The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-21

y may not W IKE leGfee cOnIer Oh sriect com
mlttee Netllef has any power other than that
:, which it derives Hon the House, and either may
E receive all the power which the House can CON
fes---and one OF them in high degree rs the
other. The gentleman will have 10 look about
: bin for some better excuse than this to Justify
his vote, to inquire into Secretary Walkers
, alleged misconduct and his speech to day against
inquiring into Mr.. Ewing's official slort-com-
, ings.
But my hour is running ont, and | must hurry
OH to brief investigation Of the facts set forth
t in the report itself
Aud first of the case of G.. w. and w. G..
Ewing: Large sums of money were paid These.
persons, who were traders among the Indian
tribes in the West. The money thus paid WAS
clearly due from the Government to the indians
In this ! agree perfectly and entirely with the
gmtleman, Mr.. ViSroS,] but | cannot concur
with him that it was rightfnlly paid to the
4 Nlessrs. Ewing. critical investigation of the
claims of these traders c,nnot fail to convince
every one of certain important facts: the first
I and most important is, that the demands were
enormously large, springing up by magic
from patry sum of few hundred dollars, to
many thousands, and that without there having
been any additional dealings between the parties.
In many instances, the items composing the
accounts We're never given, but demand rem
i dered for large sum in round numbers. In
the second place, the transactions were all Of
individual character the sales, if any were made,
were all made to individual Indians: whereas,
the demands prepayment were against the tribes
or nations; TINS rendering whole people re-
sponsible, without their consent, for the foolish
and improvident acts of Il few individuals Nay
more than this it was placing the funds of a
tribe ofiSnGrant sava9cs at the mercy OF these
spectators and traders. Every one knows that
inf Mt nd Slir Ip6 ms Ooo u
the Indians. and with few red blankets, or with
strands of beads and other trinkets, make nc
counts on n credit with them to any amount
4 And we all know, that il the United States will
| undertake to pay such accounts out OF the trust
funds belonging to the savage tribes there will
/ be found unprinciped men enough to present
demands for millions. The third point to be
considered in this matter IS that Secretary Ew-
ing ordered the payment Of these demands with
out suii lent proof OF their justice, even against
the individual Indians, and in total disregard of
| the rights of the savage tribes II is true that
large sums are now suspended to await the
action of the House this report Ii the
committee is sustained, Justice will be done the
Indians, and if not their funds will be reckless
~ squandered in paying the demands of the Ew-
| ings, and other traders and spectators
/ One Of my colleagues on the committee pro-
poses to address the House more particularly on
this branch Of the investigation, and TO him
leave the further task OF pursuing the facts and
law of this cise. will not dilniss it, however,
without calling attention to the position of the
gentleman from ONO
ItIcorrecty understood the gentIelnan's posi-
| ton, il was, that inasmuch rs the Government
owed the money, it could make no difference
whether she paid it to the Indians or to the
traders. If he means by this that it makes no
difference so far as the money is concerued--no
difference in pecuniary point of view, quite
agree with him. But the gentleman very well
understands that there are other and higher
questions involved than the mere matter of dis
charging pecuniary liability. Viewed only as
II question of dollars and cents, If is little I'M
pnrtant, it is true, that the money when paid
1 should pass into the proper hands. An error
| like thi, might be committed and with civilized
and enlightened nations it could be repaired by
simplypaying the money again. But how is it, sir,
with the Indian tribes The Government has
obtained their confidence; they have consented
that we shall hold their funds in trust. BY and
/ by they will send up deputation to see ,her
great father, the President, and receive their
money They will be told that the money has
, been paid to white men, and they will feel
cheated distrust will take the place of conf
/, dence. They will sigh for revenge They will
fly to arms; and the next intelligence from the
knife have been taken up, and that frontier
settlers are flying from their homes and seeking
safety. Tell me not, sir, that it makes no diff
ference to whom the money is paid Let the
gentleman look into this matter, and he will find
| that the paltry question rs to whether we shall
! pay this money once or twice sinks into insig
nitcance in comparison with the other and greater
questions of morality and safety. hold that it
is in the highest degree immoral to execute a
sacred trust for an ignorant savage in a way to
suffer him to be cheated by the white man.
And know, sir it will be found highly danger
GUS to the frontiers to lose the confidence of
these Indians, and to drive them to acts of re-
: venge for the wrongs of the Government in mis-
applying their money. ! think, sir that the Sec
rotary did wrong in paying the claims of the
! Messrs Ewing, and rs the departments are only
awaiting your action to determine whether they
will pay other like demands | hope they may be
correctly advised by vote of this House.
The second in the series of resolutions re-
| ferred to the select committee, directs them to
inquire 'whether the Secretary OF the Interior
reopened and paid interest, to the amount OF
thrty-one thousand dollars, on the pension grant
ed to Commodore james Barron, for services
rendered in the Virginia navy during the revo-
lutionary war, after the principal had been fully
paid and discharged; and if said interest was
paid was it simple or compound; who was the
agent or attorney for said claim; and the au-
! thority for such claim, if any,
This Inquiry has been prosecuted, and con
cusioa arrived at which seems to me to be fully
i justified by the facts.
4 Ii appears from the recorded evidence, that
! James Barron commander In the Virginia
! (State) navy, from IT'S to the close OF the re-
evolutionary war, and that he died in 1887.
In May, ITO, the State of Virginia, by an act
of her Legislature promised hay pay for life to
all officers IN the State and Continental (ARMY)
line, who should serve to the close of the war.
In l7S0, she extended the benefits of this act
to the officers OF the navy, who should serve
during the war.
j Ii is clear, therefore, that Commodore Barron
was entitled to half pay for life, or from the
, close Of the war to his death in 1887.
la 1870, long after the close of the war, and
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