Southern shield., 1850-12-14

l Ibe Representatives of the Wyandot na- l ton, therefore, present claim against the United States for the price of one hundred and foriy-eight thousand acres of land granted by the 2d article of the aforesaid treaty of March IT, IS42-fxing that price at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre-and which claim, they conceive, is strengthened if not1endered valid, by the recognition of their purchase from the Dela- ware Indians on the part of the United States, as shown by the resolution confir- matory thereof, above cited. And they now ask that the sum of one hundred and eighty-fve thousand dollars be allowed and paid to the Wyandot people in communication of said claim.
 l And, whereas. the Commissioner On be- half of the United States, having carefully and attentiveIy examined the application presented to him on behalf of the Wyan- dot nation both in regard to their desire to become citizens of the United States, and Iof their claim for payment, in money, for the lands granted 10 them by the treaty of lS42; and having. also, examined the pub
 lie documents and other proofs, having re- ference 10 the subject. he is induced to believe, -1frst-ihat the Wyandot people have so far advanced in civilization as to be capable, generally, of managing their own affairs, and are qualified and calculated 10 become useful citizens, large portion whereof being already engaged in agricul- tural pursuits; and secondly, that they have an equitable claim on the United States for the value of the lands granted to them by the treaty of lS42, aforesaid, but of which lands they were not possessed, in compli- ance with the stpulations of said treaty.
 In arriving at this conclusion, however, it is expressly understood that it is not 10 be considered as an admission by the United States of either the policy or expediency of committing lands granted to Indian tribes under treaty stipulatons, for money, or in fixing the value of such lands so as to serve as precedent hereafter. But, under the peculiar circumstances of this case, and especially in view of the Wyandot tribe of Indians agreeing 10 ex,inguish their national existence and become citizens of the United States; thereby relinquishing all claims now held in their national or collective capacity, against the United States, the Commissioner aforesaid has agreed with the Wyandot IChief aEd Deputies, parties hereto, to con- lciude the following articles, to wtt:
 ARTICLE l.
 For and in consideration of the stpula- tons set forth in the following articles, the Wyandot tribe or nation ot Indians, here by cede, relinquish, and forever quit claim to the United States all the right, title and interest in tbe lands they now possess and occupy, or have ever possessed and held in common, either as original occupants of the soil, or acquired by virtue of treaty sti2u- iduUu.
 ARTICLE II.
 The Wyandot nation aforesaid, in further consideration of the stipuations contained in the following articles, hereby stipulate and agree that their existence, as a nation or tribe, shall terminate and become ex- ltinct upon the ratification of this treaty by the President and Senate of the United States, and by the Chiefs and National Council of their nation. And in like ma h. her do they relinquish all claims held by the ]Wyandot people, in their national or col lective capacity against the United States, either on account of annuities arising out of treaty stipuations, or of any other charac- ter or description. .whatsoever; and, that after the ratification of this treaty in the manner before mentioned, they will have no claim to be recognised by the Government of the | United States in their tribal or national ca pacjty, except so far as it may be necessary to carry into effect the several stipulations l of this treaty.
 ARTICLE III.
 In consideration of the foregoing grants and conditions, and for the purpose of gratifying the laudable desire expressed by the Wyandot people to become citizens of the United States, it is hereby stipulated and agreed, that the United States will pay them (the Wyandot peopIe) for the one hundred and forty eight thousand acres of land, promised to them by the treaty of March IT, lS42, at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, amounting to the sum of one hundred and eighty five | thousand dollars, in the manner followings to Wit: One hundred thousand dollars shall be invested in United States stock, 10 bear interest from the ratification of this treaty, at the rate of five per cent. per annum, re- deemabe at the pleasure of the Government of the United States-certficate of which stock shall be issued to the individuals now compoSing the Wyandot nation, in the manner and form hereinafter prescribed. And for the purpose of enabling the Wy andot Indians (preparatory to their becom- ing citizens of the United States) to pay and extinguish all their just debts and liabilities, lcontracted in their national or collectiUe capacity, either on account of the purchase of their lands from the Delaware nation or otherwise, the balance of eighty-fve thou sand dollars shall, upon the ratification of Ifhic tront,, L., IL Stnnntn Ln nd unnnnd l,,