The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-31

boundaries OF The l,dan country But The subsequent
surveys under the authority OF The Land Office disclose
the startling feet that the very territory acquired
BY treaty, so lar from containing three millions OF acres
contained Inc enormous excess OF Two millions OF acres
In other words the fact disclosed that there five
millions IN the tract ceded. instead OF three millions
which embraced by the map exhibited by the con-
missioner 10 The Indians IN council There was rude
map constructed by The unskul hands of the Indians
themselves. with The aid OF such Intelligence they
could command Tor The OCCASION by which they set
the most preposerous and alarming preenrons and con-
Tended that they owned according 10 The boundaries
therein delneated but The Commissioners OF indian Al
FAIRS discountenanced and Iepeed that presumption, ana
they were compelled to submit To the oner which he made
them and 10 cede The country according 70 The boundaries
as deneated IN The map produced by the commissioner
SO that il was truly and properly remarked by member
OF the House when he Intercepted about tins trans
action :. We bought according to the Indian map and
paid according the American map-lhe difference being
the slight amount Of two million acres"
ask him question. Whether II the TACT that the actual
quantity has been ascerlaned by the surveyor generals
have heard that the survey has not been completed, and
the quantity not yet asceTtainad but, upon turning TO
the memorandum upon my table, lind the following
eenlence:
The Commissioner of the General Land Office upon
even now IN his estimates the tract hav
log contained the time OF the treaty live millions of
acres"
Mr.. SEBASTIAN. can give the information upon
which understand the Land Office made that estimate.
1t made upon measurements by the corps of topo
graphical engineers, under authority of the Land Office
In making out The map OF this country the typographical
boundaries as they We're correctly ascerained by the re-
port of Mr. Medll That report discoses the fact that
there was the small EXCESS Of two millions OF acres
land in that country. The discrepancy in the amount
arises from this circumstance There was particular
lake which marks OF the boundaries of the country,
the situation of which was wrongly laid down upon the
map furnished by the Attorney General, or rather under
his decision When Mr. Medill went into the country,
he found that the lake was twenty miles further of than
was indicated by This map, and consequently that the
boundaries of The Indian country actually embraced
within lis folds excess OF two millions OF acres The
map which has been recently made out locates this lake
al ~ proper place. aud thus arrive al the estimate OF
five millions of embraced in the Indian country,
under the survey OF the corps OF typographical engineers
believe have stated the facts connected with this
claim. Ii rests upon the fact that there Official
document made under the inspection and advice of
this officer, by whose word and by whose map the In
dams represented owning three millions of acres
OF land and that in consequence of mistake in regard
to of their boundaries we, taking their treaty by the
general terms embracing all the land owned by them in
the State of Wisconsin, wherever il might lie swept
away from them two millions OF more than they
thought they were selling at the time This constitutes
therefore, equitable claim upon the generosity OF the
government for the value OF this excess And TO place
upon just principle, estimate that excess and arrive
at the aggregate to which it amounts by allowing for
precisely the rate $780, 900 would be TO three
millions of acres-that sum being the consideration
which they paid for the land, which they thought
when they were selling IT, was properly estimated These
are the facts IN the case.
One word more and have done 1t was thought by
my associates upon the Committee on Indian Affairs who
investigated this claim that the time had not arrived for
doing justice TO the lndlanshat this appropriation was
prematuTe and the fact that they had yet removed
Their new home was adverted TO as reason why we
ought not to settle this difficulty until home pro
vided. That state OF affairs, and the present condition
OF the Indians led 10 precisely opposite concu
sion 10 what il did the chairman of the Committee In.
dian Affairs think this allowance ought 10 be made for
the very purpose OF removing that dmculy IL is true
that the country 10 which they assigned found
be inhospiiable and worse than that in the neghbo
hood OF their old and hereditary enemies in whose pres
ence they were obviously 10 be exposed TO eternal and
mortal warfare. Upon inspection of the country, they
found it was not suitable for their wants, and they
10 ereore privileged 10 remove 10 part OF the country
which they had ceded Whether this privilege will be
continued to them depends upon The State oil Wisconsin
But how are the new conntries 10 be obtained! How
the homes to be purchased and subsistence pro-
vided for them except by this fund which the gen.
erosiiy of Congress has yet failed to grant, That is
the very purpose which the amendment intend to offer is
designed 10 accomplish 1t makes the whole of this al
Iowance go the purchase of The home the pro-
vidng for their REMOVAL and 10 their subsistence after
their removal for twelve months. Ii provides that the
balance shall not be paid ust this contingency shall
happen; and appears TO me that it obvates all The OBJ
iecions that have been urged by the chairman Of the
Committee on Finance, and the chairman OF the Commit.
tee Indian Affairs If you make this amendment. is
able only upon this contingency, and by 1t all these
difficulties solved.
AS 10 the time which ought to do justice, think
the general principle is that ought TO hasten TO render
Justice satisfied that Justice is due
This is old claim revived by these Indians II is not
of those stale claims assed from the musty rolls
of the government by the assdhy OF agents IL does
large class in which have oveueached the In
dams and imposed bargains upon them II is
one OF those in which a glazing discrepancy
has occurred in the amount which the Indians thought
they ceding and the amount which they actually
did cedea OF too gross and pal pabe nature to be
overlooked. II is claim the Justice OF which has been
discovered and pursued. Immediately after the Iatifca
ton OF this treaty the Indians delegation TO
appeal 10 the justice of Congress, Intellectual that APP
peal proved to be- But they have lost sight Of IL
and II there has BEEN believe the intervention OF an
ent prosecuting their claim since then, II AT the
rtod after they made theft first unsuccessful attempt
appeared il not based upon the equity and generos.
rty OF Congress. They then based II upon aega-
ton OF faud-an allegation which the chairman OF The
Committee Indian Affairs well tells could not be
substantated by evidence. Subsequently, the claim has
been placed upon the ground Of papabe mistake, and
appeal is made TO the generosity of Congress. Upon
that ground think the allowance ought to be made II
claim in which feel little interest personally; and
in expressing my views have done. baye only at
of the claim in the other House OF Congress. leave
IL. therefore, to the consideration of other gentlemen
whether the proposition shall or shall not be adopted
Mr. WALKER Mr., President, in part represent
the State in which these Indians located and in
which ibis money, if paid TO the Indians, will probably
be expended; and hence il might be inferred that
would be oil the jealous friends OF this item in
the appropriation bill But SIR entirely concur with The
chairman OF the Committee on Finance, and with the
chairman OF the Committee on Indian Affairs | think
the item ought to be stricken from the bill That we
acquired more land from the MenonoDee Indians by the
treaty than contemplated the time by the gov
ernmen, | have very little doubt but | not
aware that in the negotiations wirh these Indian, or
any OH Indian we have