The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19

| Indians upon the froners and feeding them on the
ground of humanity very we'll but you have the conse
quences before you. never knew il TO be done but
onee and then II was from proper and Just motive.
II was during the time of the war with England when
she adopted the system OF throwing the Indians upon
frontier and subsidzing them. Her object get
them over to her interests, and get them TO make
upon us. Then we collected them together in masses,
and kept them together, and fed them We thought i
better TO feed them than TO fight them This good
policy. The motive in this case justihabe. But
such motive passes away with the necessities which
gave rise TO II. suppose there is gentleman here
Indians.
In the book that have before me there is an account
OF an interview between Governor Gayle and Yo.po-
yoholo, who then the chief OF the Creek nation,
and a depuaiion who waited upon him; but will not
weary the patience of the Senate by reading it. Gentle
men will find it most interesting account, il they choose
TO examine H. given by the Indians OF the troubles into
which they were led by an ncusion OF the white people
who wanted to purchase their lands into their country,
and the frauds that practised upon them by land
seaers. II shows most distinctly that they led into
these troubles by the frauds that pracsed in con-
sequence OF their power to sell their lands but without
that power to sell and dispose OF their lands being re-
served to ihem no treaty could have been made Nor
was i in the power of the government entirely prevent
people going there. The Indians had right 10 sell their
reservations there within the first five years. and they had
right to sell their patents at the end OF that time, il they
did not choose 10 go West. The commissioners were
appointed TO certify 10 the contracts, to examine into
them, and to see that all was fair Under these very Cir
cumstances, have already said to the Senate, If an
| Indiana B-owned land, and there was another
who wanted it, he would obtain another lndan--C D--to
represent himself as b. Thus individual would,
perhaps personate twenty Indians at different tmes and
thus the most fraudulent contracts were made. All this
shows as the honorable senator from Tennessee sad
frghttu condition among the Indians. do not deny
that appreciate il as fully as he does My only ground
49, that the government had nothing to do with thshat
IN the first place. could not prevent IT. and in the next
place. was told BY the State authorities Of Alabama not
to send troops there Governor Gayle said so expressly,
and you know it, Mi. President Such effort would
be contest OF arms between and the authorities Of
4 the State of Alabama.
/ 4 i
by direction OF General Jackson You, Mr. President,
do not need 1t for your instruction but it would
show the Senate the difficulties which the government
had to encounter In that letter the proposition which
have stated is laid down. that the government had right
TO interfere. 1t would place the government OF the Uni
ted States in very delicate condition in respect TO the
matter. II it should attempt 10 interfere The govern.
ment had wish TO come in contact with the State
horities oil Alabama. Public feeling in Alabama was
very much excited in reference to the matter It was
with extreme difficulty, and only by the most peseverng
efforts, that finally the object accomplished without
a contest with the State OF Alabama Why in this very
report there i IS warning given BY General Jackson to
in a state OF starvation One OF the inducements held
out TO them to go West was, that there they would
become comfortable that they would be removed at
the expense OF the United States that they would have
possession OF country where they might Iecur TO their
primitive habits Of supporting themselves by the chase.
But you know, Mr.. President, that attachment 10 the
land OF their lorefaihers is stronger perhaps among
civilized than civilized people. There is no man who
of his forea,hers rest than the Indian and there Is
.~' $3.50 N" -
nothing that grates more harshly upon him Than
the fact that we have burnt down his council house
and poughed up the bones OF his forefathers. They
will never go willingly do not say that they
will CO. except when they compelled TO yield 10
physical force but that they always prefer to remain in
their old haba,ions If they could be dealt justly by.
They yield TO The pressure OF external circumstances 10
contact with the white settlements and all the evils
which have involved them in the condition in which they
placed and which threaten distant day to blot
i them out from the face OF the earth.
In relation TO the spechc appropriation before the Sen
ale, lwould say few words. suppose no man IN the
Senate will contend that in state oi war with civil
lied or uncyilzed oe any government is compelled by
any Just principle to pay or injuries that may happen 10
its citizens No government do IL. 1t would break
down any government in the world Besides, there
are other obvious considerations connected with IL
which would prevent such system III war breaks
out with an Indian tribe, and the Indians make irrup
ons into country during the tendency OF the war,
take for granted nobody would vote payment 10 those
who suffered Why from the time OF the landing of our
oreathers the beach OF Jamestown and the rock OF
Plymouth, there has not been Indian war but where
immense injuries have been inflicted. My own State
suffered more, presume during the war OF lsl2 from
Indian irruptions, than any other portion OF the Union.
There were circumstances connected with which CON
mited almost the faith OF this nation. and which has
never yet been redeemed. There were circumstances
which gave the citizens OF my State better claim than
any portion OF this Union TO compensation for Indian
damages and yet my constituents have never been able
TO get dollar on account OF the damages they suffered
When Detroit was surrendered, there stipulation
made by the British government in which the British
soemny promised to protect the people OF that Territory
provision was written, The paper upon which Il was writ
ten not put away before the Indians began to attack
the people and seize their property, burn their buildings
and take their children into captivity From that time
10 this not one dollar has been paid for those damages
has the British government been called upon
redeem its solemn obligations thus given. These cir
cums,ances which make this aside from the genera
principle; and yet compensation has not been made Bu
here is the case OF a war.
] The honorable gentleman, as before observed, has
gone into the causes OF that war Except he did 10
i vln1lcaie The truth of history | do know WHY n
was Although we have high authority for the posi-
ton that vndcae the truth OF history is the province
OF the Senate, do not admit IT, II will be admitted that
j II in this there state OF war; unless there
peculiar circumstances there could be claim for
this appropriation ! understand the honorable senator
| from Georgia (Mr DAwsosl to admit that was a
of public war II was So There is doubt about that
What Indian was ever punished by court Tor engaging
nti III II not war, The Indians engaged
sponsbIe the authorities of Alabama for murder But
no such prosecution ever instituted. No man
thought OF It, The honorable senator from Tennessee
has said that portion of the tribe only engaged in
the war Why, sir, have repeatedly treated with
portions OF tribes We have recognised portions OF the
same tribe as enemies and Others "a friends We have
recognised parts of tribes. The authority OF the chiefs
hangs loosely on the Indians They have but little more
than moral influence If a band of Indians choose
TO locate themselves in another portion OF the country,
the chiefs cannot prevent them. Bands OF tribes 60 of
and separate from the main body. We have repeatedly
made treaties with different portions o tribes We have
treated with portions OF the Wyandos portions OF the
Potlawaiomies OF the 0ttawas, and OF the Chippewas
We have frequently treated with portions OF tribes AL
though they do not divide property we do, into ndvd
they did not divide their property into seyealty yet the
ham divide their sevpralfv he hand