The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-04


amendment will not prevail. 1t destroys the creates
virtue which the report OF the committee hashat OF
king final settlement between the government and In
Mr.. ATCHISON / trust that this appropriation will
be made think i will be final settlement, near
SO, with the Cherokees But if il goes over TO anothe
doubt not but their sagacity will discern leas
double the amount due them from the government There
fore ysi we shall make the appropriation once for all
Mr., WHIICOMB. The last remark OF my friend a
my right. MR. ATcHIsoN1-his apprehension that hei
sagacty al another session. if this remains unset
lied, will enable them TO discover great deal ha
they are entitled osuggests my mind that great dea
OF This claim arises from the same ingenuity and an
therefore disposed 70 close the door BY voting fo
the amendment OF the senator from Maryland.
Mr.. ATCHlSON. That is TO say, the senator, whou
knowing or inquring whether the claim just unjust
is willing n;,i 70 close the door al once.
II MIR, BELL should like TO have my friend from Ma
ryand Mr. PEARcEl state little specifically the
grounds upon which he with confidence ask the Sen
ate % reject this appropriation understand him to say
hat ne IS wiling that the appropriation should be made
for the amount which the Senate have already settled by
their award upon the questions submitted to them for
ba, oeJwesa ne Iherokees and me United States
llio vii, % the interest Of the whole fund AS under
stand t-and did understand this question very well and
minutey year ago, but the question has been more
fully developed than at the last session. must say
that when heard the report OF the senator from Arkansas
read, thought had never more candid exposition
OF the true questions presented in brief compass,
matter so important, submitted to the Senate before.
There was nothing suppressed, nothing colored nothing
q o aec. te feelings and psudlces Of those who
or the but il pursued exact line justice, with
out partiay between hisgoyenment and the Cherokees
believe that report will be found upon scrutiny half
dozen Congresses hence should this question still remain
undecided, not only in principle but in facts perfect
i is possible that any gentleman could produce al
though he should turn his attention to il for whole
sion and il he had the time to appropriate to it. Now
let me ask my friend from Arkansas. is it or is it NOT
true that every cent Of money appropriated in this bill is
demanded IN tnlhment of treaty
/ Mr.. SEBASTIAN That is the case Every item Ne
ported is in fulfment Of different articles Of treaties
This il called for by articles third and ninth OF the treaty
OF 1885, which the treaty OF 1916 made to explain
and enforce.
Mr.. BELL resumed, Now sir. wish to state that in
the year 1885, when these Indians engrated then was
the time when this settlement ought to have been insisted
upon BY the government, and finally met If had been
done then, il would have given satisfaction than it
no interest. That was in 1885 Now the year ls4s L
and in The mean time such have been % the diffcul
constructions OF the treaty Of 1885, and the executive
government has found itself much embarrassed in
settling the conflicting claims between the Cherokees
that moved west and those that remained that made
new treaty TO settle the whole finally and amcably and
to decide between the respective claims OF the East and
very maturely and carefully considered in the principles
it was intended to lay down. II was not in itself final
because referred TO the afb,rament OF the Senate
very important things which the executive government
did not choose to take upon themselves the responsibility
oil agreeing 10 IN the formation OF the treaty They
ferred questions the Senate That treaty was made
in the year 1850 and the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs
and the executive officers OF the government, have been
applying to US from year TO year. from that day to this
and half dozen different reports have been made from the
Indian department upon this question 10 errors,
and the has been examined over and over again.
to see whether this amount could not be reduced or
changed in way or oher-o see whether there was
not mistake; and now, sir after four years of
sderation upon the new treaty Of ls4e il is said that
this is not the proper occasion, and this the proper
bill in which TO finish that duty.
My honorable friend said in private conversation that
ought to be ln separate bill Why, sir, this ought
have embraced in the bill as il came from the House
the purpose OF carrying into effect Indian treaties but
the questions were not matued in time TO be submitted
TO the House OF Representatives when this bill was be-
fore them But are we less competent than the House Of
Representatives to examine this question The House of
Representatives will have to act upon this question upon
the credit OF the faithful examination made, not by the
Committee on Indian Affairs alone, but by every officer OF
your government. They have had by law duty to
perform in relation to it, Your Commissioner Of Indian
reaIy Of War, Gndeed all the War Department and
finally your Committee on Indian Affairs in the Senate,
have been IN favor Of it. will not say at this session,
but at the last session. fully one half OF my time, and
part OF my time al the before the last given
TO these very questions OF the treaty oil 1916. Il is
question which is proper and legitimate il is one that
the bill contemplates in making provision carry into
execution The various Indian treaties How long shall il
be postponedl II honorable senators would point out
any conceivable obecton any OF its items which
demands and careful examination, then shall be
willing TO postpone it, and let us be worried and har-
assed with the subject another year, rather years
hence Gentlemen talk OF another session within two
months We shall have but three. months session,
and then all California will be down upon US. Then,
as now we shall be remined that il is but few months
10 the session, and most imperative claims will be
made upon The various members OF the Senate will
be powerfully called upon TO take legislative action
Tor the purpose of carrying out political relations
with those distant Territories, for which have legisa
ted but very ttle and have postponed every important
and troublesome substantive proposition TO the next
SION III we postpone II now, II will he to postpone then
for | know fny ahe fuend from Mar
land very much opposed TO increasing the appropra
ons. We ought all to be opposed to increasing them
improperly. We have heard OF the deficit likely TO be in
The treasury; but have heard statement tending TO
authorize us TO believe that there will not be sufficient
funds in the treasury Until that announcement, is made,
shall feel il my duty TO appropriate every amount for
which there l. any obligation of law treaty, an
honorable obligation upon the part of this government
TO carry out their contracts and stipuatons with the In
shall regret as much as my honorable friend from
Maryland II these appropriations shall be swelled any
thing boyoAd the ne cessary amount dare say the APP
propratons will be enormous, amounting TO fifty or sixty
millions. Let them be eighty millions, Il they are made
IN conformity with law, or for the advancement accord
ing 10 our constitutional powers, Of the great interests OF
thus country and have the money, are likely TO
have IT, II we know we have not the money, then we
must pospone all discretionary appropriations But this
pay IT. you must pay il now, else you viii ia in your
obligations.
Now, sr, the honorable members OF the Committee ON
Finance are the habit Of reviewing the work OF the other
committees; and they say they have not bad time. GOD
knows where they could get The time. ! think II ls a
mistake the minds OF honorable senators. The under
lake to revise the work of every other committee 81 the