Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-15

cseaing tne appropriation, yet do mot find that they
We're checked by the Department. EsIef tk44. n
Soon after returned home an alarming rumor prevail
ed that there was danger of general Indian war In the
northern portion Of the State and Oregon One Of the
commissioners applied to urge Mr. King to make
an advance the appropriation Of 1875 900 which was
made at the last session Of Congress but which had not
been transmitted by the Department the commissioners
did advise Mr. King TO make advance OF SIS 600 on
the appropriation but distinctly disayowed any sanction
Of the policy or acts Of the board $3.50 ~
Some days since my colleague mr. wELLER) offered a
resolution, which adopted calling for information in
regard to the acts Of the Indian agents in California The
reply Of the Secretary Of the Interior yet printed
which very much regret, for am anxious to on
the present occasion have procured copy Of the let
ter Of the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs that accompa
mics that report, which win read to the Senate:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
s8 Office Of Indian Afaus, Apra Ii, 1852.
SIR In answer to the resolution Of the Senate of the
l. Whether the Indian agents in the State
of California in their negotiations contracted any debts
for which the Government is table, and IL the
Whether any drafts drawn by said commissioners or
agents have been protested by the Departments and the
have the honor transmit herewith copies Of sundry COM
municaons from the Indian agents in California from which
appears that they have contracted debts to the amount Of
ALSO copy Of communication from the late sub
agent Johnson showing that he too has contracted ab
ties to considerable extent The precise not given
but is believed to be upwards Of $4,000 understand
scented. sssSS.fs
SEES in cacrnia was placed IN The hands Of the agents. and
they had authority whatever for exceeding that in
their negotiations They aege however, that the pressure
OF circumstances such justify them in the they
have pursued Upon the Of this allegation de-
they conasted 10 extent Il correct the
Department has not The power TO detornne, has il the
liability the Government pay these necsssa
y be decided by Congress and presumng that thorough
heretofore recommended that appropriation be to
meet the expenses Of such investigation. 1907
larsa portion of the debts above referred to in the
form Of drafts drawn by the agents the Secretary Of the
Interior and as they have not been presented to this o
not able to state the amount to which they have been pro-
In connexion with this subject have the honor to trans
init herewith copy Of communication with accompanying
addressed g you BY Hon. Thos Benton and refer
may also be proper state that in addition the fore
going liabilities claim has been presented BY Dr. W. M.
Rer the amount of $34O2 for his services in
Indians in California the particulars Of which set forth in
papers, copies Of which are herewith submitted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. LEA, Commissioner.
To the SECRETARY THE INTERIOR.
From this official statement appears the Indian agents
in California have contracted debts beyond the appro
priatons made by Congress TO the amount Of $66000
that the greater portion of this indebtedness is repre-
sented by drafts drawn by the agents the Secretary of
have before shown that 900 was drawn by the quar-
termasters department from the collector at San Fran
CISCO to deay the expenses Of escorts to these Indian
agents which, added 70 the above amount shows an ex
y
appropriation Of $4,000 The Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs in the letter have read, is quite noncommal
He says these agents had authority to exceed the
amount of appropriation Why then, are they not dis
missed? Here is an acknowledgment that they have
ceeded their authority under the law yet they per-
mtted to 60 unpublished Two of them are still acting
and probably drawing more drafts to meet with the fate
his leisure repaired to this city and resigned drawing
his salary up the date Of his resignation These drafts
are circulating all over the country They were given
foru tho
who furnished the supphes and large amounts in the
hands Of third parties 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 hundred thousand dollars all pro-
tested presentation and the agents who thus dis
honoring the Government permitted TO 60 unwhpped
Of justice and continue the system This standsti po
Icy Of the Executive win shield him from the respon-
sibty Of these transactions They must be defended
dsavowed if not disavowed by the dismissal Of the off,
which is not the case then the Department tact
ly sanctonng these acts and will be responsible for the
difficulty that must follow The citisens Of California
have furnished these supplies upon drafts drawn by OH
Of the Government They did not ask for the autho
rty under which these officers acted 1t was not sup
posed that they would act without authority. Yet the
drafts given in exchange for their property
and steps taken to get an appropriation to pay them
Numerous treaties have been made with bands of Indians
which treaties withheld from In regard to them
the Department towards the Senate the silence
of DEATH part Of the treaty making power, yet trea
ties made, and, without waiting for action,
they executed laws Of the land with the APP
prevail Of the Executive certainly without any marked
dsapproval for the parties who have committed these
lawful still in the public service. dam
gerous assumption OF power has occurred in this
country It is without parallel in the history Of the
Government Three Indian agents, under the exclusive
control of the Executive make Indian treaties
before they laid before the Senate
mtted TO the Executive they executing these
treaties laws Of the land seize upon the country
served drive of the whites, in some instances buying
out their possessions and pedgng the Government for
payment, II have numerous claims Of this sort y make
large purchases Of provisions to feed the Indians which
paid for in drafts upon the head of the Department
drawn without authority and protested presentation
and yet these permitted to retain their Offices
and continue in their lawless Can the Admins
raon escape for these acts of its subordnates
by remaining silent? Are these transactions to be
ed up by Withholding the treaties from the Senate While
lion Of dollars still unpaid shall the Executive be per-
mitted to avoid all responsibility by giving opinion
the Of its subordinates Where the treaties
Why they not transmitted to us Some Of them have
been made for than year We have been Ave
months in session. and yet officially notified Of
their existence Does the Executive approve Of the policy
chalked out in these treatiesf So Why not send them
TO us for our action II he does not sanction this policy
why not notify the Senate Of the fact and appoint other
agents to adopt different policy Is the Executive In
favor Of paying these protested drafsf II So why not
this snheai sessk>n eo1ncnced and a that
have been shle 70 extract from the Department
estimate for $4,000 10 pay e expenses Of nvestga
ton into the aots Of the Indian ngents The Commits
soner Of Indian Affairs speaks very compaceny Of this
estimate, as IL by making it. the Department had done all
that it was in duty bound TO do Charges Of fraud rest
upon these transactions Il is the duty Of the Depart