The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-27
THE UNION: WASHINGTON THURSDAY MORNING. MAY 81 1852


but do know that the country was full oil white set
tiers. We know that from very early day after the
possession OF the Indian country and before the Indians
had removed before any large portion OF them had
manifested any disposition 10 Whatever may
have been done subsequent period say that al the
time the white population was invited 10 enter upon the
Indian territory there was disposition manifested by
the tribe generally TO emgrate,
Mr. CASS. Will The honorable senator permit me 10
ask him who invited the whites there
MIR. BELL say that the government of the United
States, in the provisions OF the treaty. and in the subse
quen acts OF the administration execution OF the treaty
invited white settlers into the country The 5th article
OF The treaty provides that all nruders shall be nhbted
until the country was surveyed and until the
tons stipulated Tor the heads OF families should be Sc
leced and that the country surveyed and
the reservations We're selected the stipulation against in
ruders should not apply to the remainder of the country
but that should then be open TO the white population.
Thus, by the express terms OF the treaty. white settlers
were invited TO go aud occupy the country
Now, does the honorable senator know what portion
oil this country not claimed as necessary for Indian
reservations Threelflhs of the whole OF the territory
coded remained after every head OF an Indian family be-
longing to the tribe had taken his reservation There
were about five millions OF acres in the territory alto
gelhe There were about twenty three thousand Indians
or tweniy-one thousand exclusive OF blacks. There
upwards of six thousand reservations to be selected
according to the terms OF the treaty, which consumed
upwards OF two millions oil acres, about two-hfhs oil
the whole But that is not the only material view to be
taken OF that part OF the question These reservations
were not confined to any particular district. These two
millions OF selected and set apart for the heads OF
the Indian families were distributed in detached parcels
oyor the whole territory coded population from Geor
gia, Alabama, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, flowed
IN by thousands and from the statements have seen.
il appears that this influx OF white settlers commenced
as soon as The treaty made
In further reply TO the question OF the honorable
aor from Michigan 10 who invited the white settlers
to go into this territory, state that in 1884, and more
than years before these difficulties commenced the
administration advertised the three millions OF
ded by the treaty OF 1882, not taken up by reservations
for sale at public auction and which, by the terms OF the
frpaty w at nd
The facts are abundant 10 prove that the whole country
was swarmng with white settlers even before that time.
Ii is important to remember that these settlers who
came and purchased these hree millions dispersed
over the whole country mngling with the reservations
aiken by the Indians An Indian family might thus be
surrounded by two three white settlers who purchased
under the government sale The proportion two In
dams to three whites There was no demarkaton--no
determinations between Indian settlements and white
settlements, except the lines which marked out the
separate reservations OF the Indians. They were
thrown in together pellmel, without any discrimination
as TO district or section OF country. II is upon this
ground mainly that base this amendment. il is upon
the ground that the government, by the provisions OF
that treaty. and the manner in which ii executed them.
led naturally and by necessary consequence these depe
dations. Now, contend that the government has no
right 10 say that there has been warit has right TO
say that there has been public war; and that its
have no right 10 come forward and claim indemnity for
their property lost by the ravages of that If it be
war; who produced it That is the gis of the contro-
versy between the honorable senator from Michigan and
myself, at last Who produced that war Who laid the
foundation for III Who were those who, when fore.
warned OF the consequences folded their arms, ndlher
en TO The calls Tor military protection, and for supplies
OF provisions necessary 10 subsis the Indians and
lieve them from the temptation TO commit deprelaons
upon The property OF the whites
Sir, do not intend TO pursue this argument further than
did the other day. and did not wish press then but
for the earnest opposition of the honorable senator from
Michigan. But must say TO the honorable senator, as
component part OF the administration which had charge OF
the subject that he stood by and the clouds gathering
which he admonshed woad soon break forth into a
Storm and yet he sent neither supplies for the subsistence
OF the starving Indians, troops 10 protect the whites
against their depredalons That is the distinct aega
ton which make. Ii there war, say the govern
ment provoked il in the first instance say that when
the evidence of rising discomfort furnished TO the
government IN abundance, not only in general terms but
in detail, II dsregarded the signs of approaching hosl-
ties until they actually commenced; and II is said
that there was war, and the senator from Michigan
maintains that there no principle upon which these peo
pie can claim indemnity because there a war. | re-
peat that there was war; was produced by the action
OF the government The citizens OF the United States
were invited by your policy-by The provisions of the
treaty sef-by the sales OF The lands reserved by
the treaty-o settle the country ceded by that treaty while
the Indians continued TO occupy il. The natural infer.
ence from that invitation that the government would
take the proper steps 10 protect them against the depreda
tons OF The Indians and not having done SO, the gov
eminent must indemnify the sufferers.
The senator SAID the other day that he would demon
strate that was entirely mistaken in the statement that
the policy adopted by the government in the treaty Of
1882 with the Creeks new. This is matter not OF
any great consequence 10 the Argument itself II is not
OF much consequence 10 put myself right or 10 put the
WTODBi out ~ ~ OF consequence
10 the investigation OF this claim that should state
whether he myself really in the grounds
upon which it rests My argument was, not that this
was the first instance in which the government had
sorted 10 reservations of inducing Indians 10
cede portion OF their territory TO the United States
| have made no such statement; for the practice OF
making such reservations was common for long time
and had become very vicious one, the honorable
senator we'll knows II is practice which has now
been abandoned altogether, to very great extent
did say that this the FIRST instance in the
ton oil the policy OF the removal OF tribes of Indians
situated in any OF the States of the Union ia which, in
stead OF obtaining from them a stipulation TO remove
within given time-n which, instead of insisting IN
government had resorled the means of admitting the
white population TO flow in upon them with view OF
driving the Indians away. That my argument
And went on with general statements with regard
TO the manner in which the white population had spread
themselves over the whole county, without any distinct
limits as to territory district Ny statement was, that
in treaty that had been made by the government
OF the United States with the Indians, embracing
sion OF their whole country, had the whites been per
mitied to settle among the Indians prior to removal
do not mean to say that white were never permitted
TO any extent TO go in and settle among the Indians
But say that this the first instance in which the
government resoled 10 the expedien of introducing
the white population a means OF expelling them
BY moral snaslon II you please, or by the necessities
to which II would reduce them after they had dis
posed OF their landsafter they had sold their reser-
vatons-o demonstrate 10 them, unletered, ubthnk.
ing, improyldent savages, most oil them were that
their only safety for subsistence and comfort was to re.
treat west OF the Mississippi river The government
bad exhausted all lis argument in council upon that
subject with the Indians, and they still said to the govern