The daily union., 1852-08-13
CITY OF WASHINGTON. FRIDAY MORNING AUGUST 49, 1852

distribution OF that money among the Iadans as a mat
Ter OF course, there was some defect. In the fret
place. The gross sum appropriated had 10 bedvded between
tose remaining east and those residing west oil the Mis-
sissppi. After that division made. according to the
census taken under the authority OF the Commissioner OF
indian Affairs, the number OF those residing east OF the
Mississippi was ascerained. and the amount OF money
sufficient TO pay them despatched by the pay agent
TO be distributed among those who embraced upon
the payroll by The agent who had been directed by the
department TO take down their names There were, |
believe about two hundred who made application go
upon the rolls OF the Cherokees who decided not
% be entitled 10 pay. and consequently rejected
an adudcaed matter II may be their misfortune, but
certainly II is one that is not TO be remeded But there
were others who consequence of circumstances which
senators can easily imagine were not placed upon the
were convened. who escaped the notice given by the
agent, small number OF whom were induced TO believe
that by accepting the distribution they waved their right
10 extraordinary pTetenson, SET by the treaty oil
1885, to land lying within the limits Of Missouri, that
had nothing 10 do with the treaty. understand, from
the best evidence that be obtained. that there not
exceeding sixty OF these persons They evidently
titled TO pay under the treaty. but the fund which was
appropriated for them has been exhausted.
The question therefore, is, whether we will make an
additional provision Tor The payment OF these persons or
leave them in their present situation The Committee
Indian Affairs took this small question into consider
alton, and finding that they were so few in number who
had not been paid by the distributing agent believed that
il was better 10 pay them out OF the treasury OF the Uni
ted States the amount they entitled to under the
treaty than TO be mporaned By claim that we all very
made their application in writing TO the Commissioners OF
Indian Affairs and OF course there can be no response
from that quarter except that there is not enough money
on hand. Statements made BY one OF the senators from
North Carolina, another from Georgia, and another from
Alabama, have rendered certain that there are not over
sixty persons to whom these claims will apply; It may
be possible that there are not over thirty The amend
men however, limits this investigation TO the number OF
sixty believe that would embrace the full amount II
lies entirely within the discretion Of the senators whether
A. sko nf
tional sixty OF opinion that in the execution of the
law involving the disbursement OF SO much money as
that appropriation for the Cherokees under the treaty OF
1885, have been remarkably successful, and that it
presents the very instance OF perfect execution of
the law that in the disbursement OF about two millions
OF dollars among fifteen sixteen thousand Indians we
in that instance we have been remarkably fortunate
executing the law with 80 little complaint As | before
stated, they are entitled 10 pay under the terms OF the
treaty. Their interest is Per eopas, which we have
always regarded vested interest which could not be
paid 10 others There is no fault attributed TO the pay
agent TO the agent who directed TO ascertain the
names. He undoubtedly performed his duty with as
much skill and fidelity could be expected under the
circumstances OF the case, and, considering all things TO-
gether, he has succeeded remarkably well in the acca
racy with which he has made out this roll. | present
this with the considerations for and against H. and
the Senate decide whether they feel under the CIR
cumsances, authorized to make additional appropna
ton 10 quiet the last camors with which We shall be i'm
portuned in the execution OF this treaty.
Mr. HUNTER. would like to know from the SEN
a,or from Arkansas Mr SERAsTIAs whether the adop-
hon of this amendment will not amount TO a virtual
peal of that provision which made the last appropriation
10 the Cherokees a final settlement, because, il
open in reference 10 this claim, how refuse 10
reopen il in reference 10 olheIsi And we know that
there other claims besides this.
Mr. SEBASTIAN, My answer TO the honorable sem
atofs question is thisi So far from this amendment
opening what Congress intended. and what was under
stood on all sides final settlement, il acknowledges
the hnaty Of that settlement And. as said before, il
this is paid II is graui,y and above the
due TO the Cherokees under the treaties There
was much money TO be distributed per capita In the
distribution of that money there were unayoIdaby fifty
or sixty PERSONS according 10 the best evidence we can
OBTAIN, who wsre omitted 10 be placed upon the pay
roll who evidently entitled 10 pay under the treaty,
az have before remarked The fund is gone and there
is no preience that any more is due them and ihak II
is question OF mere policy part whether will
pay this additional sum TO quiet what believe Is The last
reclamation upon the government arising under this
treaty am of opinion that we had better pay thus small
amount Of money, grauy as is, TO iulh the terms Of
the treaty literally than to be impoHuned with these
claims which we know have an Immortality.
Mr. BELL. The only difficulty meet about this mat
ter s bis-as 10 the mode OF ascerianing who these
eastern Cherokees are some fifteen or sixteen years
since that treaty made and satisfied that under
the treaty we made with the eastern or North Carolina
Indians some years ago there great amount OF fraud
pracused 10 the aseelanment OF the Indians entitled 10
pay forget what ihey Ysre oll when wa was q member
and found tha, every sort OF claim bad been rumped
up IRON the year 1888 up to the time that examination
male Claims were sci UP fof helfs, or alleged
heirs CT Indians, that had been dead for years, and the
proof was OF a very uncertain character Now have
objection at all that should make appropriation
TO pay per capita, under the treaty OF 1885, all who shall
be With reasonable certainty asceralned 10 be entitled
pay but the difficulty 10 ascertain now, after tho lapse
OF time, who they are. do not know whether II be the
fact, but have heard stated that oil the Cher.
pkfes have returned from the west 10 the east and that
occasionally some OF them have set up these claims
That was The allegation under former examination /
only make the remark Tor the purpose oil calling the aen
lion Of the IRON Arkansas r SEBAsTIAs 10 the
proprieiy OF making some amendment by which these
claims should be ascertansd 10 way that will offer
security that shall not pay large batch OF claims to
which no one 10 entitled. Any claims set M to that
country 10 writing by the various individual Indians, al
sgng that they were entitled 10 money, would be
garded by with very little confidence. Cunning, in
genious white get them up Tor the purpose OF putting
something into their own pockets and unless the proofs
are very closely examined, think very liable
have frauds praclised upon us. The amount in this
case is no grea, consideration is irue but would sux
ges that some provision be made, IL the senator can
think OF any alteration in that amendment which would
specify the mode OF ascertainng who the claimants
understood the senator 10 state that applications bad
been made in writing Nov, for the Secretary OF the
Interior 10 take Tor granted that these were all valid
be wrong gives OF their validity, think
If the Secretary OF The Interior should send expert
enced officer from the department, to make that
instlon-one who has a knowledge OF the frauds for
msrly practlsed-we should then have some assurance
that all would be right as much so as The nature o
Indian department, Mr Mix for example. who, II he
were TO send, would have the greatest confidence that
be would evscerae all the facts far as IL is possible
10 do with reasonable scrutiny But then we should
large the appropriation. and pay that agent for his
Pcnsesi necessary, some extra compensation believe