The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19

OF such treaty with Indian besa dehciehcy OF orng
Ing saeh experiences did exist TO bear upon mat treaty
The political necessities OF the country may nave been
such as 10 make the government feel JUSTIFIED 10 making
the experiment But il is the way 10 which me expert
ment worked which lays the foundation Tor this claim.
Now, this country thrown open as soon as the sur
veys made and the reservations selected, and The
whole country was shortly hled up WIN white settlers
The sales OF the reservations also proceeded as rapidly as
possible from the time the surveys were completed, and
the country was swanning with white settlers.
Ii is said now in argument and in some OF those re-
ports 10 which reference has been made here, that there
was another factanother element OF mischief neryen-
ing that il was not Starvation or The necessous con-
dillon of the Indians which drove them TO these host.
ties, but that there were numerous frauds committed
upon the Indian reserves IN getting them TO transfer
their titles 10 the whites The honorable senator from
Michigan Mr. CAssl has said that made a grataous
charge upon that administration in the arguments which
have used in reference TO this question In the ex-
PLANTATION he has attempted TO make he has tried TO iaslen
the OF these disturbances upon the fact that frauds
were committed upon the Indian reserves Now, do
not think il important did not think i mportant-to
press this argument upon this question, because the ex
tent 10 which thought IT necessary 10 go was merely
TO show that the policy OF this government at that
day in making this treaty laid the groundwork OF new
responsibty-an extraordinary responsibility ihe
part of the government to indemnify white settlers Tor
the property which should be destroyed by the Indians
whereas, under the ordinary standing obligations OF the
government to protect its citizens from depredaons and
losses in time OF war, such principle would have ap
piled to this But as the honorable senator has
thought proper to aude TO the matter, will offer few
| remarks upon the subject myself.
have not looked at the documents in relation TO this
matter for twelve or thirteen years. nor at the debates
which took place in '37, '3S, and 49, Yet they are 30
vivid in my recollection that think cannot be MIS-
| taken in regard TO them. The honorable senator will
himself call to mind that there very serious charges
brought against the commissioners appointed to certify
the transfer OF these and the opponents oil
the administration at that day strongly urged that the
government had failed in their duty in the appointment
OF partisan and unfahful agents; who il was alleged at
the timeand the allegation was believed by those who
urged it. though these agents may have been honest as
far knowconniyed at the gross frauds which were
thus pracised upon the Indians These frauds were not
committed by the settlers, but by SPECTATORS who went
into that country and purchased these reservations as
will be found alleged again and again in the reports OF
these VINO were Sent GG aere %
in than of these reports that the practices in re-
gard to these reservations, far as they had any opera
ton upon the Indian temper and disposition, tended
greatly 10 them, and that these frauds were owing
in great degree 10 the connivance OF these certifying
agents themselves These are charges which were made
at the lme-'37, 1885, and '39-against the adminsra-
ton for their gross negligence their want of foresight
and wisdom. in not sending trm, decided, and honest
men out there in order to see that justice was done to
frauds which attempted to be perpetraed upon them
and which were perperated TO a great extent And
think Mr. President, you must have some recollection OF
the charges which were brought against these agents.
mean those parties who were interested in the specua-
ton of purchasing these reservations that they &C
tually supposed to be active and energetic in dfusing
discomfort and seeking to get up hostites between the
Indians and the white people IN the country, IN order to
have the Indians driven out by force, and thus prevent
Of the ss, which 81 frauds 10 ne Sc
fully investigates bn you mus, remember that the coun.
try was full of these charges at that time II was said
that these spectators, when they found that there
disposition in the administration to do justice 10 these In
dians concerned in getting this state OF bad feel
ing among the Indians 10 considerable extent, and il
finally resulted in open hosilities.
And sir there is another fact which cannot be forgot
ten John b Hogan was sent out there, being selected
because he was known in that country TO be man OF
rmness and honesty, one likely to be inmidated BY
the Vaccinations OF the EppculaOrs-he sent
there for the purpose OF investigating the acts and dongs
of the former agents will not speak positively 10
upon some pretext other, was Withdrawn from the
further investigation OF these clams IT may have been
on account of the breaking out OF these hostiltes. do
not remember whether il before after these hos
tilites that Mr. Hogan was sent out there. But know
that after making experiment IN The Investigations
OF these frauds, he found that it was such task that
under the circumstances be did not wish to undertake
AT any rate, he Withdrawn from this investigation
whether before or alter the breaking out OF hoshl
ities do not know. All these were grounds oil charge
against the administration 81 the me as the honorable
senator from Michigan, [Mr. CASH. presume, must
remember. II would require days and days OF invesga
ton TO go into the ruth Of these charges, and do not
wish to do only refer TO them now by way oil an
TO that honorable senaor who said that these frauds
were the cause of these hostities.
| You will find from the report OF commissioner APP
pointed by the honorable senator from Michigan Mr.
CAssl-he appointed Mr.. Crawford belieye-that it
remarkable fact tina, in those portions OF the Stale
where the Indians had suffered most from these frauds,
they peaceabe and although he did state that these
frauds upon these reserves had tended TO augment the
discomfort OF the Indians and 10 excite them 10 hostility
towards the whites, yet this kabe fact existed that
in those towns where thcse frauds had been perpetraed
TO a most enormous extent they continued TO remain
friendly TO the whites You will find in this report of
Mr. Crawford that these hositles were confined mostly
TO the Lower Creeks, where these frauds had been per-
perate 10 the least extent upon the lHdan reserves
do not wish say that these charges against the adj
minisralion account OF their neglect and their I'M
proper conduct in sending such commissioners there,
true. But these charges existed at the time. How
ever, do not wish 10 go into investigation OF them
to see whether they be true or false But the honor.
Cawford-I do not know whether MIR. Chambers or Mr..
Balch was associated with him
! Mr. CASS. Messrs Crawford and Bach
| Mr. BELL. Well, sir, the senator will find II as |
have stated Mr.. Crawford n commissioner APP
pointed for the purpose of putting the best face upon these
transactions that could be put upon them. la referring
TO this matter it may be well to consider the attitude in
which the administration placed 1t at the very
period that these transactions occurred that these charges
brought against that administration. These
mssioners were not considered who would white
wash the administration but they sent out there be-
cause they were no doubt friendly 10 the administration,
and would put the best face upon the matter that could
be put upon by any plausible view OF the circumstances
connected with il and 10 interpret their report fairly,
you must take IL in connexon with the probable desire OF
the government have the stated fairly and fully
in favor OF the administration possible But even with
all that, you will find that these commissioners were
obliged TO admit that the very circumstances which were
alleged yesterday had contributed to the blowing up
this fame upon the part OF the Creeks And in the
port Of Mr. Crawford you will find that there was but
porios Of these Creeks engaged in these hoses, and
that not large portion, either.
rs, them mainly upon the ground 10 reference to which