The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-19

in which it was state. .ea each warrior should be
| s.,5red Two hundred and seventy dollars for six
the young men, under these promises, enlisted for the
| campaign; but after they had been at the seat OF
war lew months, they received pay for the re,
mande of the time the allowed by law, instead
OF receiving the $270. They were believe, paid at the
rate OF $21o Tor six months, during the first four
months of their service in Florida, and the remaining
two months they received at the rate of $780, which
the most they were allowed by law.
These warriors going TO Florida Unexpectedly, and
proper to provide their families with supplies of pro
visions. Not all, but large proportion Of this debt
was paid for the furnishing of these supplies by
Fndlay and his partner, and they have transferred
this claim 10 Chouteau The Indians returned home
with diminished pay, contrary TO their expectations
What did the Indians then do' They assembled in
selves. All the chiefs of the tribes as understand it,
assembled in their usual form and that there may be
mistake ask the Clerk to read the first memorial pre-
scented TO the government on that subec-or the ques
ton has been pending here for five or six years.
| The Clerk accordingly read the memorial.
The reading of the second memorial was then called
for by Mr.. BELL, and il was read.
Mr.. B. There is another memorial, believe, in which
the same fact is reced but will not trouble the Senate
not the FACT that this claim of $4,000 is there referred
TO- There is another memorial not yet read in which
this very claim of $4,000 is specifically referred to- Now
think II IS not proper to characterize this as a" ne
farous' claim, and coming under class which the
aor successfully resisted the last session of Congress
It founded, In part, mistake made by of the
highest officers OF this government holding out IN
ducements 10 these Indian warriors, which
afterwards realized SO lar as the claim is based upon
supplies furnished to the families Of those warriors from
other persons surely the honorable will not say
that this is un just or nearious
But understood him to say that it is not sound policy
for this government pay these debts, no matter how
justly contracted. have had of these memorials
read to the Senate for the purpose of showing what
the opinion OF the chiefs themselves will not ask him
whether it is sound policy to pay these funds the
tribe, to dispose OF them as they think proper That
port goes into the reasoning upon that subject - ~
best policy with regard TO many of the Indian tribes
think i would not Here is small tribe, devoted to
agricultural pursuits. and this annuity would only tempt
the young men to be idle and profgae; and inasmuch
as It was small tribe, considerably advanced in civil
zation, not in position to live by hunting, and with
disposition to do So they thought il would be better that
this pttance should be distracted from them altogether
than that it should remain continual lure oilers year
after year. generation after generation. hold in my hand
letters to the superintendent of Indian affairs at St. Louis
signed by the same authorities, begging them TO pay this
debt OF $4,000 since is Just debt The character OF
the tribe, say they involved in it, and there
other means of paying it excepting out of the fund
cured to them by the treaty of 1891.
Now, sir, let again what that treaty u.s. 1t pro-
ceeds of the land after the sales aforesaid shall
tue fund for the future necessities of this tribe, upon
which shall be paid 10 the chiefs, for the of the tribe
annuity of live per cent? such fund to be continued
unless the chiefs of such tribe should in council
bed desire that the whole fund thus created shall be
paid over 10 them.
so far as have read in this clause of the treaty it de-
Ponds upon the discretion of Congress to continue it
til the chiefs shall resolve Then Congress will
to have any discretion but must pay it them
cordng to the terms OF the treaty Here is the clause
In which the President shall the be
so paid if in his discretion he shall believe the pSosper
ty and happiness of the tribe will be promoted sby
Well sir, these chiefs applied by this memorial, for the
payment of the whole of this fund and we decline pay
regard to the interest and prosperity of the Indians them
seves-for that has been superadded since, believe
but upon the ground that the President could not touch
it, since, by Congress, this had been invested in State
stocks, which had deprecated in the market, and could
not be sold without loss Upon that ground they
were put off upon the first occasion believe, in the
last communication upon the subject allusion what.
eyer made to the state of the stocks, but it SIM
ply placed upon the ground that it not sound policy
That as have said once twice before, the committee
considered the only question in the it was on
which they decided in favor of the claim for the
stated in the report not yet read to the Senate
AS TO the Shawnees whatever might be the sound pol
icy in relation to tribes generally, yet in regard to this
their situations considering their progress in the arts
of civilization and that the chiefs themselves have taken
that OF the subject, the committee think they had
better have their funds TO pay their debts build school
houses make roads for the tribe, and other improvements
this it would be sound policy; but in relation to any
other tribe, where they considered would be induce
to dleness instead of stimuan to industry and
Improvement to the whole of the tribe they agreed TO the
principle of reservng such funds for their benefit.
Who are these Shawnees' One of the Oldest tribes of
which we have any knowledge in the history of this
y.
these from your knowledge of the tribes in western
Pennsylvania. These Indians were driven from the
shores of the Atanticperhaps not to the point where
they situated--to distant place in the west at
all events al each time cedng their territory only after
the bloody conflicts; convinced, however, at last
that the best policy for them to cultivate peace and
submit to their destiny The chiefs OF this old ceebra
ted, and distinguished tribe have determined better for
their young they have in solemn council deter
mined that this pance shall not be doel out to them
The chiefs who generally govern their councils are ex
perienced men--the senator before Inc MIR. WALKER
says honest men, too; and he has large acquaintance
with the tribes of the northwest generally Now it
their opinion that would be to the benefit of the tribe to
have the whole of that fund paid to them. They
ask not only the amount asked for in this claim, but the
rest also.
If Congress should pass the BILL the President may
of this BILL he could not dispose OF the fund.- as 1t is
vested in stocks and he could not sell them is there
fore necessary have act of Congress, otherwise
they could not sell them.
These Indians sir, calling upon TO pay this debt
out OF their funds consider, then, that this claim is
just and equitable in its origin, and owes its origin in
part TO great and egregious mistake, by an officer OF
this government, in holding out temptations to the young
men of this tribe embark in this enterprise, prom
lslng large provisions for supplying their families
in their absence and those traders accordingly supplied
them When they returned home, without full pay
these traders applied 10 them for payments and they APP
ply to Congress to pay it. 1t falls upon the government
then, to pay it out of the funds of the tribe II just
debt II is only portion, believe, that is directed to
be used In this way but large proportion of it, This
them being just debt the chiefs OF the tribe having
sanctioned its payment out of their fund.- repeat what
said the other day, that wegrounded objection
to the claim.
| Mr.. BORLAND. As to the argument of the senator
from Tennessee upon the ground that the debt
tracted OF the the gentleman