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


clamaon that in case the Indians did SO elect the school
should be SO continued That he understood the prov
sion of the treaty.
Mr. SAWYER, continuing, said that the fact; and il
was 10 this he had Just been referring when be had said that
one treaty cost $4,000 than need have done had
not this provision been inserted
Mr. yINTON said this subject had been brought under
the investigation Of the Committee OF Ways and Means. The
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs had examined by that
committee His statement, in substance was that, with
the exception Of tribe (or there several tribes whose
children placed in that school, the Indians had all given
that they would take their children home the end Of the
now current wear The number OF scholars that school, he
eved the Commissioner said about fifty and after those
had left who were be taken at the end Of the year, would
leave only some eight ten who would remain and the
school would pobaby therefore, be discontinued, there
would not be scholars enough left justify keeping up.
That seemed be the understanding Of the Commissioner
Now that Of the of the money provided
for the Choctaws in this bill would in conformity with the
treaty, be expended on the Indians
Mr. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi said he believed efforts
had been made for the last four five years stop this in
stuon The subject had been for sessions
fully examined and be believed the~genteman from Ohio
r VsTos had given correct version Of the manner IN
which the institution to be closed up AT the last session
Of Congress the Committee Indian Affairs had examined
this matter with some Charges that savored somewhat
Of severity had then been brought against the Of
the institution and he regretted very much that his friend
from Ohio, who generally very correct should have OIL
lowed himself at this time SO into repetition OF the charges
which up them and examined by the committee
As far they at that time examined the subject this nstitu
ton had been conducted with perfect propey far COL
Johnson concerned and the exceptions taken were TO the
of some Of its teachers.
But this institution would be necessarily closed up, and
be did not understand that any appropriation here
made for it. that had heretofore been supported out of
the contingent fund for the education Of the Indian Children
but just Col Johnson and to the Government that he
should briefly recur to its history
Mr.. SAWYER inquired Mr.. THOMPSON yieldng) If be
understood the gentleman from Mississippi to that APP
preparation contained in the bill for this academy and
this had not been the case for years
Mr. THOMPSON replied that it had been sustained for
two three years. and he believed previously out Of the
ngen fund for the purposes of education among the Indians
The present Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the report to
which the gentleman had REFERRED had expressed his opinion
against the continuance of this academy but yet had
mended such provision Of law proposed by the gentle
man from Ohio. None necessary.
This academy Mr T. proceeded TO say had been OF i'm
mense service to the Indians 1t had been the frs. great
of introducing education among the Choctaws and
among other tribes Citizens had been there from all the
rous tribes, who had returned educated and he
ured to assert that this me there high standard
education in academies contained in the Choctaw nation
there many of the academies in the States The teach
educated this Chocaw academy the Great Cross
ng Kentucky. Although it believed that the best
sysem OF educating the Indians to connect with the cu
va,ion Of the mind instruction the mechanic and
agricultural arts and this by way Of manual labor schools
within the Indian territory yet let justice be given to whom
Justice due 1t perfectly evident that this academy
had been of immense service many OF the chiefs OF the
tribes educated and had been educated there
ald when had induced COL johnson to expend large
Of money building that academy TO withdraw all sup
port from him suddenly would be unjust. He did not UNDER
stand the gentleman from Ohio charge swindng upon COL
Johnson He believed that careful examination would show
hat there had been no Improperly on his part.
He thought had much TO congratulate ourselves
that making rapid progress in the advancement Of
education among the Indian tribes For the last few years,
by the action OF the missionary, aided and assisted by the
benevolent and liberal views of the Department. institutions
k,JI
em and had been the introducing among them
only religion and science, but knowledge OF oil the indus
trial pursuits of civilized life, and many of the tribes pre-
sented state of improvement far above many OF the States
of Mexico. Our Indians upon Western frontiers
turning annually capable Of filing any oicedvines
and men of minds capable OF Distinguishing them upon any
theatre Of action.
This Choctaw academy was the foundation of all this
povement 1t had not only given the spring to knowledge
and science, but by receiving the chiefs of the different tribes
had led the formation of acquaintance and friendship
sung in lasting harmony between them Of incalcuabe
lue Surely, then, ought TO have grateful feelings
not only TO the who established but to those who had
conducted and maintained this institution.
But now that disposition manifested among the In
dams take their children home be educated he concurred
in the policy Of it. Let it be done liberal way. II would
be DONE he had believe without the adoption this
amendment, and he hoped that by this any other action,
they would do any thing which could be construed into
ntimaon that they disposed TO set at naugh cut
off, rproach those who had heretofore sustained this
institution
Mr.. MCKAY said he was in favor Of imposing limitation
upon the expenditure of the money appropriated by this bill
for the purposes of education among the Indian tribes but
he would like to have the gentleman from Ohio modify his
amendment, that it should apply exclusively to the
Chocaw Academy, but that should provide that money
hereby appropriated for school purposes should be expended
elsewhere than within the Indian country He decidedly
in favor Of the principle Of limiting the expenditure Of this APP
preparation within the Indian territory
Mr.. SAWYER sgnfed his willingness TO modify his
amendment in the suggested.
Mr. Mckay remarked that he had then but single word
TO say in relation to this proposition The gentleman from
Mississippi was wholly mistaken when he said that the means
heretofore expended at this academy had been taken from
what was called the contingent fund. This not
There was no such fund except fund Of $4,000 or under
There fund Of for what called civilization
purposes-for the purpose OF cvzing the Indian rbesa
part Of which had been applied the purposes OF education
but not the whole Of it.
The report Of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs Che sad)
showed that the Cherokee had appropriated out OF their
funds S25, 000 and engaged building large and
substantial academy the Choctaws had five semnares and
there several others scattered throughout the different
tribes BY referring to this report Of the Commissioner gem
emen would find all these and other facts specifically stated
He referred TO the statement Of Mr. VISToS relative TO Mr.
Meds communication TO the Committee OF Ways and Means,
in which he had conveyed the idea that this Chocaw acade
my Kentucky would close Mt the end Of the present fiscal
year. Arrangements had been made he sad with Colonel
Johnson by which the operation Of the school, far de-
pended upon the appropriation Of moneys by the Government
at the termination Of the present fiscal year,
the LIST Of July next but rumored about the streets
that he had succeeded in obtaining postponement Of the
ecution Of this arrangement-how long he Mr Nick had