The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-22
THE UNION WASHINGTON THURSDAY MORNING APRIL o. 1852

sibe make with them by exeIeising proper and
bns q ss pU wSe le a. nG os useful
" determined discharge the that accompanied
proceed down the with escort OF citzens who
Kindly proposed 70 soeompsny the Indian villages in
dressed note to Captain b. b Reyes. Who had command
q the escort dispensing with tho further services Of his
command copy Of which. together with his reply here
with enclose"
These extracts show that the commissioners controlled
me escort mat they were neurng expenses largely
ceedng the appropriation yet do no, lind that they
were checked by the department
soon alter ! returned home alarming Iumor pre-
Vailed 1haI there was danger OF general Indian war in
the commissioners applied TO to urge Mr.. King to
make an advance on the appropriation OF $4,000, which
was made at the last session Of Congress- but which had
not oeen transmitted by the department TO the commits
sloners. did advise Mr.. King TO make an advance of
$4,000 on the appropriation, but distinctly disavowed any
sanction OF the policy or acts OF the board
Some days since my colleague Mr.. WELLERl offered
resolution which was adopted calling for information
10 regard TO the acts Of the indian agents in California
lhe reply OF the Secretary OF the Interior is not yet
printed which very much regret, for am anxious 10
i on the present occasion have procured a copy Of
the letter Of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs which
accompanies that report which will read TO the Senate
DEPARTMENT or THE INTERIOR,
Office Of Indian Affairs, April Is, 1852.
SIR In answer to the resolution Of the Senate OF the
ON Instant in which you required to inform that
l. Whether the Indian commissioners OF agents in the
STATE OF CALIFORNIA; in their negotiations, have contracted
any debts Tor which the government is liable, and If
2 Whether any drafts drawn by said commissioners or
agents have been protested by the Department. and if
have the honor transmit, herewith copies Of sundry
communications from the Indian agents In California from
amount Of s7l6,ssl 10; also copy Of communication
has contracted liabilities TO considerable extent The
precise amounts given bu, il believed to be upwards
OF $o000O, as understand that his drafts that
amount have already been presented
Inc wFnie amount o. ihe or iadan pur-
and they had authority whatever for exceeding
amount in their negotiations They allege however, that
the they have pursued Upon the
allegation depends. apprehend. the liability OF the gov
extent it Is the department has power to
ermne, nor has il the means Of forming satisfactory
pay these debts must necessarily be decided by Consre.s
and presumnE that thorough Investigation into the whole
that an appropriation be made TO meet the OF such
investigation
form Of drafts drawn by the agents the Secretary the
INTERIOR and as they have not been sned to this office
am not able TO state the which they have been
protested.
NIT herewith copy OF a communication, with accompany
ing papers, addressed to you by Hon Thomas IL Benton
and referred by you 10 this olice.
IL may also be proper state, that in addition the
foregoing liabilities claim has been presented by Dr. w
M Ryer, 70 tho Of Sa,4 o2 Tor his services in
cinang Indians in California; the particulars OF which
set forth IN papers copies Of which herewith submitted
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
To SECRETARY Of the Interior.
From this Official statement. it appears the Indian
agents IN California have contracted debts beyond the APP
preparations made by Congress TO the amount of
$76o,0oo. The greater portion Of this Indebtedness is
represented by drafts drawn by the agents the Secre
tary OF the Interior, which protested presenta
ton. have before shown that $3.50 900 drawn by
the Quarttmas,e department from the collector at San
Francisco 10 detfay the expenses Of escorts 10 these
Indian agents. which, added to the above amount shows
an expenditure in year OF about 81 000, 000 based
upon appropriation OF $4,000. The Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs, in the letter have read, is quite
commal He says these agents had no authority TO
exceed the amount OF the appropriation Why, then,
are they not dismissed Here is an Acknowledgement
that they have exceeded their authority under the law
yet they are permitted TO go unpublished Two Of them
still acting, and probably drawing more drafts to
meet with the fate OF their predecessors and the third
left California and at his leisure repaired this city and
resigned drawing his salary up the date OF his resig
nation These drafts circulating all over the coun.
try. They given for supplies for the Indians, trans
ferred by the parties who furnished the supplies and
large amounts in the hands OF third parles who
took them under The confident belief that they would be
paid presentation by the government. single mail
sometimes brings drafts TO the amount OF hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars All protested presentation,
and The agents who thus dishonoring the govern.
ment are permitted to 60 unwhipped OF justice, and
continue the system. This sland.st policy OF the
Executive will not shield him from the responsibility Of
these Transactions. They must be defended or disavow
ed II not dsavowed by the dsmissal OF the officers,
which is not the case, then The department is iaey
sanconing these acts, and will be responsible for the
difficulty that must follow. The citizens Of California
have furnished these supplies upon drafts drawn by Off
OF the government They did ask for the author
lily under which these officers acted II was not supposed
that they would act without authority Yet the drafts
given In exchange for their property dshonoed and
no steps taken 10 get an appropriation TO pay them Nu
mefous treaties have been made with bands OF Indians,
which treaties are withheld fromus In regard TO them
The department preserves towards The Senate the silence
Of death. part OF the treaty making power yet trea
ties are made and without waiting for action they
are executed laws OF the land II not with the approval
oil the Executive certainly without any marked disap
prevail for the parties who have committed these unlaw
full acts are still in the public service dangerous
assumption OF power has occurred in this country
IL is without parallel in the history of the government
Three Indian agents. under the exclusive control OF the
Executive, make numerous Indian treaties, and before
they are laid before the Senate transmitted TO the
OF the land seize upon the country reserved, drive of the
whites. in some instances buying out their possessions
and pledging the government for payment, q have
merous claims OF this sor) make large purchases OF
provisions to feed the Indians, which paid for 10
drafts upon the head OF the departmentdrawn with.
out authority, and protested preseniaton and yet
these permitted TO relan their Offices and con.
unue IN their lawless course. Can the administration
escape for these acts OF its subordnales by
naming slent Are these transactions TO be covered
by Withholding the treaties from the Senator While the
dishonored drafts OF the government for million of
dollars still unpaid, shall the Executive be permitted
to avoid all responsibility BY giving opinion as to the
they not transmitted to us Some OF them have been
made for more than year We have been five
months in session, and YET we not officially notified
OF their existence Does the Executive approve OF the
policy chalked out in these treates II So why send
them to for action II he does sanction this
policy. why not notify the Senate Of the fact and appoint
other agents TO adopt different policy Is the Executive
al theac cafedd uhu