The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-13

throw e@barrassments in the way Of the Indians being
paid according the treaty Years pass BY and the In
dams at last begin to despair OF getting The money
About the time they thus despair these individuals
again approach the Indians, but with another voice.
Now they say You perceive that you cannot get your
money but there is plan by which you get por-
,,on Of it. i you will employ US as agents. we can gel
expense. we induce Congress make the appropria-
uon The Indians readily fall in with the overture and
IN great many instances they ultimately induced 10
promise to pay enormous, exor0.tant, and extoonate
per centage upon the amount due TO them by the govern
ment these contracts made, the agents again step
forward, and then the whole matter becomes perfectly
clear and manifest II that the Indians have
entitled 10 II all along, and the wondermen is that the
Indians have never been paid before We make the APP
preparation, then; but in place Of complying with The
we violate the treaty and pay enormous sumsa quarter,
third half OF tito our own citizens, and the
ihs ia.sisw - -aAs
the last session II then prevailed. and hope may
prevail now We are, At least on the safe side; for we
intend to pay the Indians, should do according TO
treaty II we do not intend 10 pay them thus, we should
not turn aside and pay, them at all, With this view
Mr. MASON Thss may s be 'as cases and md doubt not
there are where il is proper that the government should
nerpose protecting hand between class OF people and
their agents or COUNSEL with view to avoid their being
pundered or mlsled. And sorry to admit that in
ordinary the Indian tribes when they applicants
for money for any purpose from this government. 90
Just wise introduce this intended protection upon
all occasions in pursuance OF general principle II such
be the intention OF this government fought to be enacted
| lEo general law The object OF this appropriation has
been brought within notice within the last year or
two, and has been agated in Congress- II happens to
be personally known to me that the Indians to whom
this money is 10 be paid stated by the senator from
Georgia. are an educated and organized portion OF
the community, and represented here by intelligent
and able men, perfectly capable OF making contracts
any senator upon this floor think therefore to apply
the principle these Indians mig be unjust towards The
Cherokees themselves cannot therefore, vote for the
Mr.. WALKER Mr. President. if the Indians in this
particular be OF the character described by the
tor from Virginia [Mr. MAsoN] and the senator from
| Georgia. [Mr. DAwsoN,l there is little doubt that the
agent or agents that may be interested in this fund will
their fees per cenage from these Indians. II
they Se Of the class s ~ hy vail ee N
torneys, II they have any But sir, deny they have.
have. have had any power whatever far bind
violate the plain meaning the treaty. and induce them
to pay not to the Indians per edpd, according TO The
treaty. but pay portion Of that PER eopaa fund to he,I
plain why this money has not been paid before, If The
TACT OF its being due is perfectly manifest Can
any explain why it has never before been paid
apprehend seriously ii Is from the cause mentioned be-
fore. There has been mist thrown this matter
dust thrown into eyes-and the facts kept back until
unjust and very large fees have been offered to attorneys
from Georgia Mr.. DAwsoNl upon that point But ths
greater probability is sir, that large compensation ha
been offered They easily comply with their obga
ton We are no, bound TO step in between them an,
their attorneys to violate the teaty-o pay portion
the fund to those attorneys the fulhme OF con,rac
} Mr.. FO0TE II any such corrupt practices as hsv
been alluded TO by the senator from Wisconsin b
established by proof shall vote with him in support o
the amendment introduced by him But am not in tn
habit OF presuming fraud or knavery upon sug
geson surmse. In this particular case know of m
person who has alleged on his own knowlege that ih
i'll practices TO which the senator refers have taken place
indulge, therefore, at present, such suspicion
that which the honorable senator has given expires
sion concur with the honorable senator from Nirgin
tMr Mason that this tribe OF Indians are amply quail
hed attend TO their business If such is the
and 1t not disputed By the senator from Wlsconslni Dc
not know why II is that suspicion innuendC
We should undertake TO inrude our guardianship upol
them II i, be shown that they stand in need OF thu
sort OF gratuons protection, willing they should
have the seae6t OF it but until am satisfied that they
are not competent to manage their concerns, shal
object ntermeddlng with them in the manner pro
posed by the senator from Wisconsin. ! believe tha
any contracts which may exist between the Cherokee
and their chosen agents entered into with knowl
edge Of all The circumstances connected with the claim
and that the contractors either side were perfect
competent to guard their interests have doub
that in this many other such cases, was necessa
that attorneys learned in the lawinelllgen high mind
ed and honorable agensshould be employed for the pur
pose OF facilitating the examination OF this matter, an
The rendition OF ultimate justice by the government TO tn
parties interested. IL will not do on vague suspicion
founded upon the tady legislation OF Congress in behal
OF us claims, TO fix brand of dscredn upon genieme
OF high standing, whose criminafy only 10 b
that they have undertaken to do what presume any re
duty would not hesitate do under similar
which is, simply engage in the prosecution OF CLAIM
like the present one for reasonable pecunary purpose
Especially cir, am unwilling to presume against worth
members OF my profession, against whose charac
Ter prepared To- present any specific allegation
OF unfair dishonorable conduct. Such IS my hig
respect for my friend from Wisconsin, that if he will rs
in his place and say he has any personal knowledge o
such practices he has referred to- shall not hesai
to vote with him, But do at present, espe
cially obvious that the object which he ha
in can be very easily accomplished by very dn
erent process II there be any such ground fof susp
cion, as he seems to suppose lei him present an amend
providing for the appointment OF special agent L
look the matter and pay the money, after proper
tiny either into the hands of those who prmaril
entitled to it, or spon their order, to any whom the
may authorize to receive it.
Mr. WALKER. Mr. President, the honorable senate
from Mississippi Mr. Foorr] says that il | will sta,
that have any knowledge of these instances Of ID
practices OF which have spoken being engaged in,
will vote with believe that had before stated tha
| had no knowledge Of individual cases, but that tn
amendment offered in view Of general prncpl
which seemed to TO bind TO strict and honest
and intelligent gentlemen who have been the attorneys
these Indians know nothing of il. intended to max
no personal application whatever OF my remarks. But
sir, IL he will ask the question what done. IN re
gard TO my knowledge upon these subjects, with othe
Indian tribes with whom treaties Of like character hav
been made will say him that these practices hav
been INDUCED in, in the region Of country have tn
also. professional man, of the same profession witt
the senator from Mississippi, Mr. FooTr that It ~ re
gaded odious practice Tor any attorney or lawye
TO engage in TO render his professional services to
paid OF the results say il is od,ous, and ought
TO be carried out