
the government more than three years ago, and it
has since been thoroughly established by the ex-
ecutve departments. And it must be borne in
mind that the debts of the Miami Indians referred
to, were created after it was known that the tribe
had to remove and that these credit-accounts were
made with full knowledge of the views Of Con-
gress, and the well-known policy of the department,
and in express violation Of the spirit, if not the let
ter. of the local laws of Indiana. Nor does it need
an argument to exhibit the wisdom and Justice Of
this non-intsrference on the part of the govern
ment.
We need go no further than to refer to the ac-
counts presented to the commissioners after the
ratification Of this Miami treaty Of l940-'4l, to
show necessity for the rule These we're indivd-
ual accounts, but were quidaed out of the general
funds Of the tribe. The aggregate Of these debts,
created within the two years Immediately preceding
the making Of the treaty. was stated by the claim.
ants, at some s26O000; and for period Of less
than three months (from the date of the treaty until
s rati6cstion,) the accounts against few individ-
uals, (the whole tribe numbering only about lo5