The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-18

this lapse OF me and after the passions and interests
with that policy have passed away, that the
whole responsibility rested upon the executive depart
ment at the ne and that the expenditure OF three mill
lions OF dollars which out OF these hosites and
the final coerced collection and removal OF the hostile In
dans, were the consequence oil that neglect
However, do not wish 10 revive that question but IN
regard 10 this claim, Think it is founded in such oblga
uons as ms government cannot disregard
Mr. HUNTER Mr.. President, these matters
which do not profess TO understand They come from
other committees who doubtless have investigated them
But think have heard enough to eonyince me that at
least they should go upon this deficiency BILL This
bill il from the House OF Representatives appo
priated S3.l27.O00 The Committee on Finance OF the
Senate added $780,. omakng s3ssO,o0o TO be appro
priated by II before the amendments were put on 10
which have been offered to-day II seems TO there is
danger that we swelling this deficiency bill far too
much. II this be legitimate claim against the United
States, il would be better to postpone 1t, appehend, till
the regular Indian appropriation bill comes up We
should then have time TO examine The question. con-
Tess is new to do not understand lis merits. and
Committee Indian Affairs. that they should reserve
claims oil this character for the general Indian appropra
ton bill when that bill is reported 1t is impossible. II
to go into which concern the various
branches OF the appropriations generally on deficiency
bill, that pass in time 1t will take so
much time TO nvesligate-for we will have 10 examine
the wants OF all the deparments-hat the bill will be de-
layed too long Whereas if confne ourselves in this
deficiency bill 10 actual deficiencies. and postpone this
question of claims general bill, think we will get
faster and much the convenience OF general
legislation and of the departments themselves
In relation to the general merits OF this claim do not
want TO enter into them now, unless the senator from
Tennessee MIR. BELL persists and thinks 1t ought 10
come in as an amendment here If so, have word
two to say in relation to this matter
Mr.. CLEMENS II seems to me that Ex-senator from
Virginia should have made this objection TO paying claim
upon the deficiency bill long ago. 1t is attle singular
that he should have opposed them all byseectng this
particular for that especial purpose i he had OPP
posed paying other things upon me deirency olil.
have been to this claim passed would net have com
planned il this also had been rejected But when they
put houses, and light houses. and every other
possible species OF appropriation upon the bill, without
objection his part 1t does strange that he should
object 10 this, which is the most Just Of them all.
These depredations were committed through the faat
OF this government. do not blame the Indians. The
government attempted 10 starve them into emigration,
and therefore to blame. They were compelled to
resort 10 depredatons for actual exsencs for commits
soner appointed by this government, reports that al
though he found these Indians in 1894 and 1885, in
starving conditionactualy suffering Tor want OF food
was not the policy OF this government to supply them
with food, because they wanted 10 force emigration
They had failed for years to comply with their obga-
tions,hey had failed to remove them, and finally al
tempted 10 sarve them into removal unier that state
of the case some portion of the Lower Creeks-or the
Upper Greeks engaged in hostAes and mol more
than fifth engaged in this outbreak-a small por
ton oil the Lower Creeks, driven by necessity commenced
shooting down the cattle and stealing the property OF the
settlers which nafy resulted IN state OF holiies, and
the whole Of the settlers compelled 10 lave the ma
ton They come here now and ask YOU not oIconsequen-
lost by being compelled TO leave their pursuits and aban
don their poperybu for the actual value OF he property
destroyed. They do not ask you TO render that now,
upon testimony taken upon the other sde bur ask you to
pay them according proof submitted by their commits
sioners appointed by Congress al the time, which CON-
missoners reported that they entitled TO 81 $780,
600. That commission appointed upon rscommenda-
ton OF General Jackson.
The payment of this claim has been again and again
recommended by the President OF the United States, and
again and again reported favoably upon in his Senate
stand it, Why, sir, we had full discussion OF this
question during the last Congress bill, precisely SIM
liar to the amendment which has been offered by the
from Tennessee, introduced by the Committee
on Indian Affairs at my instance II was objected 10 by
The senator from Kentucky. and after one or two days
debate accepted his proposition TO extend the inter-
course law | was perfectly willing TO take it /; and
would be glad TO do so now because the senator from
Tennessee Nj. BELL says correctly tina, J. would pay
proposes TO pay them The Indian Committee al this
sion have reported amendment precisely such as the
bill offered by them al the last session II gives us less
than we have right TO claim. We have been waiting
upon the justice OF Congress for nearly sixteen years
it is time something should be done. II the senator
from Virginia had been anxious TO guard this deficiency
bill from other amendments should not have complained
OF his attempting 10 exclude ours but when he has man.
ifesied so much competency, while amendment after
amendment was put upon this bill think objection on
that comes with bad grace from him at this step
" Mr.. HUNTER. am not aware tina, have offered
any amendment which not for deficiency, or that
HAMLIsl proposed amendment which, in my opinion,
for deficiency. There was appropriation for a
custom house last year. The sum Tor building The GUS
tom house limited 10 certain amount and by omls
sion there nothing appropriated for site, and the
proposition submitted by the senator from Maine was 10
supply that omission and appropriate something Tor site
That, think, was deficiency. AT any rate, there Is
difference OF opinion between the senator from Alabama
and myself am not aware OF anything else in relation 10
which the question has been raised. Ii is true amend
menis have been offered from other committees under the
rule il stands. Many OF these matters was not
familiar with, knew nothing about them and therefore
could say nothing but this is very large amount and
far as can understand it seems 10 me novel princi
pie which II is proposing and what i II J They say
that owing 10 general policy involved them in
Indian war; and must pay the damages have thus done
them. That is the amount OF il, far understand
the from the statement Of il by the gentleman who
introduced it, Well, 1 think il doubtful whether we
must take the chances in relation 10 general legsa-
ton and If they are injured by II, they must not come
here and ask TO compensate them for damages on ac
count OF failing TO act with wisdom and caution.
do not say these persons have not legitimate ground OF
claim that account The question is whether this
if so, understand the senator from Tennessee himself TO
say the government would not be liable. Am mistaken
or not
Mr. BELL. | cannot answer caegorcally yes or no
to such question, because this is plicaied
say it not a public in the sense in which pub
lIciss that termt not invasion by Indian
Tribe.
Mr. HUNTER. Upon that question do not pretend
to decide have not investigated the case say these
difficulties that suggest themselves 10 my mind and
on that account suggested the propety as IT did not
properly 10 belong to the deficiency bill TO let il lie
over tall the general Indian appropriation bill up,
by which time we could all have an opportunity 10 ex-
I'M he nuest