The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-15
N CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER IL, 1850.
sENATE.

compliance with resolution oil Inc Senate, the report oil
the Rev. r. Gurey upon the condition and prospects
OF Liberia; which was laid on the table and motion
print the same referred TO The Committee on Print
ing 4fA
Mr. SEWARD presented three petitions Of citizens Of
Essex and Clinton counties New York. praying that adj
dtona duties may be imposed upon foreign iron; which
were referred TO the Committee on Finance.
RESOLUTION OF STATE LEGISLATURE
Mr.. GWlN presented resolution Of the legislature Of
California ns,rdc1ng the senators and requesting the
Of that State in Congress 10 use their ex
erlions 10 procure grants OF land 10 each commissioned
officer who served in the army OF the United States du
ring the late war with Mexico; which was referred to the
Committee on Public Lands and ordered TO be printed
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. BELL, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, 10
whom referred the bill preserve peace with The In
dlan tribes IN California, by exngushng their territorial
CLAIMS ~ the gold mine DISTRICTS reported the same back
with amendment
Mr. ATCHI NsON Mr. President, trust thai the
Senate will by unanimous consent, agree TO proceed
10 The cnns'dera ion OF bill authorize the President
Of The United States TO appoint Indian agents the State Of
California, and also enable him to make treaties with
the California Indians. trust may be onsideIed
Tor II not, 1t will most likely be laid over till the next
session
No objection being made the bill was taken up and
considered as in committee OF the whole.
Mr. ATCHlSON continued. Mr. President the Com
mlltee on Indian Affairs entirety unable give 10 the
Senate the information which they will probably require
We do no, know The number OF tribes within The limits
OF the State OF California do know The number
Of Indians the kind of titles By which they hold The
lands within the limits OF that State. We therefore re
ter the Senate for this information TO The senators from
California
Mr.. FREMONT Mr. President, the general policy OF
Spain ~ ter Indian relations was the same as that which
was afterwards adopted BY the nations Of Europe and
recognised BY the government oil the United States So
tar the policy of Spain differed from these govern
ments il Away in Of the Indians Tue right
OF exten1ed even 10 that of alienation and was
recognised and confirmed by the Supreme Court in its
decision up certain East Florida, grants
OF land iron, the Indians were confirmed by the colonial
authorities OF Spain, and also BY the Supreme Court Of
the United States. have here, cir, volume published
~ Mexico ~ lS4s, aud pufpotng TO contain all the legs
laton on TINS subject that was IN force in Mexico up TO
that cate. will not trouble the Senate by referring
particular laws, but will make statement of some
points which bear upon the case in question. These
laws extend from 1888, about twelve years after the
quest OF Mexico BY Cores, TO 1916 The royal order OF
The King, which was supreme directed, in 1885, that in
all grants woods pasture grounds and waters should be
common TO Spanlards and Indians. The policy OF Spain
with regard to Indians differed somewhat IRON that OF
the United States, and particularly in this respect that,
instead OF removing the Indians from the Must of The
population, kept them where they and protected
them in the possession OF their lands amongst the white
population. The laws directed that five hundred yards
should be allowed 10 each lndan Tor cultivation, ad
much more they needed beyond The urhest house Of
their village IN any direction. and that grants of lands
should be made which came within thousand yards OF
the OF their villages Where the inhabitants
OF the villages hal been converted 10 the Christian
igon IN old times, persons allowed TO pasture
cattle within league and half and when they
cattle within three leagues OF the villages; and the In
dams hal power TO kill any cattle trespassing within
such distance upon their lands being subject PEN
ally for doing The laws likewise recognised the
right OF the Indians 10 ALLEVIATE these lands, and de.
scrbed the and mode under which such alienation
should be legal Under date OF 1916, passed
IN Mexico, by which sale WAS invalidated because
such forms had not been complied with; but still the
right OF alienation not taken from them think
thus statement is sufficient TO show that the indians Of
California, when collected In villages, have exclusive
rights 10 land beyond that which has been granted to
Indians BY this country think, therefore, that some
particular provision is necessary IN order TO obtain
linqulshmen OF these rights by the Indians, and in
vestment OF them IN those white emgrans who may
or hereafter desire TO occupy them AT present. hold
our there as were BY iorceby the strong
hand OF power alone The Indians dispute that
aud extend the right which the Mexican laws gave
them OF killing The cattle which encroach upon them to
that OF killing the owners OF the cattle hope there
lore, that such laws will be passed will conduce the
peaceabe settlement Of the country.
MIR. GWlN MIR. President, with regard TO the titles
they are disputed They MOI recognised having
any titles there by the Mexican law. That the impress
sion OF The population Of California
Think sr the true policy OF this government is TO
appoint Indian agents who are capable men Let
agents goio California commissioners; and il the In
das have any rights. let them be thoroughly examined
do not think Congress ought 10 pass any laws upon the
subject until the matter has thoroughly investigated
would suggest 10 the chairman OF the COMMITTEE In
dian Affairs that the salary proposed Tor these officers -
entirely incompetent salary OF 81 800 will not call
out the services OF competen, men in that country
wish the chairman OF the committee would take The mat
ter INTO consdt ration and make the sun 81 900 II IL
impossible 10 get competent Tor any amount less han
that II the OF the salary j. fixed at 81 500,
nobody will be found TO occupy the office.
. Mr. ATCHI>ON. have no objection. ] hope the
senators from California will prescribe the sum which
ihry think will oDaip agents in California think my
sell thai 1900 as NE lay Of Indian a-ents upon
frontiers entirely little for the Safe OF California
willing vote for any amount those gentlemen may
tnink proper and night
MIR GWlN | make the motion, IL il is agreeable 10
my colleague, 10 substitute $1,000 for that Is the least
Tor which expect 10 obtain the,seyces Of compe
tent men.
Nj. BENTON | concur entirely in increasing the
compensation think, however u can be increased in
way To accomplish the purpose, which is still better
that is 10 make $4,000 Tor the salary, with twenty
ceuts per mile for all necessary navel We want these
Indian agents lrave great deal II is al extensive
eounir, IN whoa they situated; and they 10
one place. they will not accomplish a great deal BY
giving them this inducemen To travel and making up
this way the compensation oi 5000, shall secure
greater amount III valuable service 10 going over the
country salary OF 81 900, aud twenty ceHts mile for
tfav., tbk would answer Tie purpose better, while ii
would come 10 about The same amount
Nj GNIN would state 10 the senator from Mis-
sour that he perfectly correct about the tave which
necessary Tor Indian agents | Informed Nv a gen
lleman in The United States army that there were nun.
ded tribes OF Indians IN the gorges oil the Sierra Nevada
dDd that they speak al least nifty different languages
Those Indian agerts would be obliged 10 travel great
DEAL and think hat ,00O with the twenty cents per
mle would ne too much III that countr, twenty
cents per mi would not Jay any thing like the expenses
81 uavelhng Ibey the yery boidefs If ciyiZa-
Ton, where il very dicult Obtain ptovlSons OF any
kind have paid 81 so Tor barley 10 iced my horse,