The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-25


before US, found that it serious difficulty not
TO have this Indian boundary but believe the senator
from Texas was opposed to it. That was the case. my
RECOLLECTION serves rightly and appeal to the senator
from Missouri MIR ArcHsosl to confirm what | have
said
Mr.. ATCHISoN believe he did not.
| Mr. BELL There was Opposition from some quarter
or other, and thought that il was from Texas on the
ground Of constitutional right and that il could not Be
done without the consent OF Texas The objection was
upon the ground OF cons uonal rgh, to interfere with
the Indians in the territory OF Texas The proposition
should be made IN this bill TO receive the assent of the
legislature of Texas 10 such regulations the govern
men may think proper 10 establish Tor the purpose of
restraining these depredalons The honorable senator
from Texas knows much better than dos but from what
knowledge | have, from having attended for several
years to Indian relations, there mode
of restraining these depredations without effective
chain o posts upon the border of the Texan settlements
Whether this be done not in Texas, do not know
| do not know whether, on account o the phyGcal
of such posts But if i, be not and tina, country
rapidly settled up there will be heavy drain upon
the treasury annually from these depredations.
better policy to pass this bill, because II will force upon
Congress and the general government the necessity Of
siaonng forces there to repess these depredaons
That Is the policy OF Texas and the policy OF this gov
eminent II we liable to pay for these dcpredatons.
the soundest policy is to provide against their occurrences
otherwise--if we shall pass this bll-we shall forcs it
upon our attention in year or two. think however,
that il s very broad principle though an inclined 2
think that had better adopt IT, We shall then
what policy il will be absolutely necessary to adopt
with regard to these wandering tribes -aa
The first objection that occurred to regard to this
amendment il seems does not exist think upon the
whole it will be sound policy 10 pass this bill, and
what effect it will have. think. however. if the sena-
vision appendedto it that the legislature OF Texas .houd
to the issue OF legal regulations to establish the
Indian boundary and to establish military posts upon her
frontier such have been used in other cases. As to
the constitutional question: it is the old question. Still
should be willing in passing this measure 70 make
proposition to Texas for her assent to it, think il s
II
the beginning, and to have all the decisions that have
taken place in regard to it from the very origin OF
the government Under the powers given to us BY the
constitution, think il more than doubtful whether we
have any such power. is the very vague power TO
guate the with the Indian tribes. and upon
that we have built an immense superstructure. II 10,
however, established from the time Of Washington, and
think il is rather too well settled now to be questioned
and il to have any difficulty with regard to IT,
think the shortest mode would be to get the assent Of
Texas To these regulations. l 9se.
Mr. RUSK The United States have Just as much
jurisdiction under the constitution they would
have with any agreement upon the part OF Texas They
have the right make treaties They have the right TO
regulate the trade and intercourse The constitution s
clear upon the subject aud the States prohibited
from entering into any such treaty The general govern
men in this instance have exercised with the Cuman-
ches and have eni cred INTO treaty with them in which
they did consult the State OF Texas at all The only
difficulty which has got into the mind OF the honorable
SENATOR appehend proceeds from certain resolutions OF
three years ago. referred TO the Committee on Indian Al
fairs They were to this purpor: good many OF these
settle there The Cherokees, in large numbers, before
the xaon did go there to settle large tract Of
land. The kickapoos did the same thing and at tins
very the largest portions OF the Indians driven out OF
Florida there, seeking to make some arrangements
by which to settle with claim 10 large ract oil the
land of Texas They went in with the Cumanches and
were anxious TO make some arrangement with them
about certain country 10 be given to them by treaty.
Against that the legislature of Texas protested and pass
ed resolutions soemnly protesting against IT, They cad
tha, the United States had right TO take Indians that
belonged other portions OF TIE United Sales and send
them to Texas. Nobody will contend for that -
This b then, extends precisely the same law to Texas
which has existed in all the other States where there
were Indian tribes The authority over these In
dian tribes and the right regulate intercourse
with them exist in Tex as as anywhere else and by the
authority OF the constitution oil the United states
As to the depredatons committed there, the difficulty
has been that the night KIND oi troops have no. oesn
used There infantry stationed there which operate
but as a temptation to the Indians TO come down and
get all that they The Cumanches are, perhaps, the
best horsemen the world and any loose horse or any
other property these frontier posts operates but
temptation for them TO come down and steal H. NO
difficulty would occur If you bad the right kind OF troops
will take 500 rangers, and be answerable with my head
that compel them TO make peace in twelve months !
would have difficulty about IT, Take the right kind OF
extension OF this law would greatly aid in doing il also
II you thrash the Cumanches, they see they are in
position be thrashed they will come in, as they did on
a late occasion 10 General Brooke, TO make treaty
you pass this law, what will be the effect General
Brooke will say, "You committed certain deprcdahons
you stole certain horses and mules and you must return
reluctantly and they will not be likely to commit anotner
depreciation The number OF depredations that have been
committed there is very ineonsderabe lney amoun'
10 bat three or four in ALL and have been before
the Committee Indian Affairs. To pay them VIII be
but an inconsiderable drain upon the public treasury
and il will establish principle that Will operate upon
the Cumanches when they comm, depedatons upon the
eenceless frontier by stealing horses and anything OF
that SORT in that will be beneficial.
Mr. BELL did not mean to intimate that any assent
OF Texas would extend the power of Congress over the
Indian territory OF Texas OF had an idea that
The State of Texas had protested against the establish
ment of this Indian boundary, which may have been oe-
rived from the to which the senator from
Texas has alluded. Now, wish to call the attention o'
the Senate this II the proper kind OF force ana sne
deprelatons by the wandering tribes the government
ndem nfy the Inhabitants OF Texas against the usR'e
tons there committed There Is this ditncuy sun uu
less we establish Indian boundary There aux w
ton OF the western and northern part OF iekas IN wu'S
there are no settlers But the settlements a's conune.y
! advancing, and liable to De estepaeu soIeumes
6ftv or one hundred miles al time. NOW, these INDIANS
in Their nursuit OF game, will ind an occasonai settle
ment- do not say know that 80, though presume
il is-npon what they consider their domain and are
I;Lelv o fall upon the settlement, which they TANK they
have ihe right to expeI without the boundary. do
moi know how that is That is the history OF all the
settlements upon the borders of Indian countries These
settlements continually advancing. II you have
fixed boundary treaty OF understanding with the ipes,
the difficulty with them will not be likely TO exist pu.
if not, whenever you extend beyond the line wn,sn
consider to belong exclusively to them they WIN % liz,
they have the right to expel you, and WIN Use Th.
power they have IN their hands for that purpose. ;s
has been the progress of settlements Inc ua ~