The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-27
An act for the relief Of John P Skinner and the legal

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The House bill to refund to Chas A. Kelleu the ton
mage duties and light money paid on the Chinese Junk
"keying, was read first and second time by It's uue'
and referred to the Committee on Commerce;
The House bill for the relief OF the legal representa-,
tives of VIM Mcfarland deceased, was read rst and
second time by its title and referred to The Committee on
PRIVATE BILLS,
Several private bills taken up for consideration
but in OF the absence OF gentlemen interest
ed therein, were passed over informally.
SALE OF LANDS PURCHASED OF THE cHicKAsAwp.
The Senate proceeded, as in COMMITTEES of the whole,
to the consideration of the bill provide for the sale Of
the lands purchased by the United States OF the Saginaw
tribe of Chickasaw Indians
The report accompanying the bill having been read
MIR. WESrCOTf. Where is this tribe OF Saginaw
lndians' In Michigan
Mr.. DOWNS They were in Michigan, but lew OF
them are there now--(turning to Mr. FELCH)
Mr.. FELCH. will answer the inquiry. The Sagi-
nav Indians were settled in Michigan and some of them
remain in the same territory Others of them have left
Arrangements being made to remove the tribe, and It
is but scattered few who remain
Mr.. DOWNS The Senate will recollect, in regard to
this bill, that it is connected with private bill There
doubt and difficulty in regard to the private claim
but presume there is no doubt whatever as to the bill
now before AS the report OF the committee states
there stipulation in the treaty that no part OF this
land should be sold for less than seventy five cents per
ache. There provision by subsequent act OF
Congress that the land should not be sold within certain
lime tor less than five dollars acre, and Tor another
specified period should not be sold for less than two dol
lars and half per acre. Those limits have now en-
PRED. and it is absolutely necessary to close The ansac
ton presume there can be no objection to the bill now
before the Senate, under the recommendation OF the Com
missioner of the General Land Office, which merely pro-
vides that these lands shall now be sold at the govern
ment price instead OF higher and hope, therefore,
that It will pass That Is the only question involved IN
this bill There are two bulls; the other private
bill, and il is that bill to which objections are urged
Mr. WESTCOTT. | am not satisfied with respect to
this BILL have read the reports accompanying IT atten-
lively and my attention has been directed 10 il from the
circumstance that since have been member of this
Saya 81 hay hapn prpfpt n (OnVfpsS
growing out OF these treaties with the Saginaw Indians
This tribe were, understand, portion Of the Chppe-
was. and during the war with Great Britain in 1872
zens in Mchgan and some depredations were commit
ted after the peace OF 1915. Under the treaties with
them they nsteed to make indemnity for these sp9a
lands and sell them, and with the proceeds to hqul-
date these claims and pay them the residue Some
OF these claims were disallowed Tor defeettenees OF
proofs Others were not presented In due season or in
proper fern. Hence the claimants apply to Congress
Now sir think in any further action by Congress the
Just claimants not yet PAID should be secured and
ants, and to compel The Indians to satisfy them. Fur
h # WE mad S. sdspsd Tue san q 0G as
king treaties with them with Great Britain, and
France, and Russia, | shcnld not be for pursuing
such practice Fer my part, have voted for an
Indian treaty since have been in the Senate, and do not
expect TO, in the short time shall be here had as lief
vote for treaty with drove of mules. We should
treat them Justly, llOeray, and kindly as telr guardians
and protectors; and the mode of making treaties through
the nsumentay OF traders and others, is calculated 10
work evil every way The Indians and the United
States both get cheated generally by such treaties But
the practice has been established and when you have
made treaty and confirmed it, you have no right to mod
fly or alter by OF Congress All know that such ir
regular legislation has been the prolific cause Of claims
to an immense amount from the Cberohees and
Creeks At the very last session, weeks were consumed
in discussing claims founded irregular legislation
here not conformable TO previous treaty. Why, |
would ask a be made with the
Sagnaws respecting these lands, and providing for the
sale of them and at the same time providing for the set
Element of the just claims for spolIaons yet unpaid?
inquired if the tribe yet in Michigan, TO ascertain
il this could not be done; and the senator from that
State Mr.. FELcH] informed the Senate they were yet
there and portion of them yet living this very land
think the bill, without their assent, may involve in
future difficulty in the of the Creeks and Cheo-
KEGS; and unless it is explained so as TO show will
not. cannot vote Tor il.
Mr.. KING called for the reading of the bill
The bill having been accordingly read
Mr.. KING remarked Certainly sir, there is no very
serious objection to authorizing the sale OF these lands at
such price they be disposed of if the proceeds
shall go directed by the original treaty The question
will be, whether by reducing the price below the mini
mum price of government lands at the time the treaty
made do not virtually make ourselves liable by
the conditions of that treaty for the payment of the injury
which would arise from selling the lands at rs cents in
stead of 81 %. think that in equity we should be
bound TO make up the difference to the Indians between
the two, for We actually iniure the proceeds to this
The whole proceeds from the sale lie Of these
after settling few claims Well, sir, it stood then,
it seemed to be simple process. The government
brought them into the Market and it sold them il
kept every dollar for their benefit After settling the
claims against these Indians, amounting to twelve
thousand dollars the residue reserved for the benefit
Of the Indians them selves Congress gave them seventy
FIVE thousand dollars not from the proceeds of the sales
of these lands; but of their superabundant liberal
ty they appropriated that for the benefit of these
Indians and it has been applied TO their benefit Now,
as the lands selling, the government should
be reimbursed The only consideration for the appro
priation to get the Indians away out of this
territory. That being the only consideration, shall
the payment of the claims against the Indians This is
complicating the business very much. Instead OF
going in good faith in conformity with the treaty. in
anxiety to carry out its provisions with liberaty,
urged, and probably shall not be urged
without success to make ourselves liable still further
for all these claims before the lands sold. The pre-
sumption 49, that we be reimbursed; because
the presumption is that the land will bring the
amount we shall have to pay for these claims. Now,
think we shall make ourselves liable for the difference
between rs cents and 81 25 IT pass the bill
1t is for senators TO say whether shall pass and
der ourselves abe for you may rest assured that the
matter will not sleep The question lies open Tor scna
tors whether they will the chance | shall not OBJ
ject to the passage of this bill but when the bill
up proposing take from the treasury money pay for
these claims, shall feel compelled to oppose it. hope,
however, the Senate will decide for themselves whether
it is right pass the bill, understanding that shall
make ourselves liable for the difference, to lei it
main is and to carry out the treaty in good faith
Mr. DOWNS When the other bin comes before the
The objection urged TO this by the senator from Florida
Mr.. WEsTcoTT] originates in mistake. He ntimates
that ought not TO pass it because il would be inter-
fering with the Indian treaty. Why, the very reading of