Washington telegraph., 1851-01-01
I.EcIsLATIvE PROCEEDINGS.
Dec. l2.

HousE.-Mr. Eaton reported tavorably
q Senate memorial to Congress, to pay
troops called into requisition by General
Gaines.
Also. favorahly on Senate resolutions.
memorializing Congress to pass law de-
fin,no the righ s OF citizens OF ARKANSAS
in the Indian county.
Mr.. Trapnall moved the re]ec'ion OF
report and resolutions. ana supported Tue
motion in a speech of great energy. lie
said:
That this was a matter win wh'cn
this legislature had nothing 10 do' that al
persons were bound TO know what the
laws regulating intercourse win the LII
dians were, and they were well known
in this State. 1t is well known, that
the intrusion of Unauthorized persons IN
the Indian country. caused frequent aus
| turbances, and constant aud well touhoeo
complaints on the part OF tie lhdia"s.
Vicious and designing persons, knowing
the simplicity. ignorance aud dl>slpated
habits of the Indians. in violation OF law,
were in the habit OF going into the coun-
try in pursuit Of unlawful gain, and the
Indians became all easy prey to their Gu
pidity.
These persons elude the officers, move
about from pace to place, and at last
have to be pursued and arrested, put un-
der guard aud carried across the line
The orders for this purpose are generally
issued by Gen. Belknap and that he has
pc rfor,ned his duty, without due refer
ence to the personal ease and convenience
of these gentlemen, is now the cause oil
complaint against him.
Among other Instances of this kind, 1t
seems that a certain gambler. VINO Is
widely known 10y the antlc appreciation OF
Gogge-Eye Smith, has been III the habit
of pursuing his profession in tue Indian
country, without the consent OF the au-
thoriIies. aud in defiance OF the laws;
and it seems, that Geu. Belknap. without
any suspicion of the deep interest which
the State of Arkansas had in the welfare
of "Goggie. Eye" had him arrested. con-
veyed by guard and put over the bor-
der. The particular friends OF this inter-
esting individual, indignant at the on.-
rage committed against the State OF Ar
kansas, in his person., through one OF the
re representatives of the sovereignty OF the
State IN the Congress OF the United
States, called OH the public authorities
at Washington City, for explanation or
satisfaction. Gen. Belknap was called
to account, and, as has been shown, the
authorities at Washington, TO the great
Indignation of "Goggle-Eye" and his
friends. fully approved his conduct.
And u)w the Legislature is called
upon in this resolution, without any evil
deuce whatever of the truth of the facts.
to brand on its records, distinguished
| and meritous officer, with a charge like
| this.
There are great many reckless and
pestilent persous who seem to be always
ready aud anxious to produce difficulties
between the Geueral aud State Govern
men;s, and unfortunately, sir, are but too
successful.
Now, am unwilling 10 superadd this
to he other causes of complaint and dIifi-
Guilty now existing, or TO let II be sand
here after that the harmony that always
existed between the State OF Arkansas
and the Government of the United States.
was Interrupted aud brought to end Oh
account of "Goggle-Eye" Smith.
This resolution is unnecessary, and
contemptuous towards Congress, because
it implies that after sixty years legisla-
ton on the subject, the rights OF citizens
| of the United States in the Indian conn
try have not been defined 10y its laws.
But it is inferabe that the principal OBJ
iect OF the resolution was to get i'll the
preamble. and to attack and arrsign the
conduct of Gen Belknap. To this he
strongly objected. Gen. Belknap was a
| H.. nod
tleman, in no form or shape responsible
TO this Legislature for his conduct, and he
was confident that this body would not
go out of their sphere Of duty, and with
out any evidence of the truth OF the
charges made, brand him with the retiec-
tions contained III this resolution.
Mr. James called for the ayes and
nays.
Mr. Carroll said that he concurred n
the main body of the resolutions, but
that portions of them were defining the
duties of federal officers. matter " holly
beyond the control of this Legislature,
| aud with which we should not Interfere
He would therefore vote to reject the res
oIulons
Mr.. Tebbetts supposed that some ty-
rannical conduct on the part of General
Belknap. might have brought forth the
resolutions, aud although he was for that
part defining the duties OF officers by all
act OF Congress, Ire would vote tor the re-
lection.
The resolutions were rejected--ayes
"a, hoes 4.
Dec IS.
SENATE-Mr Mitchell. from the COM
| mittee on enrolled bills relDrleu as cor