Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-30


/. within the time prescribed in the treaty.
have, Mr.. Presidents difficulty in regard to this BILL
because affects the treaty In the first place. have SEEM
the session. the case Of the claims of the Creek and
Cherokee nations how the time of the Senate consumed
for weeks In consequence of Congress having improperly
eered by legal enacments with the terms Of treaties made
with those Indian tribes There is Senator but
member that nearly two weeks of ourme thus
The practice Of recognising tribes Of Indians sovereign
tons, and making treaties with them, had been hith
ero recognised ought not to be commenced For one
opposed to making such treaties. would make
treaty with tribe of mules with tribe Of Indians.
have yet voted for Of these treaties and
pec TODD But since this is the practice Of the Govern
men submit that will be unjust in Congress to change
the terms Of such treaties by pate legislation, without the
consent of the Indians. What to prevent from appoint
ing commissioners to meet the Sagnaws and change the
terms the treaty to make them equitable both Sides
STIMULATING expressly for the payment of these spoiaons
which justice ought to be padou Of the proceeds Of these
lands
understand from the report which has been read that
the last bill reported provides merely for the sale these lands
at reduced prices and that the first bill reportedthe private
bprovdes for the paymeno these claims for spoations
In the general bill there is Inserted ule for the adjustment
by the President Of the United States out Of the proceeds Of
the sales of these lands of oil the just claims for these Indian
spolaons in 1918 which have yet been paid submit
whether there should not be arrangement made with these
| Indians fully covering the whole ground.
Mr. KING. have very serious objections authoriz-
ing the sale Of these lands Of such lands be disposed
Of the proceeds shall be appedas directed by the spuaons
of the treaty The question is whether by reducing the price
OF these lands 10 Inc minimum do
selves liable to the Indians for the difference between their
proceeds at sevenyve cents per and what they would
amount to at dollar and quarter per acre I think in
strict honesty should be bound to pay this difference We
to these Indians all the proceeds of the sales of these
lands for the purpose of getting them awaysad proceeds
to for their benefit after satisfying the claims for spoaton
amounting in all to twelve thousand dollars the residue to be
invested for the benefit of the tribe But was found that
the Government could sell the land that tme and Con-
ess was urged do something for them Congress- the
suPeabundance Of its bea, advanced the seventy
i've thousand dollars to be applied under the direction Of the
President for the benefit OF these Indians be reimbursed
out Of the subsequent receipts from sales of the landslide
Government receiving present advantage except that Of get
ting the Indians away Now the Government asked and
be urged in other bills the payment of these
claims an appropriation out Of the treasury. This sugges
ton has complicated the matter very much Il renders the
Government liable for the payment Of claims which it
expected be responsible for Instead of going in good
faith, in conformity to the terms Of the treaty. anxiety
to accomnodaewe have stepped aside from the original terms
OF the contract and urged make ourselves still
further table, and extend generosity far pay these
claims before any land be sold And supping that they
be all sold at the price proposed they will bring the
requisite amount for the payment Of these claimants think
shall render ourselves liable for the difference the receipts
under the sale at the reduced pce proposed and what the
ceps would be at the regular price and is for the Senate
to say whether they will pass the bill with this provision and
take the chance of this liability We may assured that
the matter will not sleep here if this bill should pass with that
provision Shall We them take the chance Of thus becoming
LIABLE and sell these lands which, it seems be sold
the present minimum price
Mr.. DOWNS. There certainly can be found no serious
objection this bill upon just apprehension Of its provisions
The Senator from Florida (Mr WEsrcoFr) mistakes when
he inmates that the passage Of this bill will interfere with our
Indian treaties The reading Of the bill itself dspels that OBJ
lection The bill does not propose to modify any Indian
treaty, but it repeats act of Congress the provisions of
which did modify several Indian treaties upon this subject
proper understanding Of the will also all the
doubts of he Senator from Alabama, (Mr KISG) This bill
will neither increase nor diminish the liability responsibility
of the United States BY the original treaty with these In
dams these lands not to be sold price less than
yve cents Some years afterwards the prices Of
these lands being high account of the rapid emigration
that quarter, act passed providing that these lands
should be sold for than dollars an acre. and after
wards an act was passed liking the price al TWO dollars and
half per acre.
Finding upon trial. that the Limitations imposed by these
acts would not excate the Government responsibility
in this matter, but rather Increased the difficulty in conse
quence Of their inability sell the land these prices and
order get through with this business the Committee on
the Public Lands have thought necessary and proper that
these lands should be reduced to the ordinary Government
price, and when sod the money will Of be approp
ated under the direction of Conge Whether the Govern
men shall be liable for the whole of these claims
which up is immatera but certainly bound
in good faith make the money out Of these lands
as we As il now under the present arrangement, il
probable that dollar to paid towards these claims
for several years think that far from increasing the OBJ
legations of the Government by thus providing for the sale Of
these lands rather decrease them. II pass this act
the Government may very well require of these claimants
wait brief period and whether the proceeds Of the lands
will be sufficient for their demands and the matter will be
adjourned for the present the proceeds Of the land sales
should prove not be sufficient for this purpose the question
afterwards up whether the United States shall be
bed responsible for the remaining portion of the claims DUE
II any alteration is to be made in the BILL would suggest
amendment providing that lands in unavorabe locations
shall be sold for their value. would object prov
that such portions Of the lands should be sold at
ting less than the Government price.
The Senator from Florida also suggests that a new
treaty. ought be made with these Indians But if the Sc
tor will look the treaties already made he will find three
four Of hem and confused and complicated were they
10 heir character that Of Congress rendered
say in order eucdate them and declare what should be
done the subject Is absolutely necessary, in order to
gel along with this at all, that bill Of the character
nov before the Senate should be passed
Mr. KING. Do understand the honorable Senator from
Louisiana to say that, by the treaty. the price Of the land Is
fixed at seventy-fve cents per acre
Mr.. DOWNS. The treaty sipulates that the land shall
not be sold for less than sevcnty-fve cents acre.
Mr.. KING. We shall then, al any rate get seventy6ve
cents per acre The objection to the reduction Is Withdrawn
my part, which brings back TO the original bill.
Mr.. FELCH. The question in regard 10 the assumption
by the United States Of certain liability does arise here
When the bill was presented the other day for the payment
these claims desired look into the treaties. have
not yet pursued these examinations far enough to satisfy my
mind whether Il would be proper to pay them But as
tins BILL il is nothing less than modification Of
existing laws would call the attention Of the Senate TO the
situation Of this land II in the possession Of the rac
ton Of tribe Of Indiansone hundred thousand in
ent-embrscng sixteen sections and scattered in their loca
ton upon the waters Of various rivers empyng into the Sag
bay. Al the time Of the treaty. shortly afterwards,