The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-18

account OF the lapse OF time but on account OF the great
dlftculy Of guarding against very extensive frauds 10
proving all such claims al any time, particularly alter
so great a lapse OF time
commission appointed under an aci oil Congress
during the administration oil 1enera Jackson el'her IN
the year 1886 or 1871 forget which, though have the
official documents all before melo inquire into and re-
port the Executive the number and amount OF the dep
relations the individuals upon whom they made,
and also at what periods, and by what portion OF the
Creek tribe OF Indians they were committed That com
mission resulted in report After taking proofs and dis
charging the commission with much asslduity and
care as The commissioners alleged they had the power TO
do and were enabled to do. they reported the en-
tire amount claimed and proved by the sufferers to
be 81 1857 407 30; out OF which they allowed $780,
797 92 The latter amount they reported was for
real and actual losses sustained by the claimants
and the Committee Indian Affairs have taken that re-
feers by these depredaons II resisted 10 the House
OF Representatives upon the ground oil the principle esab
shed by the act OF Congress IN the year 1876 when the
question with regard to depredaons committed by
the British troops the northern frontier IN the war oil
1912. The committee OF the House OF representatives
assumed the principle that these claims for remuneration
for depredaons committed by party OF hostile Indians
upon the property OF the citizens OF the States oil Georgia.
Alabama and Florida, came within the principle estab-
ished by that act, which excluded them that principle
being that the government was not responsible for prop
ey destroyed by foreign troops in state OF war against
the United States, by an invasion oil our territory That
is principle which 10 be contested but the
Committee on Indian Affairs, in recommending this ap
preparation for the relief OF these citizens, proceed upon
the principle that il was not such war as comes within
the principle laid down In the act OF lSl6hat IN ac
is though expressly excepted, clearly implied eX-
ceplion 10 the principle there laid down. The advocates
Of the claims OF these parties aege that having suffered
much larger amount than is here proposed to pay,
they have the same ground 10 before the govern
ment for redress as if the depredaions had been
committed under the general intercourse law upon
frontiers They alege that they were unwarranled
depredalons committed by hostile, robbing parties Of In
dians and that, if the principle Of tha act Of the gene.
to reiress that il il should be applied. as i had
been applied by the terms OF that law to The southern
States in which portions OF these tribes still resided they
would have been entitled clearly to the benefits OF that
law 1t is for the purpose OF enforcing that principle OF
the intercourse law, in effect far regards the actual
amount Of deprealons and damages committed BY the
hostile Creeks, that this amendment is offered II the
principles OF the intercourse law should be extended as
was proposed II the Senate session or two ago-and
which believe, sanctioned by the Senate though it
did not become law Of CongIess-the probability is
that much larger amount would be established under il,
and ii were say double the amount proposed,
think should not be far from the truth
Under all the circumstances OF the case-considering
that there does appear to be just claim for damages by
these individuals against the government OF the United
States, when come to look into the facts connected
with 1.-THE committee are OF opinion that this lesser
sum reported by them on recommendation OF the Execu
live You'd Be the safest tor the ri en- while s
claims not that suppose that il the consequences of
these damages TO the parties pursued or traced
coding any equitable principle, their claims would
be larger than what is proposed to be appropriated
Mr. President this whole question OF this large appro
praiion which is proposed for the satisfaction OF these
unfortunate policy of the federal government By the
treaty made in 1926 with the Creek Indians, but not rat
ed till the year 1882, great body of the Indians sold
out their territory condition that they should remove
westward But for another large portion, believe the
terms of the treaty were, that if they chose TO retain
reservations they should be allowed to do so. How
many hundred reservations there were thus retained
do not remember for have not recently looked into the
official documents upon this subject The number,
ha became he policy Of the at that time 10
coerce the removal OF the Indians by every expedent
which, az they supposed at the ms consistent with
very unsoand and unwse policy. They allowed the
white settlers TO into the Indian country and purchase
reservations and settle in their midst. before the first step
taken towards their removal west OF the Mis-.
sssippi, and a large population Immediately rushed
in among the Indians. whose reservations, accord
ing TO the regulation pointed out by the treaty, were
rapidly sold TO the white settlers. But here were
the Indian vendors agrea mass oil the Indian population
still within the Indian territory, forming confused and
promiscuous settlement over the entire Indian territory.
Well, sir it very early foreseen by the citizens of
Alabama and Georgia. and more particularly by the set
tiers themselves, who had gone there in pursuance, may
say, OF the Recommendation oil the government, that the
Indians, when they had sold their reservation and
got their pay, would while that pay lasted, have some
thing upon which they might subss but when that was
gone, they had no lands remaining 10 cultivate, not
the small patches which these Indians gene
ally in the habit Of cultvaiing before having smu
lus TO industry they would necessarily resort 10 plumber
And happened that between the year 1884, when these
reserves sold and the year 1896, when these out
RACES were commenced alarge portion OF The Indian pop
ulduOn were VI an aDSOlule OF Anu
to resort TO violence robbery and plumber for subsistence
for charity not sufficient supply their wants
They appearedto be actuaied by no hostile feelings To-
wards the government OF the United States, but COM
menced depfedaons upon cattle and other property OF
the white settlers among them, simply for the OF
subsistence
But that is not all The whole truth requires that
should state that the government agala and again
admonished that the destitute condition OF these Indians
must inevitably lead 10 hostltes their part-to plum
derng and robbing and that unless the OF the
United States stationed sufficient military force within
their boundaries, these deplorable consequences would
follow. And in 1896 these consequences did follow
Most fearful violence exhibited, not so much in
numbering the white inhabitaDts-though murders were
committed-as in plundeng their properly, taking cattle
burning up houses, and driving out the white settlers al
together; so that, although t'ey had gone under The
sanction and authority OF tbs government and purchased
these reservations and settled themselves down upon
them, they were absolutely erpelled and now they
think after having gone there under the faith Of the gov
eminent, that they entitled TO remuneration for
damages they sustained by being expelled not for the
farms they have purchased under that counenance and
recommendation OF the govemment-that is excluded
we do not propose TO pay them cent that ground,
but Tor the whole amount OF the property taken aud
sumed by the Indians and for another large portion, in
GLIDING three hundred and odd thousand dollars for stock
OF cattle taken by the United States troops and friendly
Indians, who had TO rush under that did
not provide for the susenance OF themselves even after
they had got 10 this country
believe have stated substantially the facts OF the
case and honorable senators who represent the section OF
country IRON which this proposition will state il
1 have omitted anything material
Under these circumstances does appear 10 me that
the government OF the United States is under obligation
obligation of proiecfion-the ohligatioo dutv