Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-03-13
Congressional.

House bill "to amend the act supplement
tai to the act for the admission Of Iowa
and Florida into the Union" was taken
up, and having been amended, on motion
of Mr.. Jones, was read third time, and
passed.
A lengthy debate upon that clause Of
the appropriation bill of the House, which
abolishes whipping in the Navy, sprung
up, and finally the clause was stricken out
Tuesday, Feb 13lh--SENArE.-The
bill granting the right Of way across the
public lands, and to dispose Of said land in
aid Of several States in the construction
Of rail roads and canals, was taken up
and passed
Wednesday, Feb. 14,h.--HoUsE.-At
II o'clock, the members Of the Senate
proceeded to The House, the two Houses
to the prescribed form, pro-
ceeded 10 count the electoral votes Of the
States for President and Vice President
Of the United States for four years from
the 4th Of March.
The Vice President declared, in form,
that Zachary Taylor had been elected
President, and Willard Fillmore Vice
President. l/ZL
Thursday, Feb. 15th.-SENArE--Mr.
Atchison, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, reported joint resolution to de-
fray the expenses Of certain Chippewa
Indians, and their Interpreter, incurred
in their visit to the City Of Washington.
This resolution appropriates $3,OuO to
cover SAID expenses. On motion, it was
so amended as to appropriate six instead
Of three thousand.
Mr.. YuIee doubted the cxpediency Of
the appropriation. 1t was an encourage
ment to other delegations to come to the
City Of Washington, even when they had
no urgent business to call them.
Mr.. Dodge Of Iowa. Mr.. President,
these Indians came not here, as l under
stand, to make any complaint. They
live some two thousand miles beyond
where live. They come here, sir, to
ask small boon from this government
Ito ask Of this and the other branch Of
Congress, that the resting places where
the bones Of their ancestors repose may
be continued to them; that tho govern
ment Of the Uni,cd States would grant
them small portion Of its vast domain
among the Businesses and marshes Of
lake Superior, where their villages are
situated, and whore they have been ena-
bled to obtain 4 precarious subsistence
by gathering tho wild rice, cranberries,
and other productions Of that distant
country. 1t is true sir, that they have
come on this mission to make their wants
known to their Great Father without an
invitation from tho Secretary of War;
But, sir, these men were entirely ignor-
ant of the regulation Of the department
Of which the honorable senator from
Florida mr.. YULEE] speaks. They had,
to them, most important business to
transact, and they did not doubt their
right as an independent people to come
here to make their grievances known 49,
They selected a gentleman, related to
! them by the ties Of consangunity, an in
telligent, and, as | understand, respect
| able man, to act az their guide and inter-
prefer. Amidst difficulties of ever sort,
and without means, they have worked
their way here. They have visited the
President, the Secretary Of War, and the
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs; have
made known their wants to them, and al
so TO the Committees Of Indian affairs in
both houses Of Congress. They are now
sir, overwhelmed with debt, and know,
from their piteous appeals 10 my col
league and myself, that they are in the
ultermost distress. If this appropriation
is not made for their relief, | DO not my
self see hat will become Of them. Ev
erywhete their mission was approved by
all who became acquainted with them,
and everywhere they excited the best
sympathies Of the human heart. They
are portion Of the last-lading aborigines
Of the west. They belong TO that widely
extended, aud still numerous tribe Of In
dams, the Chippewas. The occasion is
one, as it seems 10 me, in which every
one who has particle Of feeling should
consent to grant these children oflhe for.
est this small piltance, and send them
home satisfied. Their petition for land,
and to become citizens, has been presen-
ted by my friend from Michigan, mr.
FELcn,] but at too late day to be acted
on at the present session Of Congress. /
hope it will be lavoraby considered at
the next.
Mr.. Hannegan. would ask the SEN
ator from Iowa ifthese Indians have not
complained that they were deceived by
the commissioners who treated with them
last. and if they understood that they
would be compelled 10 remove from their
present places of abode?
Mr.. Dodge of Iowa. l cannot answer
that question, as they have never done
so 10 me; but they do complain that some
eight hundred hulCbreeds are allowed Il
participate in their sma !yearly annuity
But that, and other like matters, have
no doubt will be promptly and properly
corrected by the present able and trust
worthy Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
But, sir, if you were to 90 into a cal
culalion OF the millions Of acres Of land
the valuable lead and copper mines, tina
you have acquired from these very tribes
specimens O: which minerals are 10 be