The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-15
SATURDAY. AUGUST 70, is47.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIV
he Journal having been read

Mr. WENTWORTH called up the motion to recon
slder the passage OF the private bill Tor the benefit OF
Charity Herring; and the having been agreed to
Amendment by Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania,
applied to the bill providing the land granted and To-
Gated should not preclude other prior legal equitable
claims; and then the bill passed.
NATIONAL SYMPATHY WITH GERMANY.
Mr.. C. j. INGERSOLL proposed joint resolution of
sympathy with the revolutionary people of Europe
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
with view to action at the next session OF Congress
SAID Joint resolution is as follows:
Whereas it much the right it is the interest of the
people OF this the oldest and treest OF conedeated epub
can commemorative to ypah.Se and relo,ee with all
nation from whom not only but most Of Eng
lsh and institutions descended therefore
resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives Of
the Uaited States Of america in Congress assembled That
Confederation lately founded the great principles of the
gny OF the people, in sovereign States To govern
lions of Germans may be peaceably restored to the first
rank among great nations; and that the President OF the
United States hereby requested TO transmit copy of this
through the American ministers accredited the
Germanic Confederation.
LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Mr. FRIES, by leave, presented communication from
MIR. Medill, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, touching
certain charges preferred, in debate, against the Indian
Bureau, by Mr. CLINGMAN, and demanding an invesga-
ton SAID communication was read. and is as follows:
TO the honorable the House Representatives Of the United
During the debate which look place in the House of Rep
resentatves amendment made by the Senate the
of $3.50 for certain claimed by him under
the treaties of 1917 and 1885 with the Cherokees report
ed In the National lnteligencer OF this morning. find the
MIR clngmsn supported the claim, and
T. By NJ Msd the Indian Aa who he
svopg dsnoaHesd the indian Bureau as .' tho
had been altered and asdsd for
had no M o. no as he M
hadh drnar
ment to have the books taken Of his Office and deposited
1t seldom that public officer justified in noticing at
tacks OF this kind but the above charges are of grave
upon myself personally and officially but upon The admin
saton of the whole OF that branch of the public service
caon seems 10 be called for if rue should be driven
from the office now hold with gnominy and disgrace to
object scorn and contempt to all upright and
honest men and proper legislation should be had at the
earliest PERIOD punish such abuses and prevent their
every principle OF justice common fairness that The
tact should be authorltavey acerained and published
the world, that neither myself oic. may rest under
mpuations so injurious and which unquaedly and in
dgnany pronounce to be wholly and basey false, in each
beg leave the following facts and circumstances
or me consideration OF your honorable body The claim
woman, never came before the Office OF Indian Affairs
for its action That office had nothing do with claim,
under the treaty OF 1885 The Chelokees it was to be
adudicated and settled, required by the 18th article of
and Senate Four different rds of commissioners were
appointed and organized under that article, which
for the transaction of busness-in all. about five and
half years. Mr. Taylors claim shape or another
was before the whole OF them. BY the first board he
was allowed Sl,5ls-beng the amount which he had
paid to the State of Tennessee, under law of that
State with interest thereon, obtain simple title
in addition to which, he claims the value of the
ervation as unimproved land. This has not been al
lowed by either OF the boards of commissioners. The
second board declared the claim re Acknowledgement
sldered by present commissioners" The third board de-
clded that Mr. Taylor had right in the claim;
interest there was remaining being his Indian wife and
her chdren the reservation having been taken right of
the wife under the treaties Of 1917 1919 the Cher
okees So far as he himself concerned, the action of
this board was adverse but the question interest
the wife and children was left open for consideration
uch evidence as might be produced in support thereof So
II stood until the organization OF the fourth board by which
It was simply dismissed, without any formal specific
ton upon its merits.
When the amendments of the Senats making an appro-
priaton for this claim, and for claims the Creek
Indians, were under consideration by the Committee
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives was
summoned by that commiuee to give information respect
ing these claims accordingly appeared before the
nittee, and gave such information in my power
to furnish, which almost exclusively of record, and
derived from the official records and papers had taken
with me, and submitted to the committee. And have
yet to learn that the committee discovered the slightest
dence or trace OF any alteration Justification by myself
or any one IN my Office OF these records and papers This
was the only occasion which have ever been called
upon to take any part in relation to this claim and
sure the Committee of Ways and Means will bear testmo
ny that made no effort to prejudice them against the
caim further than the statement of The facts from the
ords which 1t was my duty give them. Where, then,
can there be any grounds for the base, wanon and
llcous charges against in reference
them 10 no other cause than disappointed pecunary
atlons, as 1t Is generally understood Mr. Taylor has
oeeh IN inc habt OF making promises of liberal rewards to
those whom he believed could aid him in obtaining the
amount of his claim.
consider 1t not out of place, and respectfully ask the
permission OF your honorable body advert the posi-
tlon OF the honorable gentleman who made the charges
quoted, In another recently before and,
OF the lacs and circumstances connected Herewith is
least oppose it, - =
will be recolected that the Senate made an amend
ment TO the bill making appropriations for Indian
Partnehb oy winch large amount to be paid
Jam Cnerokee Indians in North Carolina from the treasury
OF the United States summoned before the Commit.
Tee OF Ways and Means furnish information respecting
is Gase wheh the honorable gentleman also appeared
an aoVocate or Attorney and strongly supported the claim
as passed the Senate. The committee and the House
saw proper to disagree the Senaie's amendment and
made an important alteration therein, which might
ousy nave affected the interests of the Indians rather
the White spectators Interested the claim Yet notwith
sahg he peculiar position occupied by the honorable
genueman' as stated above-whch, however, could not
nave been known to the honorable Speaker the
nepresenfatives-he became of the committee of con-
eehce on te dsagreeing votes of the houses of Con-
g,ess on hls same claim Notwithstanding this remarka
oie circumstance, and the honorable genenans peculiar
jealous advocacy OF Mr. Tayors claim, it is hoped he
WIN not be adverse to others endeavoring to vndicate
themselves from unjust aspersions Indeed the gentle
mat was to have been expected that instead rising
MS place. and making gratuous and calunnous charges
against Others he would, II he really believed there
good grounds Tor those charges have moved for commit
tee OF investigation, OF which, by usages your honor
able body, he would have been the chairman by which
course he could have ascerained the TRUTH bring
non Not having done So and having pursued the wanon
and unjust he did devolves upon me the duty of
making this application. Wherefore respectfully pray
matyour honorable body Immediately point committee
with ful and ample power and authority to require books
ana papers, to examine Witnesses and investigate fully
moi only the foregoing charges against myself and the office
be brought to the knowledge of the committee and like
wise all The facts and circumstances respecting