The Arkansas banner., 1848-08-15

-- VI tnNher ioE oAAuufBEtnGnl Eiu0uQ tHA IUdtAn tribes, and if they were moi men of iniegritf great iosses would be sustained through them. and un- nsPPy differences created between the Indians and The government Men that had the requisite taIeut qua integrity were therefore essentially necessary bnt such men having regard for the ordinary rela- uohs oi hie, would not remain with the iadians for Si'SVo year. Was it right that this government snonld make so dscouragiDg pfopositlon 10 them | nc whole policy was wrong-wroag in relation to the agents, 10 the Indians, and to ourselves Pro. oaDiy would De urged thst the salaries of these agents should be reduced because the government " 'eesl enactment, had made provision to furnish them with houses. We'll, if that were doac. thcre might be less objection. But no such proyisfen was nade' for the Commissioner of Indian Affairs had P'aced such construction upon the law as 10 rem der It void and of no force If this klud of con. suuenon IS to be put upon acts of Congress. he would like to know what security they had for the invIoiabtty of treaty stipulations7
 But again; there was another thing to which he wished to call the attention of the eoniipittce A new principle had been introduced in the payment of annuities, which he was satisfied would not be productive of Sny benefit to anybody. The Com. missioner of Indian Affairs had unde rtaken the pay mcnt of Indian annRites to the individual members of the different tribes by per eapita distribution When an Indian tribe made treaty with the Go- vernmeni, by which It to receive money in the shape of an annuity, that treaty was made by the authorities of the tribe with the commissioners of this government. In some of these treaties it was expressly provided that the promised should be paid to the chiefs or beadrnen or in such manner as they might direct In many others this stipu- atiOn was left out
 Bat whether the treaty contained such a clansc or not, he held that the proper course was equally piain. The government affects to consider the In- dian tFibeS as ndepend nations; and how does it deal with other independent nations in such mat. tersf Does it ever attempt either in making or ful- hlling treaties, or in any other transactions with other nations, to recognize or deal with any indi. viduas other than the constituted uuthortiesi What would have been said to proposition to divide the fifteen millions paid for Lousiana per eapa among the French peope' Yet the only difference between the French and the Indian trbes far us the pro- p9iety of such was concerned was that the French were able 10 protect their rights and the Indian tribes were not.
 The Greek nation had made q treaty with the U. States ia which was stipulated that certain annui- lies should be paid tu the chiefs The government certainly had nothing 70 do with tie manner in winch the chiefs disposed of the moLels rcceit ed under that treaty: yet the Commissioner of Indian Affairs had taken the ground, that the chiefs did not use Il properly and for that alone had caused efforts 10 be made 10 lnddce the Indians have 1t taken from the chiefs and paid to indiviuals per cGpita.
 Another treaty had been made with tue Seml noles-Dadc as all such treaties are, with the head men Of the tribe. The treaty does not specify to
  No one collaboration amonenithe proprlety of pay ing those, and only those who constituted the gov ernnent o the tribe. fhe chiefs or headrne made the treaty III behalf ol the ibe and 10 them its proper representatives, the money should be paid. Butin- st al of pursuing this course, the commissioner had caused them to be treated If they had no govern ment at all, and their moneys to be puid per capita By his instructions the individual members of the tilbe were called together and required 10 meet the agent, and for ihis PGrpos 10 travel considerable distances When they met. the agent paid to each 1 his pToportionale dfibet, which turned out 10 be the amazing sum cf Sl 50 apiece For this poor plttance, they were required, Tn many instances 10 travel from hfiy 10 one hundred miles, that each might receive bis proportion, instead of having it paid to inc government oi tue tribe to be disposed 0! as might be thought best for the good othe whole l Now, what was the natural, inevitable result of such policy? Was il not obviously to destroy the influence of the chefs and break down the govern meut oi the tribe! And was not that in effect des- troying our own innuencei For how Was this Gov ernmebt 10 act upon the different tribes if II was hot through the medium oi their chiefs and be adnen, How were all those plans of mprov me t and reform the Commissioner is so fond ol tatkIng about in his reports 10 be disseminated aHd carried into effect if not throHgi the chiefs And, what was of far more importance 10 hIs constituents, when causes of dis Fehsion between the different iribe how were ho>tlliies 10 be prevented but through the influence of the eli. fs As a matter of common ordinarv rrudente, in protecting our own interests We ouplt To foster and cherish such inhuence ipsipad of breaking II down. or suffering others 10 do so. B, m his opinion, theie Was lar higher principle n yoved. We had deIIved thiS broad land lrltn tnese Irbes, and we owe Ii 10 them, every pIncicle of justice as we'll as humanity, b endeavor. by all proper means, 10 preserve them and improve Their condition. Onr indIa1 policy heretofore has had that object in view. IL has been liberal epIiybieu ed. and humane. By treating with them as inde pendent nations, we have taught them to resbect their national characte-. By sationing efficient resi- dent agents among them, We have secured saIu. tary influence over their councils. By educating their youths in our own sh olS, have inc uicat, d our own IDaNlms ot obedience 10 the laws and res. pect for constituted authorities By sending smongs them the ministers of our holy religion, we have ef deavored to inspire them win the pure and eieys- ted morality of the Christian faith. And is this House now prepared to adopt course utterly sub. vcrsive of ali our former policy Will il aid the Commissioner m his attempts 10 impair the iEau- ence and efficiency of the agents to break down the authority of the chiefs and rulers and. by amalr, mating different rihes together, 10 destroy their sen aate national organization, in fact iher very exs- tence iDes Unhappily, the work was con- menced last session by the passage ot act etnana- ting from he source declaring all contracts made by Indians Noid-an enactment which bv sowing the seeds of dishonesty, and offering a ore. mum repudIation, has done more 10 ccunteract the efforts of Christian ministers than The combined operation of all the evIl influences which the Con- missioner so ieelingy deprecates m his reports.
 Mir, was continuing his comments on this sub jec, when his honr expired, and he was under the necessity of esumIng his seat.
 Mir. Wentworth reIinqulshed tine purpose of ad- dressing the committee al this time, but would re- serve all he had 10 say Tor future opportunity Mir. Johnson enumerated the small number of forts along the frontier while on that same exten- ded line there was body of 40 000 Indian warriors If hostties should b,eak out between two tribes how much more money would Il cost us to quiet them again than to keep ten times the present num- Der of agents among them ,. Our difficulty with the Cherokees had cost the United States first and last, half million of dollars in commissions delega- tions, and heavy donations The gentleman from North Carolina lived in tend of peace. and, after putting the Indians on the people of kansas how refused them security against indian outbreaks ani massacres for the sake of miserable saving of len or twelve thousand dollars The insertion of an amendment like this in an appropriation bill had