The daily union., 1852-08-13

The ane ndment provides Tor the manner in which il
eopsa amongst all the individuals OF the rbe those ID
dvduss 10 be asceftaned In such the Secre-
taIy Of The Interior shsll point out
Mr. HUNTER. Will the senator allow rue 10 ask
him a. question: The amendment TO be well
guarded but there is another doubt which arises IN my
mind. The Eel River Miamis supposed 10 be ex
tnct and The annuity due 10 them was paid the Mis-
sourl Miamis. What wish to know is, whether il may
not be necessary 10 order 10 exinguish this annuity, 10
obtain moi only the assent OF the Eel Rivers, bu, also
the assent OF the other Mains for do not see why
the whole annuity should have been paid 10 them here
iofoe, unless they had title to VIII the annuity
10 The Missouri Miamis in the event that the other
Mr. COOPER viii answer the question, II was
through mistake that the amount paid 10 the Mis-
sour Miamis. The Commissioner OF Indian Affairs un-
desands tbe question perfectly aud this year and last
year the amount was not paid to the Missouri Mams |;
80 that there Is no difficulty in that respect.
MT bRiGHT. MIR, President, see no good reason
for making The change proposed by the honorable
tor from PennsyIvsna. | am unwilling to see The
amount appropriated here. appropriated in gross The
Eel River tribe were at one time part OF the Miami
recognised as such; bat. nevertheless, known as dis
tnct baad, having distinct organization. Ii is true,
has been stated. that most OF them now females.
There are, perhaps, but two warriors--an old and a
young man--living Upon the representations oi The
Miami tribe, that the Eel River branch of the tribe were
extinct the Miami tribe for several years past have been
drawing the annuiies due the Eel Rivers. 1t is only
within the last years that the fact has been known to
the department that the Eel River band OF the Miami
tribe. now. believe, fourteen in number, are in exist
ence. @ & " @
MIR. COOPER. There are sixteen. have the names
here .@e
Mr.. BRIGHT, Sixteen were repor,ed but believe
two have since died Al the instance of the Indian De-
paTtmen oil my colleagues in the other House, as
cerained the residence OF these ndians their Nc
understand that this amendment has been prepared at
the instance of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who,
supposed when he was before the COMMITTEES on FIJI
nance approved the provision of the bill as il came from
the House. Whether he has or has not, changed has
position since, do not know; but understood him TO
recommend the appropriation OF the money as provided
for in the bill it TO II he has changed his
opinion, and has any good reason for IT, should like to
hear il.
Mr.. COOPER He has not changed; bu, the commit
Tee have examined the question, and believe that as the
tribe has ceased 10 exist tribe, and as the objects for
which these annuites were paid have ceased also, it
was something worse than folly to continue to appro
MI BRIGHT To what committee does the gentle
Mr., COOPER. The committee on Indian Affairs: by
the authority and under the direction OF which committee
have reported the amendment.
Mr.. BRIGHT. For several years past the Miami tribe
OF Indians located in Missouri have drawn the annuity
due 10 this Eel River branch OF the tribe The bill it
came from the House simply provides that the amounts
to be paid to the Eel River Aiams shall be refunded out
OF the annnies OF the other portion OF the Miami tribe
Hereafter, i the government desires 10 purchase out and
pay round sum for the amount due under the povls
ions OF the treaty, they will have right TO do So but
now there is justly and fairly due the Eel River tribe OF
Indians tbs amount Of money provided BY the bill
Mr. COOPERs Will the senator from Indiana allow
me TO make suggesons We appropriate 81 200 more
than due to them up 10 this time We propose 10 pay
the Eel Rivers the amount that has been misappled
1887, and we make il the round sum OF $l5,OOo which
is 81 200 more than is actually due them, and we provide
for the purchase for that round sum OF the annues.
MIR. BRIGHT. These Indians ask no more than IS due
them. All they ask is, that the government shall execute
the treaty made with them. II stipulated by the
treaty that they should receive so much annually Ii
would have been paid 10 them had the government
known where they were but it appears that, in the
breaking and reorganization OF the band these Indians
were lett behind on branch OF the Wabash river where
thapra oA hxg,
now about sixteen in number. AS soon their
Whereabouts ascertaned, and their identity
knowledged, the Indian Department admitted that that
amount OF money ought to be paid to them; and am
willing TO accept for them 81 200 81 50o any other
amount upon condition that their claim shall be extin
guished.
We propose 10 appropriate Sl5 900 10 purchase out their
annuity, winch is 81 200 more than they would be enl
lied to- We appropriate not only the sum that has been
Withheld from them for thirteen years past, but 81 200
more. We now propose 10 give them $4,000 10 puT.
chase in the annuity and relieve the United States for the
future from the payment OF H.
Mr.. BRIGHT. understood The senator perfectly, and
think IL is he that is mistaken, and not myself wish
10 be understood as saying that The government had
gone on TO pay these Eel River Indians the amount OF
money due them under the treaty instead OF paying 10
the Mams, the government would have paid them over
S3000--lhe amount provided Tor in the bill as II came
from the House of Representatives and the Committee
Fnapce That is the amount to which the Eel Rivers
ented but we do moi claim that they are entitled 10
it out OF the national treasury. We claim that they are
10 IL OIL the Dy 10
the other branch of the Miami tribe OF Indians, and the
bill II stands, provides that the amount shall be taken
out OF the annues due the Miami tribe OF Indians.
willing 10 accept for them the 81 200 proposed to
be given as additional sum to terminate their claim on
the treasury.
The clause as il came from the House. and il was
reported from the Committee Finance, gives 10 the
Indians just what they entitled 10. and they ought to
have 1t now. II hereafter tha government should see
proper 10 make them offer, and give them a round
sum TO purchase IN their annuity, IT may be that they Will
accept II but rs certainly just right. and that
should now appropriate the 900 to these Indians,
TO he iaken within one two, three years, from the
amount that is due under the treaty with The Great Mi
ami tribe of Indians.
Mr.. BELL Will the senator from Indiana inform the
Senate whether these Indians not subject the
OF Indiana; whether in any respect they different
with regard 10 the jurisdiction of the State civil and
criminal, from other citizens OF the State OF Indiana
Mr.. BRIGHT. They not citizens OF Indiana.
Mr. BELL. IRE they not subject TO the laws OF In
dianai
Mr. BRIGHT. OF course they are subject TO The ciril
and criminal laws Of the State OF Indiana but they
not citizens They residents, il is but they do
not exercise the functions OF citizenship
Mr.. BELL They do not vote, presume.
Mr.. BRIGHT. Clearly not.
MIR. BELL They subject 10 The laws OF Indiana
as other non voting inhabitants. The Indians are not
allowed 10 vote but they entitled any other prvi.
lege but that OF enjoying Office and voting
Mr. BRIGHT. Yes, sir.
MIR BELL. Now, the Committee on Indian Affairs
very gravey considered this question, but do know
that The Senate will sanction their decision This is
the only band OF Indians with whom we have treaties
peuaI asnues II has happened in this precisely
as is likely TO happen in other cases. They will be
multiplying upon time progresses. These In
dams have not had their annultes paid TO them for