The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-30

last session Now it's proposed TO take the report OF
me me Auditor and Comptroller the basis OF our acton
why, SIT, II contains reasoning; IT contains no
argument upon the subject il contains simple state
mehl OF figures without any al all II was m
eded when The ont resolution passed. that the subject
should be referred TO them fer the accounts. But The
resolution OF the Senate, short time since, seems to
alter The whole scope and direction OF the JOINT res;
ouuon passed before. Ii provides that the Auditor and
Comptroller shall report simple statement of the results,
taking the sums found in the report OF the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs setting aside therefore, what was sup
posed TO be the duty OF the Auditor and Comptroller,
and The main object in referring il to them; setting tina,
aside altogether, and undertaking by resolution OF
The Senate to alter the scope OF JOINT resolution having
The power OF law We not called upon seems To
me, to take this mere statement OF figures The statement
worth Just as much the worth upon which
they are founded Those not given and we
cannot therefore, Judge OF the value OF the statements
The report OF the Commissioned OF Indian Affairs goes
into the whole subject. That is my objection 10 taking
the report OF the Comptroller and Auditor as the un-
questioned basis OF large appropriation:
Mr.. BRADBURY. have before me the joint resolu-
on adopted at the last session of Congress, and beg
leave 10 refer to H. that before the vote is TAKEN each
senator may understand the precise state OF the case
The resolution OF August 7, 1913, provides that
the appropriate accounting officers OF the treasury
according 10 the principles established by the treaty OF
August, 1916, to make far and just statement OF the
claims of the Cherokee nation of Indians The Second
Comptroller and Auditor, who the proper account
ing officers, have not yet responded TO that resolution
and herein apprehend is the mistake The inquiry is
made whether we are now called upon TO carry out Inc
ferred; and an answer which seemed 10 be an inuma
ton OF an affirmative given.
| do not so understand it. | find here before us
report of the Second Comptroller and Second Au
ditor, in compliance with joint resolution OF the
Senate adopted on the 10th instant They have not
yet reported in response 10 the joint resolution The
honorable senator who had this subject IN charge at the
last session selected mode of Investigations and mat
mode was adopted by Congressman simply by the Sen
ate but by the House also Now, want "a report OF
do not wish them to stop under the resolution OF the
Senate and say TO the Indians, See what your reward
would be, provided you took certain basis not in the
original resolution for your guide. We directed them by
an act OF Congress to investigate this matter to make
statement OF the claims; now, when that statement
comes in, unquesonably it will come in accompanied
with reasons, and when they presented we shall be
prepared TO act.
In this brief statement. in reply the resolution OF the
present month, find another matter which may claim a
passing attention when we are appropratng millions:
They say what may hereafter be property allowed
and paid under the provisions of the treaty OF 1893. and
Justly chargeabe upon the Cherokee Indians OF North
Carolina by that State, cannot now be ascertalneu
The Comptroller and Auditor, who were To investigate
this matter under the resolution of the present month
inform the Senate that they cannot now ascertain what
properly chargeabe, and what are the reore to
he deducted from this balance. Further Also The
Comptroller, the 18th instan-the 18th OF the pres
which properly chargeabe to this fund almonlsh
the Senate to be cautious in making such appropriations
without certain data 1t is fact that is well underslood'
tina, the appropriation made at the last session 10 the
Creek indians had been previously paid to the individuals
who took it again aude to this circumstance to show
that by the haste of the legislature at the last session.
sum nal which had been previously paid. 80
Mr.. YULEE. Without gong into particulars, will the
senator allow TO say that understand that to be
mistake
Mr BRADBURY. | understood the honorable sena-
tor from Tennessee to say that he supposed such to be
Mr. BELL What is that sir
Mr.. BRADBURY That by mistake an appropriation
made at the last session of $4,000 which had been
previously paid =,
anticipate this argument by conserving that the suoecl
be postponed will merely say that have been led into
mistake myself do not understand that any such
Mr. BRADBURY have but one word more TO add:
am very happy to find that this was mistake but
still think that where so large sums are to be
tiny. and | should hope that the whole might lie over
until tomorrow
| Mr. ATHERTON I merely wish 10 make state
ment which intended to have ,de when was up be.
fore As to of these ,emSthe 5000 900 item IN the
amendment of the senator from Tennessee do not I'M
dersand that The Auditor and Comptroller have made any
report at all They say nothing about il whatever They
interpreted the resolution under which they acted as
simply authorizing them to inquire into the claims OF the
Cherokee nation and they considered the Ross party as
the Cherokee nation and refused TO take INTO oonsldera-
ton the claims OF the party called the Old Settler party
Therefore the larger part of the amendment OF the sena
tor from Tennessee has been reported upon at all by
the Comptroller and Auditor.
Mr.. BRIGHT. AS the senator from Maine has re-
ierred to the injury Of hasty legislation and as an error
is SAID TO have existed in the payment of Indian claims
before beg leave to offer remark AT the last SEES
sion of Congress called upon to appropriate
something like 100000 for the benefit OF the Cherokee
Indians, and after that had been paid to Geo-
ga
Mr.ATHERTON Creek Indians
MIR. BRIGHT think it was the Creek tribe. | I'M
deriake TO say that, by error $4,000 of this amount
was paid three times by the United States It was hrst
paid in frau, of the law, ii afterwards decided to
the State OF Georgia.
Mr.. BERRlEN. The expression is too strong. to
speak OF money paid 10 The Site of Georgia n fraud OF
The law" No money has been paid 10 the Stale OF
Georgia in fraud Of any law.
Mr.. BRIGHT. In few words, the facts, as under
stand them these. The United States in their treaty
with the Creek Indians If that be the tribe, undertake
70 pay them much for their lands 1t was further
stipulated that certain amount should be retained, Tor
spoialions upon the State OF Georgia
| Mr.. BERl}iEN. Not the State of Georgia.
Mr.. BRIGHT The citizens of Georgia. Upon an IN,
ves,gaon OF the claims, they found that they amounted
10 less Than the reserved. Georgia claimed the
benefit OF the difference and under order made out oy
President Jackson, paid TO the State OF Georgia
| That understand to be the fact
! Mr.. JOHNSON, of Georgia Will the senator allow
me? under act OF Congress of the United States
that the money pad and that too under the nsruc-
tons OF the then Attorney General stating that 1t was
proper that the amount should be paid to the State oi
Georgia. and adding that the Stale of Georgia was not
responsible for the appropriation OF that fund Inc
money was paid over, pursuance OF that act 10 tal
Georgia paid over 10 bona de claimants who were en-
titled to the fund consider now, did then, that the
money appropriated al the last session of Congress to that
tribe, gratui,y to the Indians consider the
amount paid TO Georgia under the act of 1891, to be IN
full OF all claims which The Creek Indians had against the
government These the circumstances under which
the appropriation made under the administration OF
Tho kpn M