Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-25


people had spread alarm through that part Of the country
by persuadng them that these Indians plotting mischief
against the whites The people heeupon them and
charged them with intending to shed their blood The In
dams repelled the charge with Indignation and promptly Of
ered to give proof Of their friendly feelings and purposes by
voluntarily proposing surrender their The offer
accepted the Indians gave up their guns and when they
thus IN dlsamed and helpless state these land pirates
upon them and robbed them Of every slave they had the
world, and transported them Georgia. where they were
sold, and where they now langushed in bondage
II any Language could fifty characterize proceeding like
this, Mr. g. confessed he could command it, The chief
who had experienced this return for the demonstration Of his
friendly feelings toward white at the time Of
property, quiet and industrousthe owner Of ferry and
farm and Of a number Of negroes
Now, this Government had pledged itself for the protection
OF these people The Indians believed assurance rested
under the protection Of the Government Of the United
States, and quietly and voluntarily surrendered up their
to our hands, and lost their all in consequence This chief
had sent his petition the House for naturalization the
memorial had been REFEREED and had been pressed upon the
House for years together but, while his memorial slept in
this House, the himself cmgrated the Mississippi,
and there lived in poverty this day. But though he had
thus lett our borders and gone far from the Of his for
prosperity, he still continued send mporng voice
Congress for redress he still continued to make his appeal
to the justice Of that House.
Mr. u. could not and could give this in
ured chief the redress he asked for and claimed because he
did not believe that could another and be paid
for him property But the House daily the habit Of
paying white for slaves lost and why should they not
measure out equal relief TO Indian Mr. G. could not
himself vote for bill giving him the money be asked be-
cause as he said, he not in the belief that could
hold slave be paid for him if lost but while the
mttees Of the House from time time reporting favor
of white claimants in like cases. he thought their
principles, they ought not to refuse relief poor Indian
These people still crying to the Government for spua
ted relief but the offenders this hour unwhpped Of
Justice They had been indicted but could be convicted
AS member of the Committee Indian Affairs he deemed
his duty 70 call the attention of the House to these facts
and to show up the different ways in which this Government
melted out justice to the helpless and 10 the strong
Before he resumed his seat proper that he should
tce the difference between the OF seryitude existed
among Indians and among the whites the South. Among
the former slavery itself comparative freedom Slaves
Indians looked with horror to being slaves to white For
this assertion Mr. G. had the evidence Of Wiley Thompson,
late agent among the Semnoes The slaves belonging
to this Indian chief had been seized and taken from compare
tive freedom and sold into all the horrors Of slavery Geo
gia aud there they still suffered angush against all
the principles of natural justice and in violation OF the express
stpualons OF a solemn treaty.
Mr. G. having thus effected his object in bringing this
the notice of the House, withdrew the motion he had made
to strike out.
Mr. G. again for the purpose Of putting question
to the chairman Of the Committee Of Ways and Means in
relation the treaty of ls45 He wanted information BY
the grace and favor Of the Speaker lie had been raised
place the Committee Indian Afars; and, wishing
discharge his duty member Of that committee he applied
to the chairman Of the Committee of Ways and Means That
gentleman and the House be that there had long
existed quarrel between the Seminole Indians and the Creeks
The quarrel Of ancient standing having had its
gin during the times Of the Revolution In S45 il had been
mutually agreed that the President Of the United States should
settle these differences. The Of ect OF Mr. G.s inquiry was
10 know whether that ancient quarrel had been adjusted by the
President proposed
Mr.. VlNTON replied that il in his power give
his colleague any information on that subject The treaty
with these Indians required certain Of money be
nuay paid them by the United States and it therefore be-
came the duty Of the House to- appropriate that every
year to carry out the law and it equally the duty Of the
President to pay them what by law belonged to them If
his colleague thought that the money had been paid to the
wrong party the bill open amendment in that respect
Mr. " could not how the question relating 10 the adjust
men Of this quarrel had any bearing the duty Of this House
to appropriate the sum stipulated by law.
Mr.. GlDDINGS replied that the United States Govern
men occupied the position Of guardians these Indians and
that duty for them for many minors
We had forced the Semnoes the point Of the bayonc to
migrate into the country beyond the Mississippi but their
whole tribe Stunned the Creeks with the utmost dread be-
the Greeks laid claim the wives and children Of the
Semnoes, and were ready TO seize them slaves Hence
these wetchcd Semnoes seeking residence wherever
they could find it. Some in the forest in the midst Of
the Chkasaw nation, aud ready to any where pro-
vided they kept out Of the reach Of the Creeks.
Certain slaves of the Greeks had fed from their masters be-
fore the Revolution, and had inermaried with Semnoles
whence the Creeks claimed their descendants slaves and
the United States Government had paid them two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars 10 get rid OF that claim, although
what the Seminoes actually claimed did not amount TO
than half that sumhe Greeks insisting allowance for
what would have been their increase when in scrvude The
Semnos lived such dread OF the Creeks that they dared
cross the Mississippi because they would find there
branch Of the Creek nation and this the true origin Of
the Florida q subject Of complaint by the Chero-
KEGS that the Semnoes had among them for refuge and
continued there trespassers Commissioners had been APP
pointed by the United States Government TO settle these diff
cutiss; and the gentleman from North Carolina the for
chairman OF the Committee Of Ways and Means, Mr..
MeKAr in strict intimacy and communication with the
President Of the United States he probably knew all about
the whole natter Mr. @. did know whether the difficult
y had been reconccd whether the Semnoes had been
actually stripped Of their wives and children He should be
obliged 10 the gentleman from North Carolina II he would give
him information on that point.
Mr. VINTON said that he did understand his colleague
Mr. GfDnGs to take the position that the money appro
paed for these Indians not due to them by law Now,
the money was equally due them whether the controversy
alluded 20 had had been settled However that might
be- the House in circumstances to decide who
in the right and who in the wrong That for the
President to decide Mr.. v went say that he entirely
agreed with his colleague in believing that Government
bad treated the Indians very harsh and bad not always kept
its treaties with them should have done but II his
colleague was able show this in the present il would
no reason why we should pay this annuity IT, indeed
he could show that these Indians refused to comply with the
stpuaons Of the treaty their part that might be very
good for Withholding their annues but this If Mr.
" understood the NATTER his colleague did not PRETEND and
he could not therefore what bis colleagues inquiry had TO
do with the appropriation.
Mr.. GIDDINGS replied that he had made motion TO
strike the appropriation He did not ask that the money
should he withheld hut he had simply put forth inquiry
with view TO ascertain the real facts Of the Far be Il
from him 10 withhold from them their money. he wished