Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-01

om5tn, Souie, Underwood Whtcomb, and Winthrop-2s
NAYS-Messrs. Bradbury, Chase, Dawson DAYTON nick
inson Hale, Hamlin Hunter Miller Norris Phelns pratt
Rhett Spruance Sturgeon, Turney, Upham, wales, and
So the bill was ordered to be enerossed and read ;,a
time.
On motion the Senate adjourned.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1851.
On the motion Of Mr.. DOUGLAS the Senate as in Com
mitee Of the Whole proceeded to consider the bill to paw the
expenses Of the Cayue war; in the Territory of Oregon m
ls47 and ls4S.
The bill proposes authorize the Secretary of the Trea
suy 70 audit and settle the expenses Of the carried BY
the Provisional Government Of Oregon against the Cayuse
Indians in the eighteen hundred and forty seven and
eighteen hundred and forty eight upon the presentation by
the Governor Of that Territory Of detailed statement Of
the expenses OF the properly authenticated with the
proper vouchers for the and the Of hundred
and ninety thousand dollars thereby appropriated 10 carry
the provisions Of the act into effect.
Mr. DOUGLASS explained the bill, which was then or
dered to be engIossed
COLLECTION. DISTRICTS IN OREGON
Mr. HAMLIN now ask the Senate for the same con-
siderationeh urged by the Senator from Illinois,
DoUdLAs to take up the bill create additional col
districts in the Territory Of Oregon, and for other pu
poses It is understood that two DAYS Of next week are
assigned in the other House for the consideration Of territorial
questions and If we to pass these bills during this ses
son they should be passed be considered there
aPPrehend there will be opposition taking up now.
The motion agreed to- and the Senate as in Commit
tee of the Whole, proceeded to its consideration.
The bill wasrepoed to the Senate the amendments made
in COMMITTEES Of the Whole concued in and the bill
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
LANDS OF THE HALF BREED SIOUX.
On the motion Of Mr.. ATCHISON the Senate bill to au-
horze the President Of the United States purchase certain
lands from the habreed Sioux Indians taken up read
second time, and considered in Committee of the Whole
Mr.. PEARCE would like to know the amount Of land
involved in this question. think there quite large tract
il is the same bill which discussed the last session.
The PRESIDENT. 1t is the same
Mr.. ATCHISON. The land is described in the bill. It
lies west Of the Mississippi ve opposite that portion called
Lake Ppn, and contains about three hundred and eighty
thousand acres according to the BILL II is thirty miles
ong and about fifteen broad Il near the heart Of the
Territory Of Minnesota The price Of the land will be sixty
nine cents and fraction per acre. will ask that the Sec
eary read communication by the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs to the President at the last session Of Congress-
The communication accordingly read.
Mr.. ATCHISON. find there is a mistake in the calcu-
aon to the number Of Of land made by the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs The tract is thirty miles long
and fifteen miles wide. and any by making the
calculation that the number Of but hundred and
eighty eight thousand and by dividing the proposed to
be paid, which two hundred thousand dollars by this
Der OF acres shows that the per is little over
sixty-nine cents.
Mr. DOUGLAS. I understood that the length Of the
tract was hrywo miles that is the Of the variation
in the estimate
Mr. HUNTER. see no reason why we should pay SO
much more for the lands in this than for other lands
procured from the Indians. think the Senator from Mch
gan the very striking speech which he delivered some days
ago, stated that the expense for the engushment Of Indian
titles upon average aboutweny eight cents per
It proposed to give cents per TO these In
dans think had better give the Indians the nett pro-
ceeds the and than into such an arrangement
this
Mr.. DODGE, of Wisconsin. will detain the Senate but
afew moments upon this subject am well acquainted with
the country to which this bill relates. In 1887 ap-
pointed by the Government to negotiate treaty with the
Chppewas who occupied large extent Of country of
the MssPp and in passing up that river stopped in what
was then called the halbreed country and found various
portions Of very rich. think the purchase very impor
tant one That portion Of country not far from the central
portion Of Mnnesota upon the Mississippi river and have
no doubt the lands will sell rapidly. under the
impression, from what know Of the country with respect to
its agricultural and commercial advantages that the
which it is proposed by the chairman of the Committee
Indian Affairs to pay for this land is not too large.
Mr. CASS. 1t will not do to take the average cost for
tDgushing the Indian titles lands in former times the
cost at which they may be extineushed We
negotiate treaties with the Indians formerly did,
of the fact that the lands becoming very valuable,
and the Indians understand their value Of much better
than they did. There settlements around the Indians
them, and the consequence Is that you
get the lands at twenty cents per acre. is utterly i'm
possible to do it. have been through this tract Of land and
must say is Of the most beautiful kind The lands are
much valuable than these in the remote west or than the
lands in the east thirty years ago, the time when
many Of treaties made with the Indians believe
that the purchase Of the land is vastly important We
have precedent in the purchase made in Ohio in Sandusky
county The lands west Of greater value and you could
not treat with the Wyandots you could thirty wears ago.
Mr.. HUNTER. understood from the Senator from
Ohio days ago that the result of throwing these lands
into market would be this that the persons holding military
bounty land warrants would attend the sales and discourage
persons from bddng by saying them that they would get
the lands and sell them to them at much less price, If
that be So the probability h that if buy the lands Of these
bali breed Indians and them for SALE sha not get
mine cents per Under these circumstances am
not disposed to pay much If we buy them let us rive
the nett proceeds Of them to the Indians and 10 more The
lands will be of no profit to us if we buy them.
Mr. JONES. The gentleman is mistaken in suppospp
that these lands will be taken up and sold Immediately to sa
sy military bounty Iands for this reason The lands are
not surveyed and will not be surveyed until the President Of
the United States gives orders to the Surveyor General 10 do
So Then the settlers will acquire peempiion rights
pose From my knowledge of this county, as have had
the pleasure of seeing aad knowing what is il is as good
as any on the Mississippi river and believe il will be taken
up by actual settlers whenever it surveyed But will
not be for several yess to come unless the
IS ordered TO make survey for that purpose.
Mr. HUNTER. One remark to the Senator from lows.
Secretary Of the Treasury assumes that the purposes Of
absorption of the public lands will las. during sixteen years.
During that time, then shall get nothing for them
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi have doubt these lands
are valuable. From what have Of them think 30
myself But il there another question to be
considered besides the value of the land What is to be-
come Of the Indians We already have memorial for
driving them in from the West. There time when
the ultima thule west of the Mississippi and there they
remain in peace forever. Now il is proposed to
push them still further. Where they 20 The popu-
laion is already pressing them back from the Pacific You
drivn0 thenn further of